1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to military veterans; awarding high school diplomas to certain veterans 
1.3 	who actively served in certain military conflicts;proposing coding for new law in 
1.4 	Minnesota Statutes, chapter 197.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [197.753] HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA FOR CERTAIN VETERANS.
1.7 	(a) A school board or the governing authority of a nonpublic school may award a high 
1.8 	school diploma to a current or former Minnesota resident who is a veteran, was previously 
1.9 	enrolled in any high school or school district in this state, and who:
1.10 	(1) did not receive a high school diploma; and
1.11 	(2) actively served in the United States armed services during World War II from 
1.12 	December 7, 1941, through December 31, 1946, during the Korean war from June 27, 1950, 
1.13 	through January 31, 1955, or during the Vietnam conflict from February 28, 1961, through 
1.14 	May 7, 1975; and
1.15 	(i) died in active service;
1.16 	(ii) was honorably discharged; or
1.17 	(iii) was released from active duty because of a service-related disability.
1.18 	(b) The commissioner of veterans affairs and the commissioner of education must jointly 
1.19 	develop an application form to be used for purposes of this section. The commissioner of 
1.20 	veteran affairs and the commissioner of education must (1) make the application form 
1.21 	available on their websites, (2) develop a uniform process for school boards and governing 
1.22 	authorities of nonpublic schools to use to determine eligibility under this section, and (3) 
2.1 	identify acceptable documentation for demonstrating veteran status, evidence of honorable 
2.2 	service, and disability status.
2.3 	(c) A person may apply for a diploma by following the procedures developed under 
2.4 	paragraph (b). The application must be submitted to the school board in the district where 
2.5 	the applicant attended high school or to the governing authority of the nonpublic school 
2.6 	where the applicant attended. If an eligible person is deceased or incapacitated, an immediate 
2.7 	family member may apply on the person's behalf. For purposes of this paragraph, "immediate 
2.8 	family member" means the surviving spouse, child, or sibling of a veteran.
2.9 	(d) After consulting with the commissioner of veterans affairs, a school board or the 
2.10 	governing board of a nonpublic school may accept an affidavit to support the award if 
2.11 	acceptable documentation is not readily available from the military or other sources.