88R6018 MCK-D
By: Hefner H.B. No. 4174
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to qualifications for certain individuals for veterans
benefits.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 434, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 434.029 to read as follows:
Sec. 434.029. CERTAIN VETERANS QUALIFIED FOR BENEFITS. (a)
In this section, "COVID-19" means the 2019 novel coronavirus
disease.
(b) For purposes of determining qualifications for any
veterans benefits or services from the state, 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 shall be considered to have received an honorable
discharge.
(c) For a discharge of a former member of the United States
armed forces to be considered honorable under Subsection (b), the
former member of the United States armed forces must prove to the
Texas Veterans Commission that the individual's refusal to receive
a vaccination against COVID-19 was the sole reason for the
individual's less than honorable discharge.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2023.