1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to state government; establishing a budget for military and veterans affairs; 
1.3 	making policy and technical changes to various military and veterans affairs 
1.4 	provisions, including provisions related to veterans housing, veterans benefits, 
1.5 	veterans services, veterans bonus program, and veterans service office grant 
1.6 	program; creating a veterans service organizations grant program; requiring a 
1.7 	report; appropriating money;amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, sections 197.608, 
1.8 	subdivisions 4, 6; 197.79, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 5, 10; Minnesota Statutes 2021 
1.9 	Supplement, section 196.081; Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 12, article 
1.10 	1, section 37, subdivision 2; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 
1.11 	chapter 197.
1.12 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.13 	ARTICLE 1
1.14 	APPROPRIATIONS

1.15	Section 1. APPROPRIATIONS.
 	
1.16 	The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are added to or, if shown in 
1.17 	parentheses, subtracted from the appropriations in Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 
1.18 	12, article 1, to the agencies and for the purposes specified in this article. The appropriations 
1.19 	are from the general fund, or another named fund, and are available for the fiscal years 
1.20 	indicated for each purpose. The figures "2022" and "2023" used in this article mean that 
1.21 	the addition to or subtraction from the appropriation listed under them is available for the 
1.22 	fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, or June 30, 2023, respectively. "The first year" is the fiscal 
1.23 	year ending June 30, 2022. "The second year" is the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023. 
1.24 	Supplemental appropriations and reductions to appropriations for the fiscal year ending 
1.25 	June 30, 2022, are effective the day following final enactment.

1.26				APPROPRIATIONS
	
1.27				Available for the Year
	
2.1				Ending June 30
	
2.2					2022
		2023

2.3	Sec. 2. MILITARY AFFAIRS

2.4	Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation
 	$
	.......
	$
	2,865,000
	
2.5 	The base is increased $3,242,000 in fiscal year 
2.6 	2024 and each year thereafter.
2.7 	The amounts that may be spent for each 
2.8 	purpose are specified in the following 
2.9 	subdivisions.

2.10	Subd. 2.General Support
 		.......
		865,000
	
2.11 	(a) Holistic Health and Fitness Program.
2.12 	$765,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for 
2.13 	administrative and payroll costs to create and 
2.14 	operate Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) 
2.15 	initiatives across the Minnesota Army National 
2.16 	Guard. The base for this program is $742,000 
2.17 	in fiscal year 2024 and each year thereafter.
2.18 	(b) USS Minneapolis-St. Paul 
2.19 	Commissioning. $100,000 in fiscal year 2023 
2.20 	is for a grant to the Minnesota Navy League 
2.21 	to support activities related to the 
2.22 	commissioning of the USS Minneapolis-St. 
2.23 	Paul. This is a onetime appropriation.

2.24	Subd. 3.Enlistment Incentives
 		.......
		2,000,000
	
2.25 	$2,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated 
2.26 	from the general fund to the adjutant general 
2.27 	of military affairs for the purpose of providing 
2.28 	enlistment incentives to attract highly qualified 
2.29 	candidates for enlistment in the Minnesota 
2.30 	National Guard. The base for this 
2.31 	appropriation is $2,500,000 in fiscal year 2024 
2.32 	and each year thereafter.

2.33	Sec. 3. VETERANS AFFAIRS

3.1	Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation
 	$
	500,000
	$
	40,514,000
	
3.2 	The base is increased $10,809,000 in fiscal 
3.3 	year 2024 and $7,491,000 in fiscal year 2025.
3.4 	The amounts that may be spent for each 
3.5 	purpose are specified in the following 
3.6 	subdivisions.

