<a id="pl.1.3"></a><var>1.3</var>support for domestic abuse prevention, mental health services, chemical abuse <br/>
<a id="pl.1.4"></a><var>1.4</var>treatment, veterans homelessness prevention, compensation to honor guards, and <br/>
<a id="pl.1.5"></a><var>1.5</var>veterans courts; providing a veterans nursing home tax credit;amending Minnesota <br/>
<a id="pl.1.6"></a><var>1.6</var>Statutes 2016, section 197.05; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
         <br/>
<a id="pl.1.7"></a><var>1.7</var>chapter 290.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.8"></a><var>1.8</var>BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:<br/>
<br/>
<a id="bill.0.1.0"></a><a id="pl.1.9"></a><var>1.9</var>    Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 197.05, is amended to read:<br/>
<a id="pl.1.10"></a><var>1.10</var><b>197.05 FUND, HOW EXPENDED.</b><br/>
<a id="pl.1.11"></a><var>1.11</var>(a) The state soldiers' assistance fund shall be administered by the commissioner
         of <br/>
<a id="pl.1.12"></a><var>1.12</var>veterans affairs and shall be used to locate and investigate the facts as to any Minnesota
         <br/>
<a id="pl.1.13"></a><var>1.13</var>resident or resident alien residing in Minnesota who served in the military or naval
         forces <br/>
<a id="pl.1.14"></a><var>1.14</var>of the United States and who is indigent or suffering from any disability whether
         acquired <br/>
<a id="pl.1.15"></a><var>1.15</var>in the service or not; to assist the person and the person's dependents as hereinafter
         provided <br/>
<a id="pl.1.16"></a><var>1.16</var>in establishing and proving any just claim the person may have against the United
         States <br/>
<a id="pl.1.17"></a><var>1.17</var>government, or any other government or state for compensation, insurance, relief,
         or other <br/>
<a id="pl.1.18"></a><var>1.18</var>benefits; to provide maintenance and relief for any person suffering from disability
         who <br/>
<a id="pl.1.19"></a><var>1.19</var>was a bona fide resident of the state at the time the need arose and the person's
         dependents, <br/>
<a id="pl.1.20"></a><var>1.20</var>as hereinafter provided; and to cooperate with other state, municipal, and county
         officials <br/>
<a id="pl.1.21"></a><var>1.21</var>and civic or civilian agencies or organizations in carrying out the provisions of
         sections <br/>
<statute_ref><a id="pl.1.22"></a><var>1.22</var>197.03
         </statute_ref> to 
         <statute_ref>197.07</statute_ref>. The commissioner shall limit financial assistance to veterans and <br/>
<a id="pl.1.23"></a><var>1.23</var>dependents to six months, unless recipients have been certified as ineligible for
         other benefit <br/>
<a id="pl.1.24"></a><var>1.24</var>programs.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.1"></a><var>2.1</var>(b) For purposes of this section, "resident" means a person living in Minnesota for
         at <br/>
<a id="pl.2.2"></a><var>2.2</var>least 30 days with the intention of residing in the state and not for any temporary
         purpose. <br/>
<a id="pl.2.3"></a><var>2.3</var>An applicant may verify a residence address by presenting a valid state driver's license,
         a <br/>
<a id="pl.2.4"></a><var>2.4</var>state identification card, a voter registration card, a rent receipt, a statement
         by the landlord, <br/>
<a id="pl.2.5"></a><var>2.5</var>apartment manager, or homeowner verifying that the individual is residing at the address,
         <br/>
<a id="pl.2.6"></a><var>2.6</var>or other form of verification approved by the commissioner.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.7"></a><var>2.7</var>(c) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the fund is appropriated to be used in <br/>
<a id="pl.2.8"></a><var>2.8</var>the manner determined by the commissioner of veterans affairs for these purposes.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.9"></a><var>2.9</var>(d) The commissioner shall issue grants to veterans who are required to participate
         in <br/>
<a id="pl.2.10"></a><var>2.10</var>substance abuse treatment or mental health counseling by a court of law. A veteran
         is not <br/>
<a id="pl.2.11"></a><var>2.11</var>required to qualify under the schedule of maximum monthly allowances to be eligible
         to <br/>
<a id="pl.2.12"></a><var>2.12</var>receive a grant under this paragraph. The commissioner shall issue grants under this
         paragraph <br/>
<a id="pl.2.13"></a><var>2.13</var>on a case-by-case basis considering the totality of the veteran's financial circumstances.
