HF 2909

2nd Engrossment - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 03/30/2012 11:19am

A bill for an act
relating to veterans; expanding the purposes for the Minnesota GI Bill program
to include apprenticeships and on-the-job training; providing compensation for
honor guards at veteran funerals; appropriating money; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2010, section 197.791, subdivision 6, by adding a subdivision.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 197.791, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 5a. new text end

new text begin Apprenticeship and on-the-job training. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner, in
consultation with the commissioners of employment and economic development and labor
and industry, shall develop and implement an apprenticeship and on-the-job training
program to administer a portion of the Minnesota GI Bill program to pay benefit amounts
to eligible applicants, as provided in this subdivision.
new text end

new text begin (b) An "eligible employer" means an employer operating a qualifying apprenticeship
or on-the-job training program that has been approved by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin (c) A person is eligible for apprenticeship and on-the-job training assistance under
this subdivision if the person meets the criteria established under subdivision 4, paragraphs
(a), clause (1), and (c) to (e). The amount of assistance paid to or on behalf of an eligible
individual under this subdivision must not exceed the following:
new text end

new text begin (1) $2,000 per fiscal year for apprenticeship expenses;
new text end

new text begin (2) $2,000 per fiscal year for on-the-job training;
new text end

new text begin (3) $1,000 for a job placement credit payable to an eligible employer upon hiring
a person receiving assistance under this subdivision; and
new text end

new text begin (4) $1,000 for a job placement credit payable to an eligible employer after a person
receiving assistance under this subdivision has been employed by the eligible employer
for at least 12 consecutive months as a full-time employee.
new text end

new text begin No more than $3,000 in aggregate benefits under this paragraph may be paid to or on
behalf of an individual in one fiscal year, and not more than $9,000 in aggregate benefits
under this paragraph may be paid to or on behalf of an individual over any period of time.
new text end

new text begin (d) Assistance for apprenticeship expenses and on-the-job training is available for
qualifying programs, which must, at a minimum, meet the following criteria:
new text end

new text begin (1) the training must be with an eligible employer;
new text end

new text begin (2) the training must be documented and reported;
new text end

new text begin (3) the training must reasonably be expected to lead to an entry-level position; and
new text end

new text begin (4) the position must require at least six months of training to become fully trained.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 197.791, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Appropriation.

The amount necessary to pay the benefit amounts
in deleted text begin subdivision 5 deleted text end new text begin subdivisions 5 and 5a new text end is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner. During any fiscal year beginning on or after July 1, deleted text begin 2013 deleted text end new text begin 2012 new text end , the amount
paid under this subdivision must not exceed $6,000,000.

Sec. 3. new text begin APPROPRIATION; HONOR GUARDS.
new text end

new text begin $100,000 is appropriated from the general fund for the fiscal year ending June 30,
2013, to the commissioner of veterans affairs for compensation for honor guards at
the funerals of veterans under Minnesota Statutes, section 197.231. This is a onetime
appropriation.
new text end