HF 4324

1st Engrossment - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 04/19/2022 11:46am

A bill for an act
relating to state government; establishing a budget for military and veterans affairs;
making policy and technical changes to various military and veterans affairs
provisions, including provisions related to veterans housing, veterans benefits,
veterans services, veterans bonus program, and veterans service office grant
program; creating a veterans service organizations grant program; requiring a
report; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, sections 197.608,
subdivisions 4, 6; 197.79, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 5, 10; Minnesota Statutes 2021
Supplement, section 196.081; Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 12, article
1, section 37, subdivision 2; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 197.

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

ARTICLE 1

APPROPRIATIONS

Section 1. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS. new text end

new text begin The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are added to or, if shown in
parentheses, subtracted from the appropriations in Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter
12, article 1, to the agencies and for the purposes specified in this article. The appropriations
are from the general fund, or another named fund, and are available for the fiscal years
indicated for each purpose. The figures "2022" and "2023" used in this article mean that
the addition to or subtraction from the appropriation listed under them is available for the
fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, or June 30, 2023, respectively. "The first year" is the fiscal
year ending June 30, 2022. "The second year" is the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023.
Supplemental appropriations and reductions to appropriations for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 2022, are effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

			new text begin APPROPRIATIONS new text end
			new text begin Available for the Year new text end
			new text begin Ending June 30 new text end
				new text begin 2022 new text end		new text begin 2023 new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin MILITARY AFFAIRS new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end new text begin Total Appropriation new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin ....... new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 2,865,000 new text end

new text begin The base is increased $3,242,000 in fiscal year
2024 and each year thereafter.
new text end

new text begin The amounts that may be spent for each
purpose are specified in the following
subdivisions.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end new text begin General Support new text end

new text begin ....... new text end

new text begin 865,000 new text end

new text begin (a) Holistic Health and Fitness Program.
$765,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for
administrative and payroll costs to create and
operate Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F)
initiatives across the Minnesota Army National
Guard. The base for this program is $742,000
in fiscal year 2024 and each year thereafter.
new text end

new text begin (b) USS Minneapolis-St. Paul
Commissioning. $100,000 in fiscal year 2023
is for a grant to the Minnesota Navy League
to support activities related to the
commissioning of the USS Minneapolis-St.
Paul. This is a onetime appropriation.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end new text begin Enlistment Incentives new text end

new text begin ....... new text end

new text begin 2,000,000 new text end

new text begin $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated
from the general fund to the adjutant general
of military affairs for the purpose of providing
enlistment incentives to attract highly qualified
candidates for enlistment in the Minnesota
National Guard. The base for this
appropriation is $2,500,000 in fiscal year 2024
and each year thereafter.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin VETERANS AFFAIRS new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end new text begin Total Appropriation new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 500,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 40,514,000 new text end

new text begin The base is increased $10,809,000 in fiscal
year 2024 and $7,491,000 in fiscal year 2025.
new text end

new text begin The amounts that may be spent for each
purpose are specified in the following
subdivisions.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end new text begin Veterans Programs and Services new text end

new text begin 500,000 new text end

new text begin 40,514,000 new text end

new text begin (a) Base Adjustment. The base is increased
$10,809,000 in fiscal year 2024 and
$7,491,000 in fiscal year 2025.
new text end

new text begin (b) new text begin Veterans Bonus Program. new text end $24,880,000
in fiscal year 2023 is for service bonuses to
Post-9/11 Veterans and Gold Star families
under Minnesota Statutes, section 197.79. This
is a onetime appropriation.
new text end

new text begin (c) new text begin Veterans Service Organizations Grant
Program. new text end $147,000 in fiscal year 2023 and
each year thereafter is for grants to
congressionally chartered veterans service
organizations meeting eligibility requirements
under Minnesota Statutes, section 197.61,
subdivision 3, as designated by the
commissioner.
new text end

new text begin (d) new text end new text begin County Veterans Service Office Grant
Program. new text end new text begin $450,000 in fiscal year 2023 and
each year thereafter is for funding the County
Veterans Service Office grant program under
Minnesota Statutes, section 197.608.
new text end

new text begin (e) Fisher House. $500,000 in fiscal year
2023 is for the purpose of supporting the
creation of a new Fisher House near the Fargo
Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center
campus. The facility will provide temporary
accommodations at no charge to families and
caregivers of veterans receiving care at the
Fargo VA Health Care System. This is a
onetime appropriation and is available until
the project is completed or abandoned, subject
to Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.642.
new text end

