88R4225 JCG-D
 
  By: Gervin-Hawkins H.B. No. 1534
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to recognizing persons who separated from military service
  solely on the basis of sexual orientation as honorably discharged
  veterans under state law.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 434, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter J to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER J. BENEFITS, RIGHTS, PRIVILEGES, AND IMMUNITIES OF
  CERTAIN VETERANS
         Sec. 434.451.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Active military service" has the meaning assigned
  by Section 437.001.
               (2)  "DD Form 214" means any edition of United States
  Department of Defense Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge
  from Active Duty).
               (3)  "Military discharge record" means a document
  issued to a service member of the armed forces of the United States
  or the Texas Military Forces showing the service member's release
  or discharge from active military service.  The term includes DD
  Form 214.
               (4)  "Separation code" means:
                     (A)  an alphanumeric code found in block 26 of the
  edition of DD Form 214 dated August 2009; or
                     (B)  a numeric code commonly known as a separation
  program code used on a previous edition of DD Form 214.
         Sec. 434.452.  CERTAIN PERSONS CONSIDERED HONORABLY
  DISCHARGED. (a)  The State of Texas recognizes a person as having
  been honorably discharged from active military service if:
               (1)  according to the person's military discharge
  record, the person on the basis of the person's sexual orientation:
                     (A)  was dishonorably discharged; or
                     (B)  resigned, retired, or otherwise separated
  from active military service; and
               (2)  based on any previous characterization of service,
  the person would have otherwise received a more favorable character
  of discharge.
         (b)  For purposes of Subsection (a)(1), a person is
  considered to have been dishonorably discharged or to have
  resigned, retired, or otherwise separated from active military
  service on the basis of the person's sexual orientation if:
               (1)  any of the following separation codes appear on
  the person's DD Form 214 and represent a ground on which the person
  was released or discharged from the armed forces of the United
  States:
                     (A)  BLC;
                     (B)  BML;
                     (C)  BRA;
                     (D)  BRB;
                     (E)  BRC;
                     (F)  DLC;
                     (G)  GKC;
                     (H)  GLC;
                     (I)  GML;
                     (J)  GRA;
                     (K)  GRB;
                     (L)  GRC;
                     (M)  HLC;
                     (N)  HRA;
                     (O)  HRB;
                     (P)  HRC;
                     (Q)  HWL;
                     (R)  JB;
                     (S)  JJB;
                     (T)  JKC;
                     (U)  JLC;
                     (V)  JML;
                     (W)  JRA;
                     (X)  JRB;
                     (Y)  JRC;
                     (Z)  KRA;
                     (AA)  KRB;
                     (BB)  KRC;
                     (CC)  RA;
                     (DD)  RC;
                     (EE)  249;
                     (FF)  250;
                     (GG)  251;
                     (HH)  252;
                     (II)  253;
                     (JJ)  255;
                     (KK)  256;
                     (LL)  257; or
                     (MM)  586; or
               (2)  any other ground for release or discharge from
  active military service based on sexual orientation, including a
  predecessor or successor to a separation code listed in Subdivision
  (1), appears on the person's military discharge record.
         Sec. 434.453.  ENTITLEMENT TO BENEFITS, RIGHTS, PRIVILEGES,
  AND IMMUNITIES.  Notwithstanding any other law, a person recognized
  as having been honorably discharged under Section 434.452(a) is
  entitled to all benefits, rights, privileges, and immunities
  provided by this state or under state law to an honorably discharged
  veteran.
         Sec. 434.454.  PROOF OF CERTAIN DISCHARGE. For purposes of
  this subchapter, an agency or officer of this state shall accept a
  copy of a person's DD Form 214 identified or commonly known as
  "Service 2 Copy" or "Member 4 Copy."
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.