(a) If a veteran dies after filing an application for a farm or a home, and the application setting forth the veteran’s eligibility and qualifications is subsequently approved, his or her surviving spouse may, in the discretion of the department, succeed to the veteran’s rights under the application, and may be entitled to the rights, privileges, and benefits under this article that would have been the veteran’s, but for his or her death. The contract of purchase that the department otherwise would have made with the veteran may be made with his or her 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, he or she shall be considered to be a “veteran” for the purposes of this article, and his or her unremarried surviving spouse may file an application, may be entitled to the same rights, privileges, and benefits, and may contract with the department as provided in the case of a surviving spouse under subdivision (a).

(c) If a member of the armed forces entered active military duty while in the State of California, and lived in this state for six months 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, he or she shall be considered to be a “veteran” for the purposes of this article, and his or her surviving spouse may file an application, may be entitled to the same rights, privileges, and benefits, and may contract with the department as provided in the case of a surviving spouse under subdivision (a).

(Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 91, Sec. 111. Effective January 1, 1996.)