new text begin (f) new text begin Redwood Falls State Veterans Cemetery. new text end
$830,000 in fiscal year 2023 and each year
thereafter is for operations of the state's
veterans cemeteries, including operations in
Redwood County.
new text end

new text begin (g) new text begin Minnesota Assistance Council for
Veterans. new text end $8,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 is
for a grant to the Minnesota Assistance
Council for Veterans to provide assistance
throughout Minnesota to veterans and former
service members and their families who are
homeless or in danger of homelessness,
including assistance with the following:
new text end

new text begin (1) supportive services to maintain housing;
new text end

new text begin (2) employment;
new text end

new text begin (3) legal issues;
new text end

new text begin (4) housing and housing-related costs; and
new text end

new text begin (5) transportation.
new text end

new text begin The assistance authorized under this paragraph
must be made only to veterans or former
service members who have resided in
Minnesota for 30 days prior to application for
assistance and according to other guidelines
established by the commissioner. In order to
avoid duplication of services, the
commissioner must ensure that this assistance
is coordinated with all other available
programs for veterans.
new text end

new text begin This appropriation must be used for the
establishment and management of permanent
supportive housing options for homeless
veterans and former service members.
new text end

new text begin The base for this appropriation is $4,200,000
in fiscal year 2024 and $1,200,000 each year
thereafter.
new text end

new text begin Any unencumbered balance remaining in this
subdivision in fiscal year 2023 is available in
fiscal years 2024 and 2025.
new text end

new text begin (h) new text begin Increase Engagement and Outreach
Activities; Support Temporary Housing
Options. new text end $1,714,000 in fiscal year 2023 and
each year thereafter is for temporary
alternative housing options for homeless
veterans and former service members and for
staff to increase outreach activities to end
homelessness. The commissioner of veterans
affairs may use funds for personnel, research,
marketing, and professional or technical
contracts.
new text end

new text begin (i) new text begin Tenancy Supports and Landlord
Engagement. new text end $1,100,000 in fiscal year 2023
is for incentives for landlords to assist in
housing homeless veterans and former service
members, staff, and funding to remove barriers
to permanent housing. The commissioner of
veterans affairs may use funds for financial
assistance, personnel, research, marketing, and
professional or technical contracts. The base
in fiscal year 2024 and each year thereafter is
$975,000.
new text end

new text begin (j) Minnesota Veteran Suicide Prevention
Initiative. $2,125,000 in fiscal year 2023 is
to address the problem of death by suicide
among veterans in Minnesota. The
commissioner of veterans affairs may use
funds for personnel, training, research,
marketing, and professional or technical
contracts. Of this amount, the commissioner
may use up to:
new text end

new text begin (1) $400,000 to initiate a veteran connections
pilot project by issuing a request for proposals
to identify a community-based, mobile, mental
health, and recovery tool to provide a secure
environment for veterans to connect with other
veterans; and
new text end

new text begin (2) $150,000 to develop, in consultation with
stakeholders, written information on the safe
storage of firearms and means restriction.
Stakeholders include organizations
representing gun sellers and gun owners and
organizations supporting suicide prevention
and mental health. The written information
must include information on Minnesota
Statutes, section 609.666, and on how to store
firearms safely, suicide risk factors, suicide
lifelines, and mental health crisis services. The
commissioner must provide the written
information to licensed firearm dealers,
shooting ranges, chiefs of police, sheriffs,
county public health departments, and
instructors on the safe use of firearms to
distribute to people buying or using firearms.
new text end

new text begin The base for this appropriation is $2,025,000
in fiscal year 2024 and $2,175,000 in fiscal
year 2025.
new text end

new text begin (k) Metro Meals on Wheels. $468,000 in
fiscal year 2023 is for a grant to Metro Meals
on Wheels to provide:
new text end

new text begin (1) home-delivered meals to veterans; and
new text end

new text begin (2) technical, enrollment, fund-raising,
outreach, and volunteer recruitment assistance
to member programs.
new text end

new text begin The base for this appropriation is $468,000 in
fiscal year 2024 and $0 in fiscal year 2025.
new text end

new text begin (l) Veterans Campground Wastewater
System Upgrades. $800,000 in fiscal year
2023 is for one or more grants to the Veterans
Campground on Big Marine Lake, a 501(c)(3)
nonprofit organization, to design, engineer,
permit, and construct four wastewater systems
on campground property to increase the
capacity of wastewater systems.
new text end

Sec. 4.

Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 12, article 1, section 37, subdivision 2,
is amended to read:

Subd. 2. Veterans Programs and Services

27,073,000

22,153,000

(a) CORE Program. $750,000 each year is
for the Counseling and Case Management
Outreach Referral and Education (CORE)
program.

(b) Veterans Service Organizations.
$353,000 each year is for grants to the
following congressionally chartered veterans
service organizations as designated by the
commissioner: Disabled American Veterans,
Military Order of the Purple Heart, the
American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars,
Vietnam Veterans of America, AMVETS, and
Paralyzed Veterans of America. This funding
must be allocated in direct proportion to the
funding currently being provided by the
commissioner to these organizations.

(c) Minnesota Assistance Council for
Veterans. $750,000 each year is for a grant
to the Minnesota Assistance Council for
Veterans to provide assistance throughout
Minnesota to veterans and their families who
are homeless or in danger of homelessness,
including assistance with the following:

(1) utilities;

(2) employment; and

(3) legal issues.

The assistance authorized under this paragraph
must be made only to veterans who have
resided in Minnesota for 30 days prior to
application for assistance and according to
other guidelines established by the
commissioner. In order to avoid duplication
of services, the commissioner must ensure that
this assistance is coordinated with all other
available programs for veterans.

(d) State's Veterans Cemeteries. $6,172,000
the first year and $1,672,000 the second year
are for the state's veterans cemeteries. Of these
amounts, $4,500,000 the first year is to
construct and equip the new veterans cemetery
in Redwood Falls.

(e) Honor Guards. $200,000 each year is for
compensation for honor guards at the funerals
of veterans under Minnesota Statutes, section
197.231.

(f) Minnesota GI Bill. $200,000 each year is
for the costs of administering the Minnesota
GI Bill postsecondary educational benefits,
on-the-job training, and apprenticeship
program under Minnesota Statutes, section
197.791.

(g) Gold Star Program. $100,000 each year
is for administering the Gold Star Program for
surviving family members of deceased
veterans.

(h) County Veterans Service Office.
$1,100,000 each year is for funding the
County Veterans Service Office grant program
under Minnesota Statutes, section 197.608.

(i) Veteran Homelessness Initiative.
$3,165,000 each year is for an initiative to
prevent and end veteran homelessness. The
commissioner of veterans affairs may provide
housing vouchers and other services to
alleviate homelessness among veterans and
former service members in Minnesota. The
commissioner may contract for program
administration and may establish a vacancy
reserve fund. The base for this appropriation
in fiscal year 2024 and each year thereafter is
$1,311,000.

(j) Camp Bliss. $75,000 each year is for a
grant to Independent Lifestyles, Inc. for
expenses related to retreats for veterans at
Camp Bliss in Walker, Minnesota, including
therapy, transportation, and activities
customized for veterans.

(k) Veterans On The Lake. $50,000 in the
first year is for a grant to Veterans on the Lake
for expenses related to retreats for veterans,
including therapy, transportation, and activities
customized for veterans.

(l) deleted text begin Veterans deleted text end new text begin Veteran new text end Resilience Project.
$400,000 each year is for a grant to the
deleted text begin veterans deleted text end new text begin veteran new text end resilience project. Grant funds
must be used to make eye movement
desensitization and reprocessing therapy
available to veterans and current military
service members who are suffering from
posttraumatic stress disorder deleted text begin and deleted text end new text begin or new text end trauma.
The base for this appropriation in fiscal year
2024 and each year thereafter is $200,000.

The veterans resilience project must report to
the commissioner of veterans affairs and the
chairs and ranking minority members of the
legislative committees with jurisdiction over
veterans affairs policy and finance by January
15 of each year on the program. The report
must include an overview of the program's
budget, a detailed explanation of program
expenditures, the number of veterans and
service members served by the program, and
a list and explanation of the services provided
to program participants.

(m) 9/11 Task Force. $500,000 the first year
is for the Advisory Task Force on 9/11 and
Global War on Terrorism Remembrance. The
task force must collect, memorialize, and
publish stories of Minnesotans' service in the
Global War on Terrorism and impacts on their
dependents. The task force must host a
remembrance program in September 2021.
This is a onetime appropriation.

