BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 493 By: Hughes Defense & Veterans' Affairs Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Over the past two-and-a-half years, members of the U.S. armed forces have been less than honorably discharged based solely on their refusal to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Because of this discharge, such veterans may be denied certain benefits and services from the state. S.B. 493 seeks to address this issue by establishing that these veterans are considered honorably discharged by the State of Texas. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS S.B. 493 amends the Government Code to require that a former member of the U.S. armed forces who received a less than honorable discharge due to their refusal to receive a vaccination against COVID-19 be considered to have received an honorable discharge for purposes of determining qualifications for any veterans benefits or services from the state. For the discharge to be considered honorable, the former armed forces member must prove to the Texas Veterans Commission that their refusal to receive a vaccination against COVID-19 was the sole reason for their less than honorable discharge. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2023.
BILL ANALYSIS
S.B. 493
By: Hughes
Defense & Veterans' Affairs
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Over the past two-and-a-half years, members of the U.S. armed forces have been less than honorably discharged based solely on their refusal to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Because of this discharge, such veterans may be denied certain benefits and services from the state. S.B. 493
seeks to address this issue by establishing that these veterans are considered honorably
discharged by the State of Texas.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase
the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility
of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking
authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
S.B. 493 amends the Government Code to require that a former member of the U.S. armed forces
who received a less than honorable discharge due to their refusal to receive a vaccination against
COVID-19 be considered to have received an honorable discharge for purposes of determining
qualifications for any veterans benefits or services from the state. For the discharge to be
considered honorable, the former armed forces member must prove to the Texas Veterans
Commission that their refusal to receive a vaccination against COVID-19 was the sole reason
for their less than honorable discharge.
EFFECTIVE DATE
On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2023.