1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to the military; requiring provision of mental health counseling services 
1.3 	to recently deployed service members;proposing coding for new law in 
1.4 	Minnesota Statutes, chapter 192.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [192.504] MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING.
1.7 	The adjutant general shall make available mental health counseling services to 
1.8 	any person who has served in active service in any branch or unit of the United States 
1.9 	armed forces, upon that person's return from deployment to a designated hostile fire or 
1.10 	combat zone, or any other military duty determined by the adjutant as being a high stress 
1.11 	assignment. The counseling services must be made available to the person for up to 18 
1.12 	months following the person's deployment.
1.13 	Counseling services are deemed to be available to a person if the person is eligible to 
1.14 	obtain those services in a reasonably accessible manner and without cost from the United 
1.15 	States Department of Veterans Affairs, or through TriCare or another military medical 
1.16 	program, provided that the adjutant general has made significant efforts to inform eligible 
1.17 	service members and veterans of the availability of those services, including procedures 
1.18 	for obtaining them.
1.19 	"Active service" has the meaning given in section 190.05, subdivision 5b or 5c.

1.20 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2009.