1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to state government; appropriating money for veterans and military affairs; 
1.3 	creating a Veterans Service Office grant program; requiring a report;amending 
1.4 	Minnesota Statutes 2020, sections 197.608, subdivisions 4, 6; 197.79, subdivisions 
1.5 	1, 2, 3, 5, 10; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 197.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	ARTICLE 1
1.8 	VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS APPROPRIATIONS

1.9	Section 1. APPROPRIATIONS.
 	
1.10 	The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are added to or, if shown in 
1.11 	parentheses, subtracted from the appropriations in Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 
1.12 	12, article 1, to the agencies and for the purposes specified in this article. The appropriations 
1.13 	are from the general fund, or another named fund, and are available for the fiscal years 
1.14 	indicated for each purpose. The figures "2022" and "2023" used in this article mean that 
1.15 	the addition to or subtraction from the appropriation listed under them is available for the 
1.16 	fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, or June 30, 2023, respectively. "The first year" is the fiscal 
1.17 	year ending June 30, 2022. "The second year" is the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023. 
1.18 	Supplemental appropriations and reductions to appropriations for the fiscal year ending 
1.19 	June 30, 2022, are effective the day following final enactment.

1.20				APPROPRIATIONS
	
1.21				Available for the Year
	
1.22				Ending June 30
	
1.23					2022
		2023

1.24	Sec. 2. MILITARY AFFAIRS

1.25	Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation
 	$
	-0-
	$
	2,200,000
	
2.1 	The base is increased $1,000,000 in fiscal year 
2.2 	2024 and each year thereafter.
2.3 	The amounts that may be spent for each 
2.4 	purpose are specified in the following 
2.5 	subdivisions.

2.6	Subd. 2.General Support
 		-0-
		200,000
	
2.7 	$200,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for a grant to 
2.8 	the Minnesota Navy League to support 
2.9 	activities related to the commissioning of the 
2.10 	USS Minneapolis-St. Paul. This is a onetime 
2.11 	appropriation.

2.12	Subd. 3.Enlistment Incentives
 		-0-
		2,000,000
	
2.13 	$2,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for 
2.14 	enlistment incentives. The base for this 
2.15 	appropriation is increased by $1,000,000 in 
2.16 	fiscal year 2024 and each fiscal year thereafter.

2.17	Sec. 3. VETERANS AFFAIRS

2.18	Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation
 	$
	-0-
	$
	52,351,000
	
2.19 	The base is increased $4,091,000 in fiscal year 
2.20 	2024 and each fiscal year thereafter.
2.21 	The amounts that may be spent for each 
2.22 	purpose are specified in the following 
2.23 	subdivisions.