ARTICLE 2

VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS POLICY

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2021 Supplement, section 196.081, is amended to read:

196.081 VETERANS STABLE HOUSING INITIATIVE; DATA new text begin ; REPORT new text end .

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Veterans stable housing initiative. new text end

(a) The commissioner may establish
a veterans stable housing initiative. If the commissioner establishes a veterans stable housing
initiative under this section, the commissioner must provide resources and support to assist
veterans experiencing homelessness in obtaining or maintaining stable housing.

(b) Data on individuals maintained by the commissioner in the Homeless Veteran Registry
for purposes of the veterans stable housing initiative is private data on individuals as defined
in section 13.02, subdivision 12, and must not be disclosed or shared except for coordinating
homelessness prevention efforts with:

(1) members of the Minnesota Interagency Council on Homelessness; and

(2) Homeless Veteran Registry partners to address a veteran's episode of homelessness
or maintain a veteran's housing plan through Department of Veterans Affairs funded
programs.

(c) For purposes of this section, "homelessness" means that a veteran lacks a fixed,
nighttime residence.

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Annual report. new text end

new text begin Beginning January 15, 2023, and each year thereafter, the
commissioner must submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the
legislative committees with jurisdiction over veterans affairs and housing on the department's
homelessness activities. The report must include the annual inflow and outflow of former
service members on the homeless veteran registry, the number of currently homeless former
service members, the utilization of homeless programs to prevent and end a former service
member's episode of homelessness, and identify trends in the homeless response system.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, 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 under subdivision 6 only for a qualifying
use and if there are sufficient funds remaining in the grant program to cover the full amount
of the grant.

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

new text begin (1) to provide training and education for county veterans service officers; and
new text end

new text begin (2) to provide additional grants on a competitive basis to any county that proposes to
provide programs and services that the commissioner determines to be new and innovative
in serving veterans and their families.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 197.608, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Grant amount.

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

(1) to provide outreach to the county's veterans;

(2) to assist in the reintegration of combat veterans into society;

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

(4) to reduce homelessness among veterans; and

(5) to enhance the operations of the county veterans service office.

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

(1) $0, if the county's veteran population is less than 1,000;

(2) $2,500, if the county's veteran population is 1,000 or more but less than 3,000;

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

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

(5) $10,000, if the county's veteran population is 10,000 or more but less than deleted text begin 19,999 deleted text end new text begin
20,000 new text end ;

(6) $15,000, if the county's veteran population is 20,000 or more but less than deleted text begin 29,999 deleted text end new text begin
30,000 new text end ; or

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

(c) The Minnesota Association of County Veterans Service Officers is eligible to receive
an annual grant of deleted text begin $50,000 deleted text end new text begin $100,000 new text end . 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.

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. 4.

new text begin [197.61] VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS GRANT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Grant program. new text end

new text begin A veterans service organization grant program is
established to provide grants to congressionally chartered veterans service organizations
(VSO) to enhance the effectiveness of veterans services. The program shall be administered
by the commissioner of veterans affairs.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the
meanings given.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Accredited representation" means providing representation under the authority
granted by the VA to representatives, agents, and attorneys to assist claimants in the
preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims for VA benefits.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of veterans affairs or a designee.
new text end

new text begin (d) "Congressionally chartered veterans service organizations" are organizations that
have been granted charters by Congress through the enactment of public laws. Each
congressionally chartered VSO is listed in United States Code, title 36, subtitle II: Patriotic
and National Organizations.
new text end

new text begin (e) "Department" means the Department of Veterans Affairs.
new text end

new text begin (f) "Full member" means a veteran who meets the requirements for membership in a
congressionally chartered veterans service organization and is entitled to all of the rights
and privileges thereof. Full member does not include an associate or auxiliary member.
new text end

new text begin (g) "VA" means the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Eligibility. new text end

new text begin To be eligible for a grant under subdivision 6, a veterans service
organization must provide:
new text end

new text begin (1) accredited representation for the preparation and presentation of veteran claims to
the United States government for compensation and other benefits to which a veteran is
entitled as a result of the veteran's military service;
new text end

new text begin (2) a state or department level veterans service officer to provide programs and services
to veterans; or
new text end

new text begin (3) statewide transportation services to veterans.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Grant process. new text end

new text begin (a) A grant may be used only for the purpose of enhancing the
operations of congressionally chartered veterans service organizations.
new text end

