Bill > A381

This bill broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by removing specific date and location requirements for service, thereby expanding the definition of a "veteran" to include individuals who served at least 90 days of active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces (excluding basic training or service academies) or served a full period of federal active service as a reservist, provided they were discharged honorably. It also allows individuals currently in active service or reserve components of the Armed Forces, who otherwise qualify as veterans, to receive civil service preferences and tax deductions without needing a formal discharge certificate, instead requiring proof of their active service status. The bill also clarifies that a service-connected disability incurred during service, even with less than 90 days of active duty or less than a full reserve period, can qualify an individual as a veteran. Additionally, it updates provisions related to disabled veterans' benefits, tax exemptions for disabled veterans and their surviving spouses, and the purchase of prior service credit in retirement systems, generally aligning these benefits with the broader definition of a veteran.