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HF 371

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 02/06/2013 03:21pm

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.

Current Version - as introduced

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A bill for an act
relating to veterans; modifying the veterans service office grant program;
appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 197.608,
subdivisions 3, 4, 5, 6; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 197.608,
subdivision 2a.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 197.608, subdivision 3, is amended to read:


Subd. 3.

Eligibility.

(a) To be eligible for a grant under deleted text begin this programdeleted text end new text begin subdivision 6new text end ,
a county must employ a county veterans service officer as authorized by sections 197.60
and 197.606, who is certified to serve in this position by the commissioner.

(b) A county that employs a newly hired county veterans service officer who is
serving an initial probationary period and who has not been certified by the commissioner
is eligible to receive a grant under subdivision deleted text begin 2adeleted text end new text begin 6 for one year from the date the county
veterans service officer is appointed
new text end .

(c) deleted text begin Except for the situation described in paragraph (b),deleted text end A county whose county
veterans service officer does not receive certification deleted text begin during any year of the three-year
cycle is not eligible to receive a grant during the remainder of that cycle or the next
three-year cycle
deleted text end new text begin by the end of the first year of the county veterans service officer's
appointment is ineligible for the grant under subdivision 6 until the county veterans
service officer receives certification
new text end .

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 197.608, subdivision 4, is amended to read:


Subd. 4.

Grant process.

(a) The commissioner shall determine the process for
awarding grants. A grant may be used only for the purpose of enhancing the operations of
the County Veterans Service Office.

(b) The commissioner shall provide a list of qualifying uses for grant expenditures
as developed in subdivision 5 and shall approve a grant new text begin under subdivision 6 new text end only for a
qualifying use and if there are sufficient funds remaining in the grant program to cover the
full amount of the grant.

new text begin (c) The commissioner is authorized to use any unexpended funding for this program
to provide training and education for county veterans service officers.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 197.608, subdivision 5, is amended to read:


Subd. 5.

Qualifying uses.

The commissioner shall consult with the Minnesota
Association of County Veterans Service Officers in developing a list of qualifying uses for
grants awarded under deleted text begin this programdeleted text end new text begin subdivision 6new text end .

deleted text begin The commissioner is authorized to use any unexpended funding for this program to
provide training and education for county veterans service officers.
deleted text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 197.608, subdivision 6, is amended to read:


Subd. 6.

Grant amount.

new text begin (a) Each county is eligible to receive an annual grant of
$7,500 for the following purposes:
new text end

new text begin (1) to provide outreach to the county's veterans;
new text end

new text begin (2) to assist in the reintegration of combat veterans into society;
new text end

new text begin (3) to collaborate with other social service agencies, educational institutions, and
other community organizations for the purposes of enhancing services offered to veterans;
new text end

new text begin (4) to reduce homelessness among veterans; and
new text end

new text begin (5) to enhance the operations of the county veterans service office.
new text end

new text begin (b) In addition to the grant amount in paragraph (a), each county is eligible to receive
an additional annual grant under this paragraph.
new text end The amount of each new text begin additional annual
new text end grant must be determined by the commissioner and may not exceed:

(1) deleted text begin $1,400deleted text end new text begin $0new text end , if the county's veteran population is less than 1,000;

(2) deleted text begin $2,800deleted text end new text begin $2,500new text end , if the county's veteran population is 1,000 or more but less than
3,000;

(3) deleted text begin $4,200deleted text end new text begin $5,000new text end , if the county's veteran population is 3,000 or more but less deleted text begin then
10,000
deleted text end new text begin than 4,999new text end ; deleted text begin or
deleted text end

(4) deleted text begin $5,600deleted text end new text begin $7,500new text end , if the county's veteran population is deleted text begin 10,000deleted text end new text begin 5,000new text end or moredeleted text begin .deleted text end new text begin but
less than 9,999;
new text end

new text begin (5) $10,000, if the county's veteran population is 10,000 or more but less than 19,999;
new text end

new text begin (6) $15,000, if the county's veteran population is 20,000 or more but less than
29,999; or
new text end

new text begin (7) $20,000, if the county's veteran population is 30,000 or more.
new text end

new text begin (c) The Minnesota Association of County Veterans Service Officers is eligible to
receive an annual grant of $50,000. The grant shall be used for administrative costs of
the association, certification of mandated county veterans service officer training and
accreditation, and costs associated with reintegration services.
new text end

The veteran population of each county shall be determined by the figure supplied by
the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, as adopted by the commissioner.

Sec. 5. new text begin VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE; APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $1,005,000 is appropriated in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 from the general fund to
the commissioner of veterans affairs for the additional grants authorized by section 4. This
amount is added to the agency's base budget.
new text end

Sec. 6. new text begin REPEALER.
new text end

new text begin Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 197.608, subdivision 2a, new text end new text begin is repealed.
new text end