1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to veterans; expanding the definition of veteran;amending Minnesota 
1.3 	Statutes 2020, section 197.447.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 197.447, is amended to read:
1.6 	197.447 VETERAN, DEFINED.
1.7 	The word "veteran" as used in Minnesota Statutes, except in sections 136F.28, 196.21, 
1.8 	and 243.251, means:
1.9 	(1) a citizen of the United States or a resident alien who has been separated under 
1.10 	honorable conditions from any branch of the armed forces of the United States after having 
1.11 	served on active duty for 181 consecutive days or by reason of disability incurred while 
1.12 	serving on active duty, or who has met the minimum active duty requirement as defined by 
1.13 	Code of Federal Regulations, title 38, section 3.12a, or who has active military service 
1.14 	certified under section 401, Public Law 95-202. The active military service must be certified 
1.15 	by the United States secretary of defense as active military service and a discharge under 
1.16 	honorable conditions must be issued by the secretary.;
1.17 	(2) an individual who was naturalized as provided in section 2(1) of the federal Hmong 
1.18 	Veterans' Naturalization Act of 2000, Public Law 106-207, and resides in this state; or
1.19 	(3) an individual who the commissioner of veterans affairs determines served honorably 
1.20 	with a special guerrilla unit or irregular forces operating from a base in Laos as a surrogate 
1.21 	soldier in support of the United States armed forces at any time during the period beginning 
1.22 	February 28, 1961, and ending May 14, 1975, and is either a United States citizen or a 
2.1 	noncitizen lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States and resides in 
2.2 	the state.

2.3 	Sec. 2. OUTREACH EFFORTS FOR NEW VETERANS.
 2.4 	The commissioner of veterans affairs shall conduct concentrated outreach efforts to 
2.5 	inform new veterans under Minnesota Statutes, section 197.447, clauses (2) and (3), of 
2.6 	services and programs for which they are eligible. The commissioner shall use a bilingual 
2.7 	liaison to assist with the outreach.