2023 California Code › Military and Veterans Code - MVC › DIVISION 4 - VETERANS' AID AND WELFARE › CHAPTER 6 - State Benefits for Veterans › ARTICLE 1 - Veterans › Section 980.

980. (a) As used in this chapter, “veteran” means any of the following:
(1) A citizen of the United States who served in the active military, naval, or air service of the United States on or after April 6, 1917, and prior to November 12, 1918, and who received an honorable discharge or was released from active duty under honorable conditions.
(2) A person who did all of the following:
(A) Served in the active military, naval, or air service of the United States for a period of not less than 90 consecutive days or was discharged from the service due to a service-connected disability within that 90-day period.
(B) Received an honorable discharge or was released from active duty under honorable conditions.
(C) Performed any portion of that service during any of the following periods:
(i) On or after December 7, 1941, and prior to January 1, 1947, including, but not limited to, members of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, the Regular Scouts (“Old Scouts”), and the Special Philippine Scouts (“New Scouts”).
(ii) On or after June 27, 1950, and prior to February 1, 1955.
(iii) On or after February 28, 1961, and prior to August 5, 1964, in the case of a veteran who served in the Republic of Vietnam during that period.
(iv) On or after August 5, 1964, and prior to May 8, 1975.
(v) On or after August 2, 1990, to and including the date on which the territories in and around the Arabian Peninsula cease to be designated as a place where the Armed Forces of the United States are engaged in combat, as described in Executive Order 12744 of the President of the United States. It is the intent of the Legislature, in enacting this clause, that the benefits provided by this chapter shall be available to all veterans who were on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States or who were called to active duty in the reserves or National Guard during the pendency of the deployment of forces for Operation Desert Shield or Desert Storm, which resulted in Executive Order 12744, irrespective of whether these veterans served overseas or in the United States.
(vi) At any time, in a campaign or expedition for service in which a medal has been authorized by the government of the United States, regardless of the number of days served on active duty.
(vii) At any time in Somalia, or in direct support of the troops in Somalia, including, but not limited to, persons stationed on ships of the Armed Forces of the United States conducting support activities offshore in the vicinity of Somalia, during Operation Restore Hope, regardless of the number of days served.
(3) A member of the reserves or National Guard who does all the following:
(A) Is called to, and released from, active duty or active service, regardless of the number of days served.
(B) Is called during any period when a presidential executive order specifies the United States is engaged in combat or homeland defense.
(C) Has received an honorable discharge or was released from active duty or active service under honorable conditions.
(4) A person who did all of the following:
(A) Served in the Merchant Marine Service of the United States.
(B) Has been granted veteran status by the United States Secretary of Defense under Title IV of the GI Improvement Act of 1977 (Public Law 95-202, as amended).
(5) A person who qualifies under federal laws for revenue bond or unrestricted funds (26 U.S.C. Sec. 143) and did all of the following:
(A) Served in the active military, naval, or air service of the United States for a period of not less than 90 consecutive days.
(B) Received an honorable discharge or was released from active duty or active service under honorable conditions.
(6) A person who qualifies for funds made available from a qualified mortgage revenue bond issued pursuant to Section 143 of Title 26 of the United States Code and is, at the time of application for Cal-Vet benefits, a member of the California National Guard or a reserve component of any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States who has enlisted or been commissioned in that service for a period of not less than six years and has completed a minimum of one year of satisfactory service, or who was a member of the California National Guard or a reserve component of any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States who has completed not less than a six-year commitment and was released under honorable conditions.
(b) For purposes of this chapter “veteran” does not include any of the following:
(1) A person who was separated from the Armed Forces under other than honorable conditions.
(2) A person who was separated from the Armed Forces on account of alienage.
(3) A person who performed no military duty whatever or refused to wear the uniform.
(4) A person who served only in an auxiliary or reserve component of the Armed Forces whose service therein did not provide an exemption from the operation of the federal Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 (Public Law 76-783: 54 Stat. 885, as amended).
(5) A person whose service with the Armed Forces was due to temporary active duty orders for the sole purpose of training duty, processing, or a physical examination, except as provided for in paragraph (6) of subdivision (a).
(6) A person whose only service was as a student at a military academy and who, for any reason, failed to complete the course of study and subsequently did not serve on active duty.
(c) For purposes of this section, “active duty” or “active service” is defined as provided in Section 101(d) of Title 10 of the United States Code.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 549, Sec. 2. (SB 661) Effective January 1, 2022.)