LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 88TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 20, 2023

TO:	Honorable Kelly Hancock, Chair, Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs
FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB493 by Hughes (Relating to qualifications for certain individuals for veterans benefits.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Government Code for the purposes of determining qualifications for any veterans benefits or services from the state. The bill would provide that a former member of the United States armed forces who received a less than honorable discharge due to the individual's refusal to receive a vaccination against COVID-19 be considered to receive an honorable discharge. For a discharge of a former member of the United States armed forced to be considered honorable, the individual must prove to the Texas Veterans Commission that the refusal to receive a vaccination against COVID-19 was the sole reason for the less than honorable discharge. 

Based on the analysis, it is assumed there would be no significant fiscal implication to the state. 

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

305 General Land Office and Veterans' Land Board, 320 Texas Workforce Commission, 327 Employees Retirement System, 403 Veterans Commission, 405 Department of Public Safety, 608 Department of Motor Vehicles, 781 Higher Education Coordinating Board, 802 Parks and Wildlife Department

LBB Staff:

JMc, AF, LCO, KCu