1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to veterans; changing certain qualifications for service on the Minnesota 
1.3 	Veterans Homes Board and service as the board's executive director;amending 
1.4 	Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections 198.002, subdivision 2; 198.004, subdivision 
1.5 	1.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 198.002, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
1.8 		Subd. 2.Membership. The board consists of nine voting members appointed by the 
1.9 	governor with the advice and consent of the senate. The members of the board shall fairly 
1.10 	represent the geographic areas of the state. The members are:
1.11 	(1) a chair, who must be designated by the governor, and who must be a veteran as 
1.12 	that term is defined in section 197.447; and
1.13 	(2) three eight public members experienced in policy formulation with professional 
1.14 	experience in health care delivery; and.
1.15 	(3)At least five public members experienced in policy formulation with professional 
1.16 	experience in health care delivery who are must be members of congressionally chartered 
1.17 	veterans organizations or their auxiliaries that have a statewide organizational structure 
1.18 	and state level officers in Minnesota.
1.19 	The commissioner of veterans affairs shall serve as an ex officio, nonvoting member 
1.20 	of the board. From each house of the legislature, the chair of the committee that deals 
1.21 	with veterans affairs or the chair's designee shall serve as an ex officio, nonvoting member 
1.22 	if that person is a veteran of the board.

1.23 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 198.004, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
2.1 		Subdivision 1.Appointment. The board shall appoint an executive director. The 
2.2 	executive director shall serve in the unclassified service at the pleasure of the board. 
2.3 	The executive director must be a resident of the state of Minnesota, a and citizen of the 
2.4 	United States, and. Preferably, the executive director shall be a veteran as that term is 
2.5 	defined in section 197.447, but that is not required. The executive director shall serve 
2.6 	as secretary of the board.