1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to veterans affairs; appropriating money.
1.3 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.4	Section 1. SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS.
 	
1.5 	The amounts shown in this section summarize direct appropriations, by fund, made 
1.6 	in sections 1 to 3.

1.7			2008
		2009
		Total
	
1.8	General
	$
	14,553,000
	$
	13,618,000
	$
	28,171,000
	
1.9	Special Revenue
		855,000
		855,000
		1,710,000
	
1.10	Total
	$
	15,408,000
	$
	14,473,000
	$
	29,881,000

1.11	Sec. 2. MILITARY AFFAIRS AND VETERANS AFFAIRS APPROPRIATIONS.
 	
1.12 	The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are appropriated to the 
1.13 	agency and for the purposes specified in sections 1 to 3. The appropriations are from 
1.14 	the general fund, or another named fund, and are available for the fiscal years indicated 
1.15 	for each purpose. The figures "2008" and "2009" used in sections 1 to 3 mean that the 
1.16 	appropriations listed under them are available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, or 
1.17 	June 30, 2009, respectively. "The first year" is fiscal year 2008. "The second year" is fiscal 
1.18 	year 2009. "The biennium" is fiscal years 2008 and 2009.

1.19				APPROPRIATIONS
	
1.20				Available for the Year
	
1.21				Ending June 30
	
1.22					2008
		2009

2.1	Sec. 3. VETERANS AFFAIRS
 	$
	15,408,000
	$
	14,473,000

2.2	Appropriations by Fund
	
2.3		2008
	2009
	
2.4	General
	14,553,000
	13,618,000
	
2.5	Special Revenue
	855,000
	855,000
	
2.6 	(a) $2,000,000 each year is for outreach to 
2.7 	veterans.
2.8 	(b) $1,000,000 each year is for state soldier's 
2.9 	assistance under Minnesota Statutes, section 
2.10 	197.05.
2.11 	(c) $1,400,000 the first year and $900,000 
2.12 	the second year are for the higher education 
2.13 	veterans assistance program under Minnesota 
2.14 	Statutes, section 197.585. This appropriation 
2.15 	must be included in the agency appropriation 
2.16 	base through fiscal year 2011.
2.17 	(d) $500,000 each year is for administration 
2.18 	of veterans programming.
2.19 	(e) $100,000 each year is for information 
2.20 	technology.
2.21 	(f) $75,000 each year is for operations at the 
2.22 	Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little 
2.23 	Falls.
2.24 	(g) $1,900,000 the first year and $1,400,000 
2.25 	the second year are for grants to counties 
2.26 	under the terms of this section. The 
2.27 	commissioner shall issue a request for 
2.28 	proposals for grants to enhance the benefits, 
2.29 	programs, and services provided to veterans. 
2.30 	The request must specify that priority 
2.31 	will be given to proposals that meet the 
2.32 	programmatic goals established by the 
2.33 	commissioner, including proposals that will:
3.1 	(1) provide the most effective outreach to 
3.2 	veterans;
3.3 	(2) reintegrate combat veterans into society;
3.4 	(3) collaborate with other social service 
3.5 	agencies, educational institutions, and other 
3.6 	relevant community resources;
3.7 	(4) reduce homelessness among veterans; 
3.8 	and
3.9 	(5) provide measurable outcomes.
3.10 	The commissioner may provide incentives 
3.11 	to encourage, and may give priority to 
3.12 	proposals that foster, regional collaboration 
3.13 	for service delivery. The grants may be for a 
3.14 	term of up to two years. The commissioner 
3.15 	shall ensure that grants are made throughout 
3.16 	all regions of the state and shall develop a 
3.17 	description of best practices for the use of 
3.18 	these grants. A county may not reduce its 
3.19 	county veterans service officer budget by any 
3.20 	amount received as a grant under this section. 
3.21 	Grants made under this section are in addition 
3.22 	to and not subject to the requirements for 
3.23 	grants made under Minnesota Statutes, 
3.24 	section 197.608. The Minnesota Association 
3.25 	of County Veterans Service Officers may 
3.26 	apply for grants under this section beginning 
3.27 	July 1, 2007. Any balance remaining after 
3.28 	the first year does not cancel and is available 
3.29 	in the second year. This appropriation must 
3.30 	be included in the appropriation base through 
3.31 	fiscal year 2011.
3.32 	(h) $250,000 each year is added to the base 
3.33 	for grants to Disabled American Veterans, 
3.34 	Military Order of the Purple Heart, Veterans 
3.35 	of Foreign Wars, Vietnam Veterans of 
4.1 	America, and other congressionally chartered 
4.2 	veterans service organizations designated by 
4.3 	the commissioner.
4.4 	(i) $855,000 each year is from the account 
4.5 	in the special revenue fund established in 
4.6 	Minnesota Statutes, section 190.19, for (1) 
4.7 	grants to veterans service organizations; and 
4.8 	(2) outreach to underserved veterans. Any 
4.9 	balance in the first year does not cancel and 
4.10 	is available in the second year.