HB450 - Relating to recognizing persons who separated from military service solely on the basis of sexual orientation as honorably discharged veterans under state law.

  89R3738 JCG-D     By: Gervin-Hawkins H.B. No. 450       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to recognizing persons who separated from military service   solely on the basis of sexual orientation 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.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:                 (1)     "Active military service" has the meaning assigned   by Section 437.001.                 (2)     "DD Form 214" means any edition of United States   Department of Defense Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge   from Active Duty).                 (3)     "Military discharge record" means a document   issued to a service member of the armed forces of the United States   or the Texas military forces showing the service member's release   or discharge from active military service.   The term includes DD   Form 214.                 (4)  "Separation code" means:                       (A)     an alphanumeric code found in block 26 of the   edition of DD Form 214 dated August 2009; or                       (B)     a numeric code commonly known as a separation   program code used on a previous edition of DD Form 214.           Sec.   434.452.     CERTAIN PERSONS CONSIDERED HONORABLY   DISCHARGED. (a)   The State of Texas recognizes a person as having   been honorably discharged from active military service if:                 (1)     according to the person's military discharge   record, the person on the basis of the person's sexual orientation:                       (A)  was dishonorably discharged; or                       (B)     resigned, retired, or otherwise separated   from active military service; and                 (2)     based on any previous characterization of service,   the person would have otherwise received a more favorable character   of discharge.           (b)     For purposes of Subsection (a)(1), a person is   considered to have been dishonorably discharged or to have   resigned, retired, or otherwise separated from active military   service on the basis of the person's sexual orientation if:                 (1)     any of the following separation codes appear on   the person's DD Form 214 and represent a ground on which the person   was released or discharged from the armed forces of the United   States:                       (A)  BLC;                       (B)  BML;                       (C)  BRA;                       (D)  BRB;                       (E)  BRC;                       (F)  DLC;                       (G)  GKC;                       (H)  GLC;                       (I)  GML;                       (J)  GRA;                       (K)  GRB;                       (L)  GRC;                       (M)  HLC;                       (N)  HRA;                       (O)  HRB;                       (P)  HRC;                       (Q)  HWL;                       (R)  JB;                       (S)  JJB;                       (T)  JKC;                       (U)  JLC;                       (V)  JML;                       (W)  JRA;                       (X)  JRB;                       (Y)  JRC;                       (Z)  KRA;                       (AA)  KRB;                       (BB)  KRC;                       (CC)  RA;                       (DD)  RC;                       (EE)  249;                       (FF)  250;                       (GG)  251;                       (HH)  252;                       (II)  253;                       (JJ)  255;                       (KK)  256;                       (LL)  257; or                       (MM)  586; or                 (2)     any other ground for release or discharge from   active military service based on sexual orientation, including a   predecessor or successor to a separation code listed in Subdivision   (1), appears on the person's military discharge record.           Sec.   434.453.     ENTITLEMENT TO BENEFITS, RIGHTS, PRIVILEGES,   AND IMMUNITIES.   Notwithstanding any other law, a person recognized   as having been honorably discharged under Section 434.452(a) is   entitled to all benefits, rights, privileges, and immunities   provided by this state or under state law to an honorably discharged   veteran.           Sec.   434.454.     PROOF OF CERTAIN DISCHARGE. For purposes of   this subchapter, an agency or officer of this state shall accept a   copy of a person's DD Form 214 identified or commonly known as   "Service 2 Copy" or "Member 4 Copy."          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.