3.7	Subd. 2.Veterans Programs and Services
 		500,000
		40,514,000
	
3.8 	(a) Base Adjustment. The base is increased 
3.9 	$10,809,000 in fiscal year 2024 and 
3.10 	$7,491,000 in fiscal year 2025.
3.11 	(b) Veterans Bonus Program. $24,880,000 
3.12 	in fiscal year 2023 is for service bonuses to 
3.13 	Post-9/11 Veterans and Gold Star families 
3.14 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 197.79. This 
3.15 	is a onetime appropriation.
3.16 	(c) Veterans Service Organizations Grant 
3.17 	Program. $147,000 in fiscal year 2023 and 
3.18 	each year thereafter is for grants to 
3.19 	congressionally chartered veterans service 
3.20 	organizations meeting eligibility requirements 
3.21 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 197.61, 
3.22 	subdivision 3, as designated by the 
3.23 	commissioner.
3.24 	(d) County Veterans Service Office Grant 
3.25 	Program. $450,000 in fiscal year 2023 and 
3.26 	each year thereafter is for funding the County 
3.27 	Veterans Service Office grant program under 
3.28 	Minnesota Statutes, section 197.608.
3.29 	(e) Fisher House. $500,000 in fiscal year 
3.30 	2023 is for the purpose of supporting the 
3.31 	creation of a new Fisher House near the Fargo 
3.32 	Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center 
3.33 	campus. The facility will provide temporary 
4.1 	accommodations at no charge to families and 
4.2 	caregivers of veterans receiving care at the 
4.3 	Fargo VA Health Care System. This is a 
4.4 	onetime appropriation and is available until 
4.5 	the project is completed or abandoned, subject 
4.6 	to Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.642.
4.7 	(f) Redwood Falls State Veterans Cemetery.
4.8 	$830,000 in fiscal year 2023 and each year 
4.9 	thereafter is for operations of the state's 
4.10 	veterans cemeteries, including operations in 
4.11 	Redwood County.
4.12 	(g) Minnesota Assistance Council for 
4.13 	Veterans. $8,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 is 
4.14 	for a grant to the Minnesota Assistance 
4.15 	Council for Veterans to provide assistance 
4.16 	throughout Minnesota to veterans and former 
4.17 	service members and their families who are 
4.18 	homeless or in danger of homelessness, 
4.19 	including assistance with the following:
4.20 	(1) supportive services to maintain housing;
4.21 	(2) employment;
4.22 	(3) legal issues;
4.23 	(4) housing and housing-related costs; and
4.24 	(5) transportation.
4.25 	The assistance authorized under this paragraph 
4.26 	must be made only to veterans or former 
4.27 	service members who have resided in 
4.28 	Minnesota for 30 days prior to application for 
4.29 	assistance and according to other guidelines 
4.30 	established by the commissioner. In order to 
4.31 	avoid duplication of services, the 
4.32 	commissioner must ensure that this assistance 
5.1 	is coordinated with all other available 
5.2 	programs for veterans.
5.3 	This appropriation must be used for the 
5.4 	establishment and management of permanent 
5.5 	supportive housing options for homeless 
5.6 	veterans and former service members.
5.7 	The base for this appropriation is $4,200,000 
5.8 	in fiscal year 2024 and $1,200,000 each year 
5.9 	thereafter.
5.10 	Any unencumbered balance remaining in this 
5.11 	subdivision in fiscal year 2023 is available in 
5.12 	fiscal years 2024 and 2025.
5.13 	(h) Increase Engagement and Outreach 