2.24	Subd. 2.Veterans Programs and Services
 		-0-
		52,351,000
	
2.25 	(a) Base Adjustment. The base is increased 
2.26 	$4,091,000 in fiscal year 2024 and each fiscal 
2.27 	year thereafter.
2.28 	(b) Veterans Homes. $16,544,000 is for 
2.29 	transfer to the commissioner of administration 
2.30 	for the design, construction, and equipping of 
2.31 	site and building improvements at the Bemidji, 
2.32 	Montevideo, and Preston state veterans home 
3.1 	building projects. This appropriation may also 
3.2 	be utilized for furniture, fixtures, and 
3.3 	equipment. Of this amount, $4,351,000 is for 
3.4 	the Bemidji state veterans home, $5,269,000 
3.5 	is for the Montevideo state veterans home, and 
3.6 	$6,924,000 is for the Preston state veterans 
3.7 	home. This is a onetime appropriation and is 
3.8 	available until the project is completed or 
3.9 	abandoned subject to Minnesota Statutes, 
3.10 	section 16A.642.
3.11 	(c) 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 	(d) Veterans Service Organizations Grant 
3.17 	Program. $147,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for 
3.18 	grants to congressionally chartered veterans 
3.19 	service organizations meeting eligibility 
3.20 	requirements under Minnesota Statutes, 
3.21 	section 197.61, subdivision 3, as designated 
3.22 	by the commissioner.
3.23 	(e) County Veterans Service Office Grant 
3.24 	Program. $450,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for 
3.25 	funding the County Veterans Service Office 
3.26 	grant program under Minnesota Statutes, 
3.27 	section 197.608.
3.28 	(f) Fisher House. $500,000 in fiscal year 2023 
3.29 	is for the purpose of supporting the creation 
3.30 	of a new Fisher House near the Fargo Veterans 
3.31 	Affairs (VA) Medical Center campus. The 
3.32 	facility will provide temporary 
3.33 	accommodations at no charge to families and 
3.34 	caregivers of veterans receiving care at the 
3.35 	Fargo VA Health Care System. This is a 
4.1 	onetime appropriation and is available until 
4.2 	the project is completed or abandoned, subject 
4.3 	to Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.642.
4.4 	(g) Redwood Falls State Veterans Cemetery.
4.5 	$830,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for operations 
4.6 	of the state's veterans cemeteries, including 
4.7 	operations in Redwood County.
4.8 	(h) Minnesota Assistance Council for 
4.9 	Veterans. $5,412,000 in fiscal year 2023 is 
4.10 	for a grant to the Minnesota Assistance 
4.11 	Council for Veterans to provide assistance 
4.12 	throughout Minnesota to veterans and former 
4.13 	service members and their families who are 
4.14 	homeless or in danger of homelessness, 
4.15 	including assistance with the following:
4.16 	(1) supportive services to maintain housing;
4.17 	(2) employment;
4.18 	(3) legal issues;
4.19 	(4) housing and housing-related costs; and
4.20 	(5) transportation.
4.21 	The assistance authorized under this paragraph 
4.22 	must be made only to veterans or former 
4.23 	service members who have resided in 
4.24 	Minnesota for 30 days prior to application for 
4.25 	assistance and according to other guidelines 
4.26 	established by the commissioner. In order to 
4.27 	avoid duplication of services, the 
4.28 	commissioner must ensure that this assistance 
4.29 	is coordinated with all other available 
4.30 	programs for veterans.
4.31 	This appropriation must be used for the 
4.32 	establishment and management of permanent 
5.1 	supportive housing options for homeless 
5.2 	veterans and former service members.
5.3 	This is a onetime appropriation. Any 
5.4 	unencumbered balance remaining in this 
5.5 	subdivision in fiscal year 2023 is available in 
5.6 	fiscal years 2024 and 2025.
5.7 	(i) Increase Engagement and Outreach 
5.8 	Activities; Support Temporary Housing 
5.9 	Options. $1,714,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for 
5.10 	temporary alternative housing options for 
5.11 	homeless veterans and former service 
5.12 	members and for staff to increase outreach 
5.13 	activities to end homelessness. The 
5.14 	commissioner of veterans affairs may use 
5.15 	funds for personnel, research, marketing, and 
5.16 	professional or technical contracts.
5.17 	(j) Tenancy Supports and Landlord 
5.18 	Engagement. $1,100,000 in fiscal year 2023 
5.19 	is for incentives for landlords to assist in 
5.20 	housing homeless veterans and former service 
5.21 	members, staff, and funding to remove barriers 
5.22 	to permanent housing. The commissioner of 
5.23 	veterans affairs may use funds for financial 
5.24 	assistance, personnel, research, marketing, and 
5.25 	professional or technical contracts. The base 
5.26 	in fiscal year 2024 and each year thereafter is 
5.27 	$950,000.
5.28 	(k) Veterans Campground Wastewater 
5.29 	System Upgrades. $774,000 in fiscal year 
5.30 	2023 is for one or more grants to the Veterans 
5.31 	Campground on Big Marine Lake, a 501(c)(3) 
5.32 	nonprofit organization, to design, engineer, 
5.33 	permit, and construct wastewater systems on 
5.34 	campground property to increase the capacity 
6.1 	of wastewater systems. This is a onetime 
6.2 	appropriation.