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

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Qualifying uses. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall develop a list of qualifying uses for
grants awarded under this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Grant amount. new text end

new text begin (a) Each congressionally chartered veterans service organization
is eligible to receive an annual grant determined by the commissioner as follows:
new text end

new text begin (1) a dollar amount per full member for each organization member to be established by
the commissioner. The dollar amount may be adjusted every biennium, subject to available
funding; and
new text end

new text begin (2) a dollar amount for each organization, established by the commissioner, based on
the organization's share of the VA claims workload for veterans and their dependents who
reside in Minnesota. The VA claims workload must be reported as a percentage of the state's
total VA workload.
new text end

new text begin (b) The VA claims workload for each congressionally chartered veterans service
organization must be determined by a report supplied by the VA, as adopted by the
commissioner.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Recapture. new text end

new text begin If a congressionally chartered veterans service organization fails
to use the grant for a qualified use approved by the commissioner or does not spend the
allocated grant money, the commissioner shall seek recovery of the grant from the
organization and the organization must repay the grant amount or any unused grant money.
new text end

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 197.79, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Definitions.

For purposes of this section, the following terms have the
meanings given them.

(a) "Applicant" means a veteran or a veteran's guardian, conservator, or personal
representative or a beneficiary or a beneficiary's guardian, conservator, or personal
representative who has filed an application with the commissioner for a bonus under this
section.

(b) "Application" means a request for a bonus payment by a veteran, a veteran's
beneficiary, or a veteran's guardian, conservator, or personal representative through
submission of written information on a form designed by the commissioner for this purpose.

(c) "Beneficiary" means in relation to a deceased veteran and in the order named:

(1) the surviving spouse, if not remarried;

(2) the children of the veteran, if there is no surviving spouse or the surviving spouse
has remarried;

(3) the veteran's surviving parent or parents;

(4) the veteran's surviving sibling or siblings; or

(5) the veteran's estate.

(d) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

(e) "Department" means the Department of Veterans Affairs.

(f) "Eligibility period for the bonus" means the period from deleted text begin August 2, 1990, to July 31,
1991 deleted text end new text begin September 11, 2001, to August 30, 2021 new text end .

(g) "Guardian" or "conservator" means the legally appointed representative of a minor
new text begin or incapacitated new text end beneficiary or deleted text begin incompetent deleted text end veteran, the chief officer of a hospital or
institution in which the deleted text begin incompetent deleted text end new text begin incapacitated new text end veteran is placed if the officer is authorized
to accept money for the benefit of the minor or deleted text begin incompetent deleted text end new text begin incapacitated new text end , the person
determined by the commissioner to be the person who is legally charged with the
responsibility for the care of the minor new text begin or incapacitated new text end beneficiary or deleted text begin incompetent deleted text end veteran,
or the person determined by the commissioner to be the person who has assumed the
responsibility for the care of the minor new text begin or incapacitated new text end beneficiary or deleted text begin incompetent deleted text end veteran.

(h) "Honorable service" means honorable new text begin federal new text end service in the United States armed
forces, as evidenced by:

(1) an honorable discharge;

(2) a general discharge under honorable conditions;

(3) in the case of an officer, a certificate of honorable service; or

(4) in the case of an applicant who is currently serving in active duty in the United States
armed forces, a certificate from an appropriate service authority that the applicant's service
to date has been honorable.

new text begin (i) "Incapacitated person" means an individual who, for reasons other than being a minor,
lacks sufficient understanding or the capacity to make personal decisions and who is unable
to meet the individual's own personal needs for medical care, nutrition, clothing, shelter, or
safety even when assisted by appropriate technology or supported decision making.
new text end

deleted text begin (i) deleted text end new text begin (j) new text end "Resident veteran" means a veteran who served in active duty in the United States
armed forces at any time during the eligibility period for the bonus, and who also:

(1) has been separated or discharged from the United States armed forces, and deleted text begin whose
home of record at the time of entry into active duty in the United States armed forces, as
indicated on the person's form DD-214 or other documents the commissioner may authorize,
is the state of Minnesota deleted text end new text begin has lived in Minnesota for at least 30 days at the time of application
with the intention of residing in the state and not for any temporary purpose. An applicant
may verify a residence address by presenting a valid state driver's license; a state
identification card; a voter registration card; a rent receipt; a statement by the landlord,
apartment manager, or homeowner verifying that the individual is residing at the address;
or other form of verification approved by the commissioner new text end ; or