5.14 	Activities; Support Temporary Housing 
5.15 	Options. $1,714,000 in fiscal year 2023 and 
5.16 	each year thereafter is for temporary 
5.17 	alternative housing options for homeless 
5.18 	veterans and former service members and for 
5.19 	staff to increase outreach activities to end 
5.20 	homelessness. The commissioner of veterans 
5.21 	affairs may use funds for personnel, research, 
5.22 	marketing, and professional or technical 
5.23 	contracts.
5.24 	(i) Tenancy Supports and Landlord 
5.25 	Engagement. $1,100,000 in fiscal year 2023 
5.26 	is for incentives for landlords to assist in 
5.27 	housing homeless veterans and former service 
5.28 	members, staff, and funding to remove barriers 
5.29 	to permanent housing. The commissioner of 
5.30 	veterans affairs may use funds for financial 
5.31 	assistance, personnel, research, marketing, and 
5.32 	professional or technical contracts. The base 
5.33 	in fiscal year 2024 and each year thereafter is 
5.34 	$975,000.
6.1 	(j) Minnesota Veteran Suicide Prevention 
6.2 	Initiative. $2,125,000 in fiscal year 2023 is 
6.3 	to address the problem of death by suicide 
6.4 	among veterans in Minnesota. The 
6.5 	commissioner of veterans affairs may use 
6.6 	funds for personnel, training, research, 
6.7 	marketing, and professional or technical 
6.8 	contracts. Of this amount, the commissioner 
6.9 	may use up to:
6.10 	(1) $400,000 to initiate a veteran connections 
6.11 	pilot project by issuing a request for proposals 
6.12 	to identify a community-based, mobile, mental 
6.13 	health, and recovery tool to provide a secure 
6.14 	environment for veterans to connect with other 
6.15 	veterans; and
6.16 	(2) $150,000 to develop, in consultation with 
6.17 	stakeholders, written information on the safe 
6.18 	storage of firearms and means restriction. 
6.19 	Stakeholders include organizations 
6.20 	representing gun sellers and gun owners and 
6.21 	organizations supporting suicide prevention 
6.22 	and mental health. The written information 
6.23 	must include information on Minnesota 
6.24 	Statutes, section 609.666, and on how to store 
6.25 	firearms safely, suicide risk factors, suicide 
6.26 	lifelines, and mental health crisis services. The 
6.27 	commissioner must provide the written 
6.28 	information to licensed firearm dealers, 
6.29 	shooting ranges, chiefs of police, sheriffs, 
6.30 	county public health departments, and 
6.31 	instructors on the safe use of firearms to 
6.32 	distribute to people buying or using firearms.
6.33 	The base for this appropriation is $2,025,000 
6.34 	in fiscal year 2024 and $2,175,000 in fiscal 
6.35 	year 2025.
7.1 	(k) Metro Meals on Wheels. $468,000 in 
7.2 	fiscal year 2023 is for a grant to Metro Meals 
7.3 	on Wheels to provide:
7.4 	(1) home-delivered meals to veterans; and
7.5 	(2) technical, enrollment, fund-raising, 
7.6 	outreach, and volunteer recruitment assistance 
7.7 	to member programs.
7.8 	The base for this appropriation is $468,000 in 
7.9 	fiscal year 2024 and $0 in fiscal year 2025.
7.10 	(l) Veterans Campground Wastewater 
7.11 	System Upgrades. $800,000 in fiscal year 
7.12 	2023 is for one or more grants to the Veterans 
7.13 	Campground on Big Marine Lake, a 501(c)(3) 
7.14 	nonprofit organization, to design, engineer, 
7.15 	permit, and construct four wastewater systems 
7.16 	on campground property to increase the 
7.17 	capacity of wastewater systems.