6.3 	Sec. 4. NEW VETERANS HOMES; BEMIDJI, MONTEVIDEO, AND PRESTON; 
6.4 	APPROPRIATION.
 6.5 	(a) $10,329,000 in fiscal year 2022 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
6.6 	commissioner of administration for new veterans homes in Bemidji, Montevideo, and 
6.7 	Preston. This appropriation is in addition to the appropriation for the same purposes in Laws 
6.8 	2018, chapter 214, article 1, section 19, subdivision 3, and is available until the project is 
6.9 	completed or abandoned subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.642.
6.10 	(b) $2,389,000 of this appropriation is to design, construct, furnish, and equip the veterans 
6.11 	home in Bemidji.
6.12 	(c) $6,955,000 of this appropriation is to design, construct, furnish, and equip the veterans 
6.13 	home in Montevideo.
6.14 	(d) $985,000 of this appropriation is to design, construct, furnish, and equip the veterans 
6.15 	home in Preston.

6.16 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

6.17 	Sec. 5. APPROPRIATIONS GIVEN EFFECT ONCE.
 6.18 	If an appropriation in this act is enacted more than once during the 2022 regular session, 
6.19 	the appropriation is to be given effect only once.

6.20 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

6.21 	ARTICLE 2
6.22 	VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS POLICY

6.23 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 197.608, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
6.24 		Subd. 4.Grant process. (a) The commissioner shall determine the process for awarding 
6.25 	grants. A grant may be used only for the purpose of enhancing the operations of the County 
6.26 	Veterans Service Office.
6.27 	(b) The commissioner shall provide a list of qualifying uses for grant expenditures as 
6.28 	developed in subdivision 5 and shall approve a grant under subdivision 6 only for a qualifying 
6.29 	use and if there are sufficient funds remaining in the grant program to cover the full amount 
6.30 	of the grant.
7.1 	(c) The commissioner is authorized to use any unexpended funding for this program to 
7.2 	provide training and education for county veterans service officers. for the following 
7.3 	purposes:
7.4 	(1) to provide training and education for county veterans service officers; and
7.5 	(2) to provide additional grants on a competitive basis to any county that proposes to 
7.6 	provide programs and services that the commissioner determines to be new and innovative 
7.7 	in serving veterans and their families.

7.8 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 197.608, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
7.9 		Subd. 6.Grant amount. (a) Each county is eligible to receive an annual grant of $7,500 
7.10 	for the following purposes:
7.11 	(1) to provide outreach to the county's veterans;
7.12 	(2) to assist in the reintegration of combat veterans into society;
7.13 	(3) to collaborate with other social service agencies, educational institutions, and other 
7.14 	community organizations for the purposes of enhancing services offered to veterans;
7.15 	(4) to reduce homelessness among veterans; and
7.16 	(5) to enhance the operations of the county veterans service office.
7.17 	(b) In addition to the grant amount in paragraph (a), each county is eligible to receive 
7.18 	an additional annual grant under this paragraph. The amount of each additional annual grant 
7.19 	must be determined by the commissioner and may not exceed:
7.20 	(1) $0, if the county's veteran population is less than 1,000;
7.21 	(2) $2,500, if the county's veteran population is 1,000 or more but less than 3,000;
7.22 	(3) $5,000, if the county's veteran population is 3,000 or more but less than 4,999 5,000;
7.23 	(4) $7,500, if the county's veteran population is 5,000 or more but less than 9,999 10,000;
7.24 	(5) $10,000, if the county's veteran population is 10,000 or more but less than 19,999
7.25 	20,000;
7.26 	(6) $15,000, if the county's veteran population is 20,000 or more but less than 29,999
7.27 	30,000; or
7.28 	(7) $20,000, if the county's veteran population is 30,000 or more.
7.29 	(c) The Minnesota Association of County Veterans Service Officers is eligible to receive 
7.30 	an annual grant of $50,000 $100,000. The grant shall be used for administrative costs of 
8.1 	the association, certification of mandated county veterans service officer training and 
8.2 	accreditation, and costs associated with reintegration services.
8.3 	The veteran population of each county shall be determined by the figure supplied by the 
8.4 	United States Department of Veterans Affairs, as adopted by the commissioner.

