SESSION OF 2024
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON HOUSE BILL NO. 2833
As Amended by House Committee of the Whole
Brief*
HB 2833, as amended, would establish common
definitions of “veteran” and “disabled veteran” for purposes of
determining eligibility for state veteran benefits. The bill would
also clarify the disability evaluation percentages required for
certain benefits available to disabled veterans.
Definitions
The bill would modify the definitions of “veteran” and
“disabled veteran” to clarify, among other things, the
discharge status (or characterization of service) a member of
the Armed Forces must receive to be eligible for benefits
specific to Kansas veterans. [Note: The terms “veteran” and
“disabled veteran” are defined in a variety of ways in current
law.]
The bill would modify definitions in current law, as
follows:
●“Veteran,” would mean a person who served in the
active military, naval, air, or space service and who,
upon release from military service, received an
honorable discharge or a general discharge under
honorable conditions;
●“Disabled veteran” would mean the same as
“veteran,” with the additional requirement that such
person incurred or aggravated a disability in the
____________________
*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at
http://www.kslegislature.org line of active duty and has a service-connected
disability evaluation percentage pursuant to 38
U.S.C. § 1101 et seq. or 10 U.S.C. § 1201 et seq.;
and
●“Member of the armed forces” would mean a
person performing active service in the Army, Navy,
Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, Coast
Guard, or any component of the military reserves
of the United States.
Under the bill, only individuals who received an
honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable
conditions would be considered a veteran for purposes of
Kansas-specific benefits. [Note: A discharge from the Armed
Forces is assigned a characterization of service generally
categorized as administrative or punitive. Per Army
Regulation 135-178, an honorable service characterization
and a general (under honorable conditions) service
characterization are two of three distinct types of
administrative discharges.]
Benefits for Kansas Veterans
The bill would incorporate the modified definitions of
“veteran” and “disabled veteran” into statutes concerning
Kansas-specific benefits for veterans.
Benefits for Veterans
Under the bill, a person who meets the definition of
“veteran” would be eligible for the following existing benefits:
●A driver’s license with a “veteran” designation,
contingent on such person providing a DD form
214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from
Active Duty), NGB form 22 (Report of Separation
and Record of Service), or equivalent discharge
2- 2833 document showing character of service as
honorable or general under honorable conditions;
●A non-driver identification card with a “veteran”
designation, contingent on such person providing a
DD form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge
from Active Duty), NGB form 22 (Report of
Separation and Record of Service), or equivalent
discharge document showing character of service
as honorable or general under honorable
conditions;
●In-state tuition and fees at an institution of higher
education in Kansas, provided that such person
meets other specified criteria under current law;
●Enhanced protection under the Kansas Consumer
Protection Act;
●Preference in governmental employment and
promotion;
●Participation in the Persian Gulf War Veterans
Health Initiative; and
●Vietnam War Era medallion, medal, and certificate.
Benefits for Disabled Veterans
Under the bill, a person who meets the definition of
“disabled veteran” would be eligible for the following existing
benefits:
●A free license plate, provided that such person has
a service-connected evaluation of 50.0 percent or
more;
●A permanent license to hunt and fish in Kansas,
provided that such person has a service-connected
evaluation of 30.0 percent or more;
3- 2833 ●Preference in governmental employment and
promotion, provided that such person has a
service-connected evaluation percentage pursuant
to 38 U.S.C. § 1101 et seq. or 10 U.S.C. § 1201 et
seq.;
●Preference in contracts for any job or service for
which moneys appropriated are to be expended,
provided that such person has a service-connected
evaluation of 10.0 percent or more;
●Preference in certain bids for contracts and
purchases, provided that such person has a
service-connected evaluation of 10.0 percent or
more; and
●Property tax refund pursuant to the Homestead
Property Tax Refund Act, provided hat such person
has a service-connected evaluation of 50.0
percent.
Technical Amendments
The bill would make technical amendments to various
statutes.
Background
The bill was introduced by the House Committee on
Taxation at the request of Representative Ellis.
[Note: The bill’s provisions are identical to 2024 House
Bill 2759 (HB 2759), as amended by the House Committee
on Veterans and Military. HB 2759 was stricken from the
House Calendar on February 23, 2024, by Rule 1507.]
4- 2833 House Committee on Veterans and Military
In the House Committee hearing on March 14, 2024,
Representative Johnson and a representative of the Military
Officers Association of America provided proponent
testimony. The proponents generally stated the bill would
conform Kansas statutes to federal code when defining
“veteran” and “disabled veteran.”
No other testimony was provided.
On March 21, 2024, the bill was referred from the House
Committee of the Whole to the House Committee on
Veterans and Military.
The House Committee on Veterans and Military
subsequently amended the bill to:
●Remove the discharge status “other than
dishonorable” from the definitions of “veteran” and
“disabled veteran,” and;
●Add the discharge status “honorable” into the
definitions of “veteran” and “disabled veteran.”
House Committee of the Whole
On March 27, 2024, the House Committee of the Whole
amended the bill to include the service characterization of
"general discharge under honorable conditions" to the
definition of "veteran" and "disabled veteran."
Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bill, as introduced, the Kansas Commission
on Veterans Affairs Office and Kansas Department of
Revenue state that enactment of the bill would have no fiscal
effect on either agency.
5- 2833 Veterans and Military; veterans; benefits; veterans benefits; disabled veterans;
disability determination; honorable discharge; general discharge; general discharge
under honorable conditions
6- 2833