7.18 	Sec. 4. Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 12, article 1, section 37, subdivision 2, 
7.19 	is amended to read:

7.20	Subd. 2.Veterans Programs and Services
 		27,073,000
		22,153,000
	
7.21 	(a) CORE Program. $750,000 each year is 
7.22 	for the Counseling and Case Management 
7.23 	Outreach Referral and Education (CORE) 
7.24 	program.
7.25 	(b) Veterans Service Organizations.
7.26 	$353,000 each year is for grants to the 
7.27 	following congressionally chartered veterans 
7.28 	service organizations as designated by the 
7.29 	commissioner: Disabled American Veterans, 
7.30 	Military Order of the Purple Heart, the 
7.31 	American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, 
7.32 	Vietnam Veterans of America, AMVETS, and 
7.33 	Paralyzed Veterans of America. This funding 
8.1 	must be allocated in direct proportion to the 
8.2 	funding currently being provided by the 
8.3 	commissioner to these organizations.
8.4 	(c) Minnesota Assistance Council for 
8.5 	Veterans. $750,000 each year is for a grant 
8.6 	to the Minnesota Assistance Council for 
8.7 	Veterans to provide assistance throughout 
8.8 	Minnesota to veterans and their families who 
8.9 	are homeless or in danger of homelessness, 
8.10 	including assistance with the following:
8.11 	(1) utilities;
8.12 	(2) employment; and
8.13 	(3) legal issues.
8.14 	The assistance authorized under this paragraph 
8.15 	must be made only to veterans who have 
8.16 	resided in Minnesota for 30 days prior to 
8.17 	application for assistance and according to 
8.18 	other guidelines established by the 
8.19 	commissioner. In order to avoid duplication 
8.20 	of services, the commissioner must ensure that 
8.21 	this assistance is coordinated with all other 
8.22 	available programs for veterans.
8.23 	(d) State's Veterans Cemeteries. $6,172,000 
8.24 	the first year and $1,672,000 the second year 
8.25 	are for the state's veterans cemeteries. Of these 
8.26 	amounts, $4,500,000 the first year is to 
8.27 	construct and equip the new veterans cemetery 
8.28 	in Redwood Falls.
8.29 	(e) Honor Guards. $200,000 each year is for 
8.30 	compensation for honor guards at the funerals 
8.31 	of veterans under Minnesota Statutes, section 
8.32 	197.231.
9.1 	(f) Minnesota GI Bill. $200,000 each year is 
9.2 	for the costs of administering the Minnesota 
9.3 	GI Bill postsecondary educational benefits, 
9.4 	on-the-job training, and apprenticeship 
9.5 	program under Minnesota Statutes, section 
9.6 	197.791.
9.7 	(g) Gold Star Program. $100,000 each year 
9.8 	is for administering the Gold Star Program for 
9.9 	surviving family members of deceased 
9.10 	veterans.
9.11 	(h) County Veterans Service Office.
9.12 	$1,100,000 each year is for funding the 
9.13 	County Veterans Service Office grant program 
9.14 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 197.608.
9.15 	(i) Veteran Homelessness Initiative.
9.16 	$3,165,000 each year is for an initiative to 
9.17 	prevent and end veteran homelessness. The 
9.18 	commissioner of veterans affairs may provide 
9.19 	housing vouchers and other services to 
9.20 	alleviate homelessness among veterans and 
9.21 	former service members in Minnesota. The 
9.22 	commissioner may contract for program 
9.23 	administration and may establish a vacancy 
9.24 	reserve fund. The base for this appropriation 
9.25 	in fiscal year 2024 and each year thereafter is 
9.26 	$1,311,000.
9.27 	(j) Camp Bliss. $75,000 each year is for a 
9.28 	grant to Independent Lifestyles, Inc. for 
9.29 	expenses related to retreats for veterans at 
9.30 	Camp Bliss in Walker, Minnesota, including 
9.31 	therapy, transportation, and activities 
9.32 	customized for veterans.
9.33 	(k) Veterans On The Lake. $50,000 in the 
9.34 	first year is for a grant to Veterans on the Lake 
10.1 	for expenses related to retreats for veterans, 
10.2 	including therapy, transportation, and activities 
10.3 	customized for veterans.
10.4 	(l) Veterans Veteran Resilience Project. 
10.5 	$400,000 each year is for a grant to the 
10.6 	veterans veteran resilience project. Grant funds 
10.7 	must be used to make eye movement 
10.8 	desensitization and reprocessing therapy 
10.9 	available to veterans and current military 
10.10 	service members who are suffering from 
10.11 	posttraumatic stress disorder and or trauma. 
10.12 	The base for this appropriation in fiscal year 
10.13 	2024 and each year thereafter is $200,000.
10.14 	The veterans resilience project must report to 
10.15 	the commissioner of veterans affairs and the 
10.16 	chairs and ranking minority members of the 
10.17 	legislative committees with jurisdiction over 
10.18 	veterans affairs policy and finance by January 
10.19 	15 of each year on the program. The report 
10.20 	must include an overview of the program's 
10.21 	budget, a detailed explanation of program 
10.22 	expenditures, the number of veterans and 
10.23 	service members served by the program, and 
10.24 	a list and explanation of the services provided 
10.25 	to program participants.
10.26 	(m) 9/11 Task Force. $500,000 the first year 
10.27 	is for the Advisory Task Force on 9/11 and 
10.28 	Global War on Terrorism Remembrance. The 
10.29 	task force must collect, memorialize, and 
10.30 	publish stories of Minnesotans' service in the 
10.31 	Global War on Terrorism and impacts on their 
10.32 	dependents. The task force must host a 
10.33 	remembrance program in September 2021. 
10.34 	This is a onetime appropriation.

