Texas 2021 87th Regular

Texas House Bill HB4243 Introduced / Bill

Filed 03/12/2021

                    87R12558 JCG-D
 By: Gervin-Hawkins H.B. No. 4243


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to treating persons who were dishonorably discharged from
 the military solely on the basis of sexual orientation or gender
 identity 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.  CERTAIN PERSONS CONSIDERED HONORABLY
 DISCHARGED. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, a person is
 considered to have been honorably discharged from the armed forces
 of the United States or the Texas military forces for purposes of
 state law if the person was dishonorably discharged solely on the
 basis of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity.
 (b)  A person considered to have been honorably discharged
 under Subsection (a) is entitled to all benefits, rights,
 privileges, and immunities provided by state law to an honorably
 discharged veteran.
 SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.