         The <br/>
<a id="pl.2.14"></a><var>2.14</var>commissioner shall presume a veteran who either qualified for appointment of a public
         <br/>
<a id="pl.2.15"></a><var>2.15</var>defender under section 611.17, or is participating in veterans court, is financially
         qualified <br/>
<a id="pl.2.16"></a><var>2.16</var>to receive a grant under this paragraph.<br/>
<br/>
<a id="bill.0.2.0"></a><a id="pl.2.17"></a><var>2.17</var>    Sec. 2. <b>[290.0682] VETERANS NURSING HOME CREDIT.</b><br/>
<a id="pl.2.18"></a><var>2.18</var>    Subdivision 1. <b>Credit allowed.</b> (a) An eligible veteran or other individual who pays for <br/>
<a id="pl.2.19"></a><var>2.19</var>the eligible veteran to live in a nursing home is allowed a credit against the tax
         due under <br/>
<a id="pl.2.20"></a><var>2.20</var>this chapter. The credit equals 50 percent of the amount the individual paid for each
         qualified <br/>
<a id="pl.2.21"></a><var>2.21</var>month in which the eligible veteran lived in a nursing home. The maximum credit is
         $30,000, <br/>
<a id="pl.2.22"></a><var>2.22</var>except that the maximum credit is $60,000 for a married couple filing a joint return
         if both <br/>
<a id="pl.2.23"></a><var>2.23</var>spouses are eligible veterans.<br/>
 <a id="pl.2.24"></a><var>2.24</var>(b) For a part-year resident, the credit must be allocated based on the percentage
         <br/>
<a id="pl.2.25"></a><var>2.25</var>calculated under section 290.06, subdivision 2c, paragraph (e).<br/>
<a id="pl.2.26"></a><var>2.26</var>    Subd. 2. <b>Definitions.</b> (a) For purposes of this section the following terms have the <br/>
<a id="pl.2.27"></a><var>2.27</var>meanings given.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.28"></a><var>2.28</var>(b) "Eligible veteran" means a Minnesota resident who:<br/>
<a id="pl.2.29"></a><var>2.29</var>(1) meets the definition of "veteran" provided in section 197.447;<br/>
<a id="pl.2.30"></a><var>2.30</var>(2) meets the eligibility requirements to reside in a Minnesota veterans home as provided
         <br/>
<a id="pl.2.31"></a><var>2.31</var>in section 198.01; and<br/>
<a id="pl.3.1"></a><var>3.1</var>(3) has applied for admission to one or more Minnesota veterans homes and is on an
         <br/>
<a id="pl.3.2"></a><var>3.2</var>active waiting list.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.3"></a><var>3.3</var>Eligible veteran does not include an individual who has been offered and declined
         placement <br/>
<a id="pl.3.4"></a><var>3.4</var>in a Minnesota veterans home.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.5"></a><var>3.5</var>(c) "Nursing home" has the meaning given in Minnesota Statutes, section 144A.01, <br/>
<a id="pl.3.6"></a><var>3.6</var>subdivision 5.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.7"></a><var>3.7</var>(d) "Qualified month" means a month in which the eligible veteran does not receive
         <br/>
<a id="pl.3.8"></a><var>3.8</var>medical assistance under chapter 256B.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.9"></a><var>3.9</var>    Subd. 3. <b>Credit refundable.</b> If the amount of credit which the claimant is eligible to <br/>
<a id="pl.3.10"></a><var>3.10</var>receive under this section exceeds the claimant's tax liability under this chapter,
         the <br/>
<a id="pl.3.11"></a><var>3.11</var>commissioner shall refund the excess to the claimant.<br/>
 <a id="pl.3.12"></a><var>3.12</var>    Subd. 4. <b>Appropriation.</b> An amount sufficient to pay the refunds required by this section <br/>
<a id="pl.3.13"></a><var>3.13</var>is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.14"></a><var>3.14</var><b>EFFECTIVE DATE.</b>This section is effective for taxable years beginning after December <br/>
<a id="pl.3.15"></a><var>3.15</var>31, 2016.<br/>
<br/>
<a id="bill.0.3.0"></a><a id="pl.3.16"></a><var>3.16</var>    Sec. 3. <b>VETERANS AND GUARDSMEN ENTITLED TO STATE HEALTH </b><br/>
<a id="pl.3.17"></a><var>3.17</var><b>INSURANCE; STUDY; REPORT.</b><br/>
<a id="pl.3.18"></a><var>3.18</var>The commissioner of veterans affairs, the commissioner of military affairs, and the
         <br/>
<a id="pl.3.19"></a><var>3.19</var>commissioner of human services shall jointly study and report on the feasibility of