11.1 	ARTICLE 2
11.2 	VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS POLICY

11.3 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2021 Supplement, section 196.081, is amended to read:
11.4 	196.081 VETERANS STABLE HOUSING INITIATIVE; DATA; REPORT.
11.5 		Subdivision 1.Veterans stable housing initiative. (a) The commissioner may establish 
11.6 	a veterans stable housing initiative. If the commissioner establishes a veterans stable housing 
11.7 	initiative under this section, the commissioner must provide resources and support to assist 
11.8 	veterans experiencing homelessness in obtaining or maintaining stable housing.
11.9 	(b) Data on individuals maintained by the commissioner in the Homeless Veteran Registry 
11.10 	for purposes of the veterans stable housing initiative is private data on individuals as defined 
11.11 	in section 13.02, subdivision 12, and must not be disclosed or shared except for coordinating 
11.12 	homelessness prevention efforts with:
11.13 	(1) members of the Minnesota Interagency Council on Homelessness; and
11.14 	(2) Homeless Veteran Registry partners to address a veteran's episode of homelessness 
11.15 	or maintain a veteran's housing plan through Department of Veterans Affairs funded 
11.16 	programs.
11.17 	(c) For purposes of this section, "homelessness" means that a veteran lacks a fixed, 
11.18 	nighttime residence.
11.19 		Subd. 2.Annual report.  Beginning January 15, 2023, and each year thereafter, the 
11.20 	commissioner must submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the 
11.21 	legislative committees with jurisdiction over veterans affairs and housing on the department's 
11.22 	homelessness activities. The report must include the annual inflow and outflow of former 
11.23 	service members on the homeless veteran registry, the number of currently homeless former 
11.24 	service members, the utilization of homeless programs to prevent and end a former service 
11.25 	member's episode of homelessness, and identify trends in the homeless response system.

11.26 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 197.608, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
11.27 		Subd. 4.Grant process. (a) The commissioner shall determine the process for awarding 
11.28 	grants. A grant may be used only for the purpose of enhancing the operations of the County 
11.29 	Veterans Service Office.
11.30 	(b) The commissioner shall provide a list of qualifying uses for grant expenditures as 
11.31 	developed in subdivision 5 and shall approve a grant under subdivision 6 only for a qualifying 
12.1 	use and if there are sufficient funds remaining in the grant program to cover the full amount 
12.2 	of the grant.
12.3 	(c) The commissioner is authorized to use any unexpended funding for this program to 
12.4 	provide training and education for county veterans service officers. for the following 
12.5 	purposes:
12.6 	(1) to provide training and education for county veterans service officers; and
12.7 	(2) to provide additional grants on a competitive basis to any county that proposes to 
12.8 	provide programs and services that the commissioner determines to be new and innovative 
12.9 	in serving veterans and their families.

12.10 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 197.608, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
12.11 		Subd. 6.Grant amount. (a) Each county is eligible to receive an annual grant of $7,500 
12.12 	for the following purposes:
12.13 	(1) to provide outreach to the county's veterans;
12.14 	(2) to assist in the reintegration of combat veterans into society;
12.15 	(3) to collaborate with other social service agencies, educational institutions, and other 
12.16 	community organizations for the purposes of enhancing services offered to veterans;
12.17 	(4) to reduce homelessness among veterans; and
12.18 	(5) to enhance the operations of the county veterans service office.
12.19 	(b) In addition to the grant amount in paragraph (a), each county is eligible to receive 
12.20 	an additional annual grant under this paragraph. The amount of each additional annual grant 
12.21 	must be determined by the commissioner and may not exceed:
12.22 	(1) $0, if the county's veteran population is less than 1,000;
12.23 	(2) $2,500, if the county's veteran population is 1,000 or more but less than 3,000;
12.24 	(3) $5,000, if the county's veteran population is 3,000 or more but less than 4,999 5,000;
12.25 	(4) $7,500, if the county's veteran population is 5,000 or more but less than 9,999 10,000;
12.26 	(5) $10,000, if the county's veteran population is 10,000 or more but less than 19,999
12.27 	20,000;
12.28 	(6) $15,000, if the county's veteran population is 20,000 or more but less than 29,999
12.29 	30,000; or
12.30 	(7) $20,000, if the county's veteran population is 30,000 or more.
13.1 	(c) The Minnesota Association of County Veterans Service Officers is eligible to receive 
13.2 	an annual grant of $50,000 $100,000. The grant shall be used for administrative costs of 
13.3 	the association, certification of mandated county veterans service officer training and 
13.4 	accreditation, and costs associated with reintegration services.
13.5 	The veteran population of each county shall be determined by the figure supplied by the 
13.6 	United States Department of Veterans Affairs, as adopted by the commissioner.