8.5 	Sec. 3. [197.61] VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS GRANT PROGRAM.
8.6 		Subdivision 1.Grant program. A veterans service organization grant program is 
8.7 	established to provide grants to congressionally chartered veterans service organizations 
8.8 	(VSO) to enhance the effectiveness of veterans services. The program shall be administered 
8.9 	by the commissioner of veterans affairs.
8.10 		Subd. 2.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the 
8.11 	meanings given.
8.12 	(b) "Accredited representation" means providing representation under the authority 
8.13 	granted by the VA to representatives, agents, and attorneys to assist claimants in the 
8.14 	preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims for VA benefits.
8.15 	(c) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of veterans affairs or a designee.
8.16 	(d) "Congressionally chartered veterans service organizations" are organizations that 
8.17 	have been granted charters by Congress through the enactment of public laws. Each 
8.18 	congressionally chartered VSO is listed in United States Code, title 36, subtitle II: Patriotic 
8.19 	and National Organizations.
8.20 	(e) "Department" means the Department of Veterans Affairs.
8.21 	(f) "Full member" means a veteran who meets the requirements for membership in a 
8.22 	congressionally chartered veterans service organization and is entitled to all of the rights 
8.23 	and privileges thereof. Full member does not include an associate or auxiliary member.
8.24 	(g) "VA" means the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
8.25 		Subd. 3.Eligibility. To be eligible for a grant under subdivision 6, a veterans service 
8.26 	organization must provide:
8.27 	(1) accredited representation for the preparation and presentation of veteran claims to 
8.28 	the United States government for compensation and other benefits to which a veteran is 
8.29 	entitled as a result of the veteran's military service;
8.30 	(2) a state or department level veterans service officer to provide programs and services 
8.31 	to veterans; or
9.1 	(3) statewide transportation services to veterans.
9.2 		Subd. 4.Grant process. (a) A grant may be used only for the purpose of enhancing the 
9.3 	operations of congressionally chartered veterans service organizations.
9.4 	(b) The commissioner shall provide a list of qualifying uses for grant expenditures as 
9.5 	required in subdivision 5 and shall approve a grant for a qualifying use if there is sufficient 
9.6 	grant money remaining in the grant program to cover the full amount of the grant.
9.7 		Subd. 5.Qualifying uses. The commissioner shall develop a list of qualifying uses for 
9.8 	grants awarded under this section.
9.9 		Subd. 6.Grant amount. (a) Each congressionally chartered veterans service organization 
9.10 	is eligible to receive an annual grant determined by the commissioner as follows:
9.11 	(1) a dollar amount per full member for each organization member to be established by 
9.12 	the commissioner. The dollar amount may be adjusted every biennium, subject to available 
9.13 	funding; and
9.14 	(2) a dollar amount for each organization, established by the commissioner, based on 
9.15 	the organization's share of the VA claims workload for veterans and their dependents who 
9.16 	reside in Minnesota. The VA claims workload must be reported as a percentage of the state's 
9.17 	total VA workload.
9.18 	(b) The VA claims workload for each congressionally chartered veterans service 
9.19 	organization must be determined by a report supplied by the VA, as adopted by the 
9.20 	commissioner.
9.21 		Subd. 7.Recapture. If a congressionally chartered veterans service organization fails 
9.22 	to use the grant for a qualified use approved by the commissioner or does not spend the 
9.23 	allocated grant money, the commissioner shall seek recovery of the grant from the 
9.24 	organization and the organization must repay the grant amount or any unused grant money.

