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STATE
BENEFITS
EMPLOYMENT & REEMPLOYMENT
Wartime
veterans have preference in employment with
State agencies or offices, as do widows and children of those killed on active duty. State agencies must practice veterans'
preference until they have reached 40% veteran employment. Non-retired veterans who are employed by the State of Texas are
entitled to claim their active duty military time toward retirement, provided they present a proper request and pay to the
Retirement System the specified amount of retirement contribution for up to 60 months' military credit. Such contribution
is paid at the rate which was applicable at the time the employed veteran first was covered by the state Retirement System,
plus any accrued interest.
Additionally, a veteran is entitled to reemployment rights with his last employer when he is released from the Armed
Forces of the United States, providing his absence is not longer than four years. The right of reemployment is available regardless
of whether the veteran was, prior to service, employed by the State, county or city government, or by private industry. Reemployment
rights of veterans are now provided by both State and Federal laws. We have provided a link to the State Law regarding reemployment
rights.
TEXAS VETERANS LAND BOARD PROGRAMS
The
Texas Veterans Land Board (VLB), a division of the Texas General Land Office, administers three veterans' loan programs: The
Land Loan Program, Veterans Housing Assistance Purchase Program, and the Veterans Home Improvement Loan Program.
TEXAS STATE VETERANS HOMES
The
Texas Veterans Land Board (VLB), a division of the Texas General Land Office, administers the Texas State Veterans Homes program.
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TEXAS STATE CEMETERY PROGRAM
In the November 2001 statewide elections, voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 7, a constitutional amendment
that authorized the creation of up to seven state cemeteries for veterans and their eligible dependents. The cemeteries will
be built and operated through a partnership between the Texas Veterans Land Board (VLB) and the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs (USDVA). The USDVA will fund up to 100 percent of the construction and equipment costs. The state will own and operate
the cemeteries and fund most of the cost of operations.
NO
COST MEDICAL RECORDS
Under the Health and Safety Code, Chapter
161.201 Subchapter M, Medical or Mental Health Records, Texas veterans are eligible for no cost medical records when
they are obtained to file a claim for a disability against the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA). The health
care provider or health care facility is not required to provide more than one complete record for the patient or former patient
without charge. Also, it should be noted, that some medical facilities will charge a small administrative fee for obtaining
the records.
FREE DRIVERS LICENSE FOR DISABLED VETERANS
Under Texas
Transportation Code Title 7, Chapter 521, Section 521.426, Texas drivers licenses may be furnished free of charge to veterans
who have service-connected disabilities rated 60% or more by the VA or by a branch of the Armed Forces of the U.S. Application
must be made prior to the time present drivers license expires. Application forms may be obtained from Department of Public
Safety's license examining offices located throughout the State. We have provided a link to the to the Texas Department of
Public Safety's Drivers License information
website. Application forms should be completed by the veteran and forwarded to the VA for verification of service-connected
rating of 60% or more. If a veteran was disability-retired from military service and has no VA claim file, proof of disability
must come from their respective branch of military service.
FISHING & HUNTING LICENSES FOR DISABLED VETERANS
Disabled veterans
are eligible for special hunting and fishing licenses, at a reduced cost. A disabled veteran of the Armed Forces of the United
States is one who has a service-connected disability, as defined by the Department of Veterans Affairs, consisting of the
loss of use of a lower extremity or of a disability rating of 60% or more, and who is receiving compensation from the United
States for the disability. A resident veteran as described in the law may hunt wild turkey and deer without a resident hunting
license if he has acquired a resident exemption hunting license.
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FREE PARK ADMISSION FOR DISABLED VETERANS
Free admission to Texas State Parks is available to any veteran
who has a service-connected disability, which is rated 60% or more by VA, or a service-connected disability, which has resulted
in the loss of a lower extremity. Application may be made at the headquarters office of any Texas State park by providing
satisfactory evidence of service-connected disability. If such evidence is not readily available, it can be obtained from
the VA regional office where the claims folder is located. The Texas State Parklands Passport is available to any veteran
who meets the disability requirements, whether or not he or she resides in Texas. The Passport provides only free admission
to the State parks, and does not exempt anyone from payment of other charges, such as camping fees, etc.
FREE RECORDING OF DISCHARGES
Under Texas State law, Local Government
Code Sec. 0192.002, the County Clerk in each County is required to record, free of charge, the official discharge of each
veteran who served in the Armed Forces of the United States of America. This free service is very important as it provides
veterans with a ready source from which they can obtain a certified copy of their discharge whenever it is needed. It is the veteran's responsibility to have the DD214 or Discharge recorded. Please also note
that if you recorded your DD214 with the County Clerk before Sept. 1, 2003, it became a public record. A veteran may
direct, in writing, that the county clerk destroy all copies of the record that the county clerk makes available to the public
as required by section 191.006 of the Local Government Code. Discharges recorded after Sept. 1, 2003 remain confidential for
75 years following the date of recordation.
TAX EXEMPTION FOR VETERANS
Disabled veterans who meet certain
requirements, their surviving spouses and the spouses and minor children of a person who dies on active duty in the U.S. Armed
Forces are eligible for property tax exemptions on the appraised value of their property. The exemption is mandatory and applies
to taxes levied by all taxing authorities in the State. A veteran, whose service-connected disabilities are rated less than
10% by the Department of Veterans Affairs, or a branch of the Armed Forces, is not entitled to a property tax exemption.
SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES
Disabled Veterans,
Former Prisoners of War, Pearl Harbor Survivors, Purple Heart and Medal of Honor plates are among the special license plates
available to eligible veterans and their survivors for personal use on their automobile or light commercial vehicle of one
ton or less. Disabled veterans must have a service-connected disability rating of 50% or more or 40% due to amputation of
a lower extremity. Former prisoners of war are eligible if they were captured or incarcerated by an enemy of the United States
during a period of conflict with the United States and at the time of the capture, were citizens of the United States. Eligibility
is for both former members of the Armed Forces and civilian U.S. citizens who were captured by an enemy of our government.
For further information, contact either the nearest vehicle title registration office or your county tax office.
PARKING PRIVILEGES for Veterans with Disabilities.
Vehicles displaying disabled plates, disabled veteran plates
or permits are the only vehicles allowed to park in spaces clearly
marked for the disabled. In some parking lots, the disabled spaces are colored red and others are marked in the traditional
blue color. People who have a blue disabled parking permit or disabled veteran license plates can park in either the red or blue spaces. Those
with a red disabled permit are only to park in the red spaces. If the parking lot ONLY has blue-colored spaces, then it is
permissible for those with red permits to park in those spaces. (Information provided
by the Texas Department of Transportation.)
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