13.7 	Sec. 4. [197.61] VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS GRANT PROGRAM.
13.8 		Subdivision 1.Grant program. A veterans service organization grant program is 
13.9 	established to provide grants to congressionally chartered veterans service organizations 
13.10 	(VSO) to enhance the effectiveness of veterans services. The program shall be administered 
13.11 	by the commissioner of veterans affairs.
13.12 		Subd. 2.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the 
13.13 	meanings given.
13.14 	(b) "Accredited representation" means providing representation under the authority 
13.15 	granted by the VA to representatives, agents, and attorneys to assist claimants in the 
13.16 	preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims for VA benefits.
13.17 	(c) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of veterans affairs or a designee.
13.18 	(d) "Congressionally chartered veterans service organizations" are organizations that 
13.19 	have been granted charters by Congress through the enactment of public laws. Each 
13.20 	congressionally chartered VSO is listed in United States Code, title 36, subtitle II: Patriotic 
13.21 	and National Organizations.
13.22 	(e) "Department" means the Department of Veterans Affairs.
13.23 	(f) "Full member" means a veteran who meets the requirements for membership in a 
13.24 	congressionally chartered veterans service organization and is entitled to all of the rights 
13.25 	and privileges thereof. Full member does not include an associate or auxiliary member.
13.26 	(g) "VA" means the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
13.27 		Subd. 3.Eligibility. To be eligible for a grant under subdivision 6, a veterans service 
13.28 	organization must provide:
13.29 	(1) accredited representation for the preparation and presentation of veteran claims to 
13.30 	the United States government for compensation and other benefits to which a veteran is 
13.31 	entitled as a result of the veteran's military service;
14.1 	(2) a state or department level veterans service officer to provide programs and services 
14.2 	to veterans; or
14.3 	(3) statewide transportation services to veterans.
14.4 		Subd. 4.Grant process. (a) A grant may be used only for the purpose of enhancing the 
14.5 	operations of congressionally chartered veterans service organizations.
14.6 	(b) The commissioner shall provide a list of qualifying uses for grant expenditures as 
14.7 	required in subdivision 5 and shall approve a grant for a qualifying use if there is sufficient 
14.8 	grant money remaining in the grant program to cover the full amount of the grant.
14.9 		Subd. 5.Qualifying uses. The commissioner shall develop a list of qualifying uses for 
14.10 	grants awarded under this section.
14.11 		Subd. 6.Grant amount. (a) Each congressionally chartered veterans service organization 
14.12 	is eligible to receive an annual grant determined by the commissioner as follows:
14.13 	(1) a dollar amount per full member for each organization member to be established by 
14.14 	the commissioner. The dollar amount may be adjusted every biennium, subject to available 
14.15 	funding; and
14.16 	(2) a dollar amount for each organization, established by the commissioner, based on 
14.17 	the organization's share of the VA claims workload for veterans and their dependents who 
14.18 	reside in Minnesota. The VA claims workload must be reported as a percentage of the state's 
14.19 	total VA workload.
14.20 	(b) The VA claims workload for each congressionally chartered veterans service 
14.21 	organization must be determined by a report supplied by the VA, as adopted by the 
14.22 	commissioner.
14.23 		Subd. 7.Recapture. If a congressionally chartered veterans service organization fails 
14.24 	to use the grant for a qualified use approved by the commissioner or does not spend the 
14.25 	allocated grant money, the commissioner shall seek recovery of the grant from the 
14.26 	organization and the organization must repay the grant amount or any unused grant money.