9.25 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 197.79, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
9.26 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the 
9.27 	meanings given them.
9.28 	(a) "Applicant" means a veteran or a veteran's guardian, conservator, or personal 
9.29 	representative or a beneficiary or a beneficiary's guardian, conservator, or personal 
9.30 	representative who has filed an application with the commissioner for a bonus under this 
9.31 	section.
10.1 	(b) "Application" means a request for a bonus payment by a veteran, a veteran's 
10.2 	beneficiary, or a veteran's guardian, conservator, or personal representative through 
10.3 	submission of written information on a form designed by the commissioner for this purpose.
10.4 	(c) "Beneficiary" means in relation to a deceased veteran and in the order named:
10.5 	(1) the surviving spouse, if not remarried;
10.6 	(2) the children of the veteran, if there is no surviving spouse or the surviving spouse 
10.7 	has remarried;
10.8 	(3) the veteran's surviving parent or parents;
10.9 	(4) the veteran's surviving sibling or siblings; or
10.10 	(5) the veteran's estate.
10.11 	(d) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
10.12 	(e) "Department" means the Department of Veterans Affairs.
10.13 	(f) "Eligibility period for the bonus" means the period from August 2, 1990, to July 31, 
10.14 	1991 September 11, 2001, to August 30, 2021.
10.15 	(g) "Guardian" or "conservator" means the legally appointed representative of a minor 
10.16 	or incapacitated beneficiary or incompetent veteran, the chief officer of a hospital or 
10.17 	institution in which the incompetent incapacitated veteran is placed if the officer is authorized 
10.18 	to accept money for the benefit of the minor or incompetent incapacitated, the person 
10.19 	determined by the commissioner to be the person who is legally charged with the 
10.20 	responsibility for the care of the minor or incapacitated beneficiary or incompetent veteran, 
10.21 	or the person determined by the commissioner to be the person who has assumed the 
10.22 	responsibility for the care of the minor or incapacitated beneficiary or incompetent veteran.
10.23 	(h) "Honorable service" means honorable federal service in the United States armed 
10.24 	forces, as evidenced by:
10.25 	(1) an honorable discharge;
10.26 	(2) a general discharge under honorable conditions;
10.27 	(3) in the case of an officer, a certificate of honorable service; or
10.28 	(4) in the case of an applicant who is currently serving in active duty in the United States 
10.29 	armed forces, a certificate from an appropriate service authority that the applicant's service 
10.30 	to date has been honorable.
11.1 	(i) "Incapacitated person" means an individual who, for reasons other than being a minor, 
11.2 	lacks sufficient understanding or the capacity to make personal decisions and who is unable 
11.3 	to meet the individual's own personal needs for medical care, nutrition, clothing, shelter, or 
11.4 	safety even when assisted by appropriate technology or supported decision making.
11.5 	(i) (j) "Resident veteran" means a veteran who served in active duty in the United States 
11.6 	armed forces at any time during the eligibility period for the bonus, and who also:
11.7 	(1) has been separated or discharged from the United States armed forces, and whose 
11.8 	home of record at the time of entry into active duty in the United States armed forces, as 
11.9 	indicated on the person's form DD-214 or other documents the commissioner may authorize, 
11.10 	is the state of Minnesota has lived in Minnesota for at least 30 days at the time of application 
11.11 	with the intention of residing in the state and not for any temporary purpose. An applicant 
11.12 	may verify a residence address by presenting a valid state driver's license; a state 
11.13 	identification card; a voter registration card; a rent receipt; a statement by the landlord, 
11.14 	apartment manager, or homeowner verifying that the individual is residing at the address; 
11.15 	or other form of verification approved by the commissioner; or
11.16 	(2) is currently serving in the United States armed forces, and has a certificate from an 
11.17 	appropriate service authority stating that the person: (i) served in active duty in the United 
11.18 	States armed forces at any time during the eligibility period for the bonus; and (ii) had has
11.19 	Minnesota listed as the veteran's home of record at the time of entry into active duty in the 
11.20 	United States armed forces in the veteran's official military personnel file.
11.21 	(j) (k) "Service connected" means caused by an injury or disease incurred or aggravated 
11.22 	while on active duty, as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
11.23 	(k) (l) "Veteran" has the meaning given in section 197.447, and does not include a 
11.24 	member of the National Guard or the reserve components of the United States armed forces 
11.25 	ordered to active duty for the sole purpose of training. Veteran also includes:
11.26 	(1) a person who is providing honorable service on active duty in the United States 
11.27 	armed forces and has not been separated or discharged; or.
11.28 	(2) a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including 
11.29 	the National Guard, who was ordered to active duty under United States Code, title 10, 
11.30 	section 673b, during the eligibility period for the bonus and who was deployed to a duty 
11.31 	station outside the state of Minnesota, as verified by the appropriate service authority. An 
11.32 	applicant's DD-214 form showing eligibility for or award of the Southwest Asia service 
11.33 	medal during the eligibility period for the bonus will suffice as verification.
12.1 	"Veteran" does not include a member of the National Guard or the reserve components 
12.2 	of the United States armed forces ordered to active duty for the sole purpose of training.

