Bill > S195

This bill broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by removing the requirement for service to have occurred during specific dates or in particular locations, and instead focuses on the nature of the service and the veteran's discharge status. It revises definitions of "veteran" across various laws, including those related to civil service preferences, pension and annuity funds, and property tax exemptions, to include individuals who served at least 90 days of active service or completed their reserve component federal active service, and were discharged under honorable conditions, or if they served less than 90 days or less than the full period of called federal active service, they must have been discharged or released under honorable conditions due to a service-connected disability. The bill also clarifies that active service in the Armed Forces or a reserve component thereof, regardless of specific conflict dates, can now qualify individuals for these benefits, and allows those currently in active service or reserve components to receive these benefits without a formal discharge certificate, provided they submit appropriate evidence of their status. Additionally, it updates provisions related to surviving spouses' eligibility for benefits and tax exemptions, and modifies the process for claiming these benefits by requiring submission of evidence to the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs instead of the retirement system or other entities in some cases.