14.27 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 197.79, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
14.28 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the 
14.29 	meanings given them.
14.30 	(a) "Applicant" means a veteran or a veteran's guardian, conservator, or personal 
14.31 	representative or a beneficiary or a beneficiary's guardian, conservator, or personal 
15.1 	representative who has filed an application with the commissioner for a bonus under this 
15.2 	section.
15.3 	(b) "Application" means a request for a bonus payment by a veteran, a veteran's 
15.4 	beneficiary, or a veteran's guardian, conservator, or personal representative through 
15.5 	submission of written information on a form designed by the commissioner for this purpose.
15.6 	(c) "Beneficiary" means in relation to a deceased veteran and in the order named:
15.7 	(1) the surviving spouse, if not remarried;
15.8 	(2) the children of the veteran, if there is no surviving spouse or the surviving spouse 
15.9 	has remarried;
15.10 	(3) the veteran's surviving parent or parents;
15.11 	(4) the veteran's surviving sibling or siblings; or
15.12 	(5) the veteran's estate.
15.13 	(d) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
15.14 	(e) "Department" means the Department of Veterans Affairs.
15.15 	(f) "Eligibility period for the bonus" means the period from August 2, 1990, to July 31, 
15.16 	1991 September 11, 2001, to August 30, 2021.
15.17 	(g) "Guardian" or "conservator" means the legally appointed representative of a minor 
15.18 	or incapacitated beneficiary or incompetent veteran, the chief officer of a hospital or 
15.19 	institution in which the incompetent incapacitated veteran is placed if the officer is authorized 
15.20 	to accept money for the benefit of the minor or incompetent incapacitated, the person 
15.21 	determined by the commissioner to be the person who is legally charged with the 
15.22 	responsibility for the care of the minor or incapacitated beneficiary or incompetent veteran, 
15.23 	or the person determined by the commissioner to be the person who has assumed the 
15.24 	responsibility for the care of the minor or incapacitated beneficiary or incompetent veteran.
15.25 	(h) "Honorable service" means honorable federal service in the United States armed 
15.26 	forces, as evidenced by:
15.27 	(1) an honorable discharge;
15.28 	(2) a general discharge under honorable conditions;
15.29 	(3) in the case of an officer, a certificate of honorable service; or
16.1 	(4) in the case of an applicant who is currently serving in active duty in the United States 
16.2 	armed forces, a certificate from an appropriate service authority that the applicant's service 
16.3 	to date has been honorable.
16.4 	(i) "Incapacitated person" means an individual who, for reasons other than being a minor, 
16.5 	lacks sufficient understanding or the capacity to make personal decisions and who is unable 
16.6 	to meet the individual's own personal needs for medical care, nutrition, clothing, shelter, or 
16.7 	safety even when assisted by appropriate technology or supported decision making.
16.8 	(i) (j) "Resident veteran" means a veteran who served in active duty in the United States 
16.9 	armed forces at any time during the eligibility period for the bonus, and who also:
16.10 	(1) has been separated or discharged from the United States armed forces, and whose 
16.11 	home of record at the time of entry into active duty in the United States armed forces, as 
16.12 	indicated on the person's form DD-214 or other documents the commissioner may authorize, 
16.13 	is the state of Minnesota has lived in Minnesota for at least 30 days at the time of application 
16.14 	with the intention of residing in the state and not for any temporary purpose. An applicant 
16.15 	may verify a residence address by presenting a valid state driver's license; a state 
16.16 	identification card; a voter registration card; a rent receipt; a statement by the landlord, 
16.17 	apartment manager, or homeowner verifying that the individual is residing at the address; 
16.18 	or other form of verification approved by the commissioner; or
16.19 	(2) is currently serving in the United States armed forces, and has a certificate from an 
16.20 	appropriate service authority stating that the person: (i) served in active duty in the United 
16.21 	States armed forces at any time during the eligibility period for the bonus; and (ii) had has
16.22 	Minnesota listed as the veteran's home of record at the time of entry into active duty in the 
16.23 	United States armed forces in the veteran's official military personnel file.
16.24 	(j) (k) "Service connected" means caused by an injury or disease incurred or aggravated 
16.25 	while on active duty, as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
16.26 	(k) (l) "Veteran" has the meaning given in section 197.447, and does not include a 
16.27 	member of the National Guard or the reserve components of the United States armed forces 
16.28 	ordered to active duty for the sole purpose of training. Veteran also includes:
16.29 	(1) a person who is providing honorable service on active duty in the United States 
16.30 	armed forces and has not been separated or discharged; or.
16.31 	(2) a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including 
16.32 	the National Guard, who was ordered to active duty under United States Code, title 10, 
16.33 	section 673b, during the eligibility period for the bonus and who was deployed to a duty 
17.1 	station outside the state of Minnesota, as verified by the appropriate service authority. An 
17.2 	applicant's DD-214 form showing eligibility for or award of the Southwest Asia service 
17.3 	medal during the eligibility period for the bonus will suffice as verification.
17.4 	"Veteran" does not include a member of the National Guard or the reserve components 
17.5 	of the United States armed forces ordered to active duty for the sole purpose of training.

