(a) If a veteran dies after filing an application for purchase of a farm or a home, and the veteran’s eligibility and qualifications are subsequently approved, the veteran’s surviving spouse may, in the discretion of the department, succeed to the veteran’s rights under the application, and may succeed to the veteran’s rights, privileges, and benefits under this article. The contract of purchase which the department otherwise would have made with the deceased veteran may be made with the surviving spouse.

(b) If a person was a member of the Armed Forces on active military duty, entered active duty while in the State of California and lived in this state for six months immediately preceding entry into active duty, and was killed in the line of duty while on active duty or died after discharge from active duty from injuries incurred in the line of duty while on active duty, that person is a veteran for purposes of this article, and his or her unremarried surviving spouse may file an application, is entitled to the same rights, privileges, and benefits for which the Armed Forces member would have been eligible, and may contract with the department pursuant to subdivision (a). In making a determination of eligibility under this subdivision, the department may base its determination on documentation furnished to the surviving spouse by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs specifying the cause of death of the Armed Forces member.

(c) If a member of the Armed Forces entered active military duty while in the State of California, lived in this state for six months or more immediately preceding entry into active duty, and is being held as a prisoner of war or has been designated by the Armed Forces as missing in action, that person is a veteran for purposes of this article, and his or her spouse may file an application, is entitled to the same rights, privileges, and benefits, and may contract with the department pursuant to subdivision (a).

(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 296, Sec. 198. (AB 1023) Effective January 1, 2012.)