         permitting <br/>
<a id="pl.3.20"></a><var>3.20</var>veterans and resident members of the state's National Guard who meet the federal health
         <br/>
<a id="pl.3.21"></a><var>3.21</var>care eligibility guidelines for veterans and guardsmen set by the United States Veterans
         <br/>
<a id="pl.3.22"></a><var>3.22</var>Administration and the United States Department of Defense to receive coverage under
         the <br/>
<a id="pl.3.23"></a><var>3.23</var>medical assistance and MinnesotaCare programs. The study shall provide separate cost
         <br/>
<a id="pl.3.24"></a><var>3.24</var>estimates for providing coverage under medical assistance and MinnesotaCare, and shall
         <br/>
<a id="pl.3.25"></a><var>3.25</var>provide recommendations for maximizing federal financial participation. By January
         1, <br/>
<a id="pl.3.26"></a><var>3.26</var>2018, the commissioners shall provide a copy of the report to the chairs and ranking
         minority <br/>
<a id="pl.3.27"></a><var>3.27</var>members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over veterans affairs, military
         affairs, <br/>
<a id="pl.3.28"></a><var>3.28</var>and human services.<br/>
<br/>
<a id="bill.0.4.0"></a><a id="pl.3.29"></a><var>3.29</var>    Sec. 4. <b>HONOR GUARD; APPROPRIATION.</b><br/>
<a id="pl.3.30"></a><var>3.30</var>$....... in fiscal year 2018 and $....... in fiscal year 2019 are appropriated to
         the <br/>
<a id="pl.3.31"></a><var>3.31</var>commissioner of veterans affairs for compensation for honor guards at the funerals
         of <br/>
<a id="pl.3.32"></a><var>3.32</var>veterans under Minnesota Statutes, section 197.231.<br/>
<br/>
<a id="bill.0.5.0"></a><a id="pl.4.1"></a><var>4.1</var>    Sec. 5. <b>MINNESOTA ASSISTANCE COUNCIL FOR VETERANS; </b><br/>
<a id="pl.4.2"></a><var>4.2</var><b>APPROPRIATION.</b><br/>
<a id="pl.4.3"></a><var>4.3</var>$....... in fiscal year 2018 and $....... in fiscal year 2019 are appropriated to
         the <br/>
<a id="pl.4.4"></a><var>4.4</var>commissioner of veterans affairs for a grant to the Minnesota Assistance Council for
         Veterans <br/>
<a id="pl.4.5"></a><var>4.5</var>to provide assistance throughout Minnesota to veterans and their families who are
         homeless <br/>
<a id="pl.4.6"></a><var>4.6</var>or in danger of homelessness.<br/>
<br/>
<a id="bill.0.6.0"></a><a id="pl.4.7"></a><var>4.7</var>    Sec. 6. <b>VETERANS DOMESTIC ABUSE PREVENTION; CHANGE STEP </b><br/>
<a id="pl.4.8"></a><var>4.8</var><b>PROGRAM; APPROPRIATION.</b><br/>
<a id="pl.4.9"></a><var>4.9</var>$....... in fiscal year 2018 and $....... in fiscal year 2019 are appropriated from
         the general <br/>
<a id="pl.4.10"></a><var>4.10</var>fund to the commissioner of public safety for a grant to the Domestic Abuse Project
         to offer <br/>
<a id="pl.4.11"></a><var>4.11</var>the change step program to all veterans who self-refer or are ordered by a court of
         law to <br/>
<a id="pl.4.12"></a><var>4.12</var>participate in a domestic abuse counseling and education program.<br/>
<br/>
<a id="bill.0.7.0"></a><a id="pl.4.13"></a><var>4.13</var>    Sec. 7. <b>SOLDIERS' ASSISTANCE PROGRAM; APPROPRIATION.</b><br/>
<a id="pl.4.14"></a><var>4.14</var>$....... in fiscal year 2018 and $....... in fiscal year 2019 are appropriated from
         the general <br/>
<a id="pl.4.15"></a><var>4.15</var>fund to the state soldiers' assistance fund. The commissioner of veterans affairs
         must use <br/>
<a id="pl.4.16"></a><var>4.16</var>this appropriation to fund grants to veterans as provided for in Minnesota Statutes,
         section <br/>
<a id="pl.4.17"></a><var>4.17</var>197.05, paragraph (d).<br/>
<br/>
<a id="bill.0.8.0"></a><a id="pl.4.18"></a><var>4.18</var>    Sec. 8. <b>VETERANS COURTS; APPROPRIATION.</b><br/>
<a id="pl.4.19"></a><var>4.19</var>$....... in fiscal year 2018 and $....... in fiscal year 2019 are appropriated from
         the general <br/>
<a id="pl.4.20"></a><var>4.20</var>fund to the State Court Administrator for the purpose of developing and supporting
         veterans <br/>
<a id="pl.4.21"></a><var>4.21</var>courts throughout the state. This appropriation is available until spent.<br/>