17.6 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 197.79, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
17.7 		Subd. 2.Bonus amount. (a) For a resident veteran who provided honorable service in 
17.8 	the United States armed forces at any time during the eligibility period for the bonus, the 
17.9 	bonus amount is:
17.10 	(1) $300 $600, if the veteran did not receive the Southwest Asia service medal Armed 
17.11 	Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign 
17.12 	Medal, or Afghanistan Campaign Medal during the eligibility period for the bonus;
17.13 	(2) $600 $1200, if the veteran received the Southwest Asia service medal Armed Forces 
17.14 	Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, 
17.15 	or Afghanistan Campaign Medal during the eligibility period for the bonus; or
17.16 	(3) $2,000, if the veteran was eligible for the Southwest Asia service medal Armed 
17.17 	Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign 
17.18 	Medal, or Afghanistan Campaign Medal during the eligibility period for the bonus, and 
17.19 	died during that time period as a direct result of a service connected injury, disease, or 
17.20 	condition.
17.21 	(b) In the case of a deceased veteran, the commissioner shall pay the bonus to the veteran's 
17.22 	beneficiary.
17.23 	(c) No payment may be made to a veteran or beneficiary who has received a similar 
17.24 	bonus payment from another state.

17.25 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 197.79, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
17.26 		Subd. 3.Application process. A veteran, or the beneficiary of a veteran, entitled to a 
17.27 	bonus may make application for a bonus to the department on a form as prescribed by the 
17.28 	commissioner and verified by the applicant. If the veteran is incompetent incapacitated or 
17.29 	the veteran's beneficiary is a minor or incompetent incapacitated, the application must be 
17.30 	made by the person's guardian or conservator. An application must be accompanied by 
17.31 	evidence of residency, honorable service, active duty service during the eligibility period 
17.32 	for the bonus, and any other information the commissioner requires. The applicant must 
18.1 	indicate on the application form the bonus amount for which the applicant expects to be 
18.2 	eligible.
18.3 	If the information provided in the application is incomplete, the department must notify 
18.4 	the applicant in writing of that fact and must identify the items of information needed to 
18.5 	make a determination. After notifying an applicant that the person's application is incomplete, 
18.6 	the department shall hold the application open for up to 120 days while awaiting further 
18.7 	information from the applicant, and the applicant may submit that information within the 
18.8 	120-day period without filing an appeal and request for review.

18.9 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 197.79, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
18.10 		Subd. 5.Notices. Notices and correspondence to an applicant must be directed to the 
18.11 	applicant by mail at the address listed in the application or electronically. Notices and 
18.12 	correspondence to the commissioner must be addressed to the commissioner's office in St. 
18.13 	Paul or the designated department system.

18.14 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 197.79, subdivision 10, is amended to read:
18.15 		Subd. 10.Deadline for applications. The application period for the bonus program 
18.16 	established in this section shall be November 1, 1997, to June 30, 2001 July 1, 2022, to 
18.17 	June 30, 2024. The department may not receive or accept new applications after June 30, 
18.18 	2001 2024.