(2) is currently serving in the United States armed forces, and has a certificate from an
appropriate service authority stating that the person: (i) served in active duty in the United
States armed forces at any time during the eligibility period for the bonus; and (ii) deleted text begin had deleted text end new text begin has new text end
Minnesota new text begin listed new text end as the new text begin veteran's new text end home of record deleted text begin at the time of entry into active duty in the
United States armed forces deleted text end new text begin in the veteran's official military personnel file new text end .

deleted text begin (j) deleted text end new text begin (k) new text end "Service connected" means caused by an injury or disease incurred or aggravated
while on active duty, as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

deleted text begin (k) deleted text end new text begin (l) new text end "Veteran" has the meaning given in section 197.447 deleted text begin , deleted text end and new text begin does not include a
member of the National Guard or the reserve components of the United States armed forces
ordered to active duty for the sole purpose of training. Veteran new text end also includes deleted text begin :
deleted text end

deleted text begin (1) deleted text end a person who is providing honorable service on active duty in the United States
armed forces and has not been separated or discharged deleted text begin ; or deleted text end new text begin .
new text end

deleted text begin (2) a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including
the National Guard, who was ordered to active duty under United States Code, title 10,
section 673b, during the eligibility period for the bonus and who was deployed to a duty
station outside the state of Minnesota, as verified by the appropriate service authority. An
applicant's DD-214 form showing eligibility for or award of the Southwest Asia service
medal during the eligibility period for the bonus will suffice as verification.
deleted text end

deleted text begin "Veteran" does not include a member of the National Guard or the reserve components
of the United States armed forces ordered to active duty for the sole purpose of training.
deleted text end

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 197.79, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Bonus amount.

(a) For a resident veteran who provided honorable service in
the United States armed forces at any time during the eligibility period for the bonus, the
bonus amount is:

(1) deleted text begin $300 deleted text end new text begin $600 new text end , if the veteran did not receive the deleted text begin Southwest Asia service medal deleted text end new text begin Armed
Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign
Medal, or Afghanistan Campaign Medal new text end during the eligibility period for the bonus;

(2) deleted text begin $600 deleted text end new text begin $1200 new text end , if the veteran received the deleted text begin Southwest Asia service medal deleted text end new text begin Armed Forces
Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal,
or Afghanistan Campaign Medal new text end during the eligibility period for the bonus; or

(3) $2,000, if the veteran was eligible for the deleted text begin Southwest Asia service medal deleted text end new text begin Armed
Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign
Medal, or Afghanistan Campaign Medal new text end during the eligibility period for the bonus, and
died during that time period as a direct result of a service connected injury, disease, or
condition.

(b) In the case of a deceased veteran, the commissioner shall pay the bonus to the veteran's
beneficiary.

deleted text begin (c) No payment may be made to a veteran or beneficiary who has received a similar
bonus payment from another state.
deleted text end

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 197.79, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Application process.

A veteran, or the beneficiary of a veteran, entitled to a
bonus may make application for a bonus to the department deleted text begin on a form deleted text end new text begin as new text end prescribed by the
commissioner and verified by the applicant. If the veteran is deleted text begin incompetent deleted text end new text begin incapacitated new text end or
the veteran's beneficiary is a minor or deleted text begin incompetent deleted text end new text begin incapacitated new text end , the application must be
made by the person's guardian or conservator. An application must be accompanied by
evidence of residency, honorable service, active duty service during the eligibility period
for the bonus, and any other information the commissioner requires. The applicant must
indicate on the application form the bonus amount for which the applicant expects to be
eligible.

If the information provided in the application is incomplete, the department must notify
the applicant in writing of that fact and must identify the items of information needed to
make a determination. After notifying an applicant that the person's application is incomplete,
the department shall hold the application open new text begin for up to 120 days new text end while awaiting further
information from the applicant, and the applicant may submit that information new text begin within the
120-day period new text end without filing an appeal and request for review.

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 197.79, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Notices.

Notices and correspondence to an applicant must be directed to the
applicant by mail at the address listed in the application new text begin or electronically new text end . Notices and
correspondence to the commissioner must be addressed to the commissioner's office deleted text begin in St.
Paul deleted text end new text begin or the designated department system new text end .

Sec. 9.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 197.79, subdivision 10, is amended to read:

Subd. 10.

Deadline for applications.

The application period for the bonus program
established in this section shall be deleted text begin November 1, 1997, to June 30, 2001 deleted text end new text begin July 1, 2022, to
June 30, 2024 new text end . The department may not receive or accept new applications after June 30,
deleted text begin 2001 deleted text end new text begin 2024 new text end .