12.3 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 197.79, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
12.4 		Subd. 2.Bonus amount. (a) For a resident veteran who provided honorable service in 
12.5 	the United States armed forces at any time during the eligibility period for the bonus, the 
12.6 	bonus amount is:
12.7 	(1) $300 $600, if the veteran did not receive the Southwest Asia service medal Armed 
12.8 	Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign 
12.9 	Medal, or Afghanistan Campaign Medal during the eligibility period for the bonus;
12.10 	(2) $600 $1200, if the veteran received the Southwest Asia service medal Armed Forces 
12.11 	Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, 
12.12 	or Afghanistan Campaign Medal during the eligibility period for the bonus; or
12.13 	(3) $2,000, if the veteran was eligible for the Southwest Asia service medal Armed 
12.14 	Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign 
12.15 	Medal, or Afghanistan Campaign Medal during the eligibility period for the bonus, and 
12.16 	died during that time period as a direct result of a service connected injury, disease, or 
12.17 	condition.
12.18 	(b) In the case of a deceased veteran, the commissioner shall pay the bonus to the veteran's 
12.19 	beneficiary.
12.20 	(c) No payment may be made to a veteran or beneficiary who has received a similar 
12.21 	bonus payment from another state.

12.22 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 197.79, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
12.23 		Subd. 3.Application process. A veteran, or the beneficiary of a veteran, entitled to a 
12.24 	bonus may make application for a bonus to the department on a form as prescribed by the 
12.25 	commissioner and verified by the applicant. If the veteran is incompetent incapacitated or 
12.26 	the veteran's beneficiary is a minor or incompetent incapacitated, the application must be 
12.27 	made by the person's guardian or conservator. An application must be accompanied by 
12.28 	evidence of residency, honorable service, active duty service during the eligibility period 
12.29 	for the bonus, and any other information the commissioner requires. The applicant must 
12.30 	indicate on the application form the bonus amount for which the applicant expects to be 
12.31 	eligible.
13.1 	If the information provided in the application is incomplete, the department must notify 
13.2 	the applicant in writing of that fact and must identify the items of information needed to 
13.3 	make a determination. After notifying an applicant that the person's application is incomplete, 
13.4 	the department shall hold the application open for up to 120 days while awaiting further 
13.5 	information from the applicant, and the applicant may submit that information within the 
13.6 	120-day period without filing an appeal and request for review.

13.7 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 197.79, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
13.8 		Subd. 5.Notices. Notices and correspondence to an applicant must be directed to the 
13.9 	applicant by mail at the address listed in the application or electronically. Notices and 
13.10 	correspondence to the commissioner must be addressed to the commissioner's office in St. 
13.11 	Paul or the designated department system.

13.12 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 197.79, subdivision 10, is amended to read:
13.13 		Subd. 10.Deadline for applications. The application period for the bonus program 
13.14 	established in this section shall be November 1, 1997, to June 30, 2001 July 1, 2022, to 
13.15 	June 30, 2024. The department may not receive or accept new applications after June 30, 
13.16 	2001 2024.

13.17 	Sec. 9. VETERANS HOMES; REPORT.
 13.18 	By February 15, 2023, the commissioner of administration must report to the legislative 
13.19 	committees with jurisdiction over veterans affairs on the use of the money appropriated 
13.20 	under article 1, section 3, subdivision 2, paragraph (b), and section 4, including information 
13.21 	on the status of the Bemidji, Montevideo, and Preston state veterans homes building projects. 
13.22 	By February 15, 2026, the commissioner of administration must submit a final report to the 
13.23 	legislative committees with jurisdiction over veterans affairs on how the total appropriations 
13.24 	were spent.