1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to state government; establishing a budget for the Department of Military 
1.3 	Affairs and the Department of Veterans Affairs; modifying veterans bonus program 
1.4 	and Minnesota GI bill program provisions; requiring reports; appropriating money;
1.5 	amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections 190.19, subdivision 2a; 197.236, 
1.6 	subdivision 9; 197.79, subdivisions 1, 2, by adding a subdivision; 197.791, 
1.7 	subdivisions 5, 6, 7; Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 12, article 1, section 
1.8 	37, subdivision 2.
1.9 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.10 	ARTICLE 1
1.11 	MILITARY AFFAIRS AND VETERANS AFFAIRS

1.12	Section 1. APPROPRIATIONS.
 	
1.13 	The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are appropriated to the agencies 
1.14 	and for the purposes specified in this article. The appropriations are from the general fund, 
1.15 	or another named fund, and are available for the fiscal years indicated for each purpose. 
1.16 	The figures "2024" and "2025" used in this article mean that the appropriations listed under 
1.17 	them are available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, or June 30, 2025, respectively. 
1.18 	"The first year" is fiscal year 2024. "The second year" is fiscal year 2025. "The biennium" 
1.19 	is fiscal years 2024 and 2025.

1.20				APPROPRIATIONS
	
1.21				Available for the Year
	
1.22				Ending June 30
	
1.23					2024
		2025

1.24	Sec. 2. MILITARY AFFAIRS

1.25	Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation
 	$
	63,492,000
	$
	28,646,000
	
2.1 	The amounts that may be spent for each 
2.2 	purpose are specified in the following 
2.3 	subdivisions. The base is $27,156,000 in fiscal 
2.4 	year 2026 and $27,166,000 in fiscal year 2027 
2.5 	and each year thereafter.

2.6	Subd. 2.Maintenance of Training Facilities
 		9,951,000
		10,064,000

2.7	Subd. 3.General Support
 		39,247,000
		4,818,000
	
2.8 	The base is $4,828,000 in fiscal year 2026 and 
2.9 	$4,838,000 in fiscal year 2027 and each year 
2.10 	thereafter.
2.11 	(a) MN Cyber Coordination Cell (C3).
2.12 	$555,000 the first year and $562,000 the 
2.13 	second year are for administrative and payroll 
2.14 	costs to create and operate a Cyber 
2.15 	Coordination Cell in the Minnesota National 
2.16 	Guard. The base is $569,000 in fiscal year 
2.17 	2026 and $576,000 in fiscal year 2027 and 
2.18 	each year thereafter.
2.19 	(b) Army Combat Fitness Test Field House.
2.20 	$17,600,000 the first year is for predesign, 
2.21 	design, construction, furnishing, and equipping 
2.22 	costs for an Army Combat Fitness Test Field 
2.23 	House.
2.24 	(c) Minnesota Military Museum at Camp 
2.25 	Ripley. $17,000,000 the first year is for the 
2.26 	design and construction of the Minnesota 
2.27 	Military Museum at Camp Ripley. This 
2.28 	appropriation is in addition to the 
2.29 	appropriation made in Laws 2020, Fifth 
2.30 	Special Session chapter 3, article 1, section 
2.31 	14, subdivision 6, for the same purposes. This 
2.32 	is a onetime appropriation and is available 
2.33 	until June 30, 2027.
3.1 	(d) Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F).
3.2 	$304,000 the first year and $307,000 the 
3.3 	second year are for administrative and payroll 
3.4 	costs to create and operate Holistic Health and 
3.5 	Fitness (H2F) initiatives across the Minnesota 
3.6 	Army National Guard. The base is $310,000 
3.7 	in fiscal year 2026 and $313,000 in fiscal year 
3.8 	2027 and each year thereafter.

3.9	Subd. 4.Enlistment Incentives
 		13,614,000
		13,614,000
	
3.10 	The appropriations in this subdivision are 
3.11 	available until June 30, 2027.
3.12 	If the amount for fiscal year 2024 is 
3.13 	insufficient, the amount for 2025 is available 
3.14 	in fiscal year 2024. Any unencumbered 
3.15 	balance does not cancel at the end of the first 
3.16 	year and is available for the second year.

3.17	Subd. 5.Emergency Services
 		650,000
		150,000
	
3.18 	Sustain Domestic Operations 
3.19 	Communication Capabilities. $650,000 the 
3.20 	first year and $150,000 the second year are 
3.21 	for ongoing replacement of communications 
3.22 	systems to support domestic operations when 
3.23 	ordered into state service by the governor.

3.24	Sec. 3. VETERANS AFFAIRS

3.25	Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation
 	$
	145,309,000
	$
	131,551,000
	
3.26 	The amounts that may be spent for each 
3.27 	purpose are specified in the following 
3.28 	subdivisions. The base is $123,194,000 in 
3.29 	fiscal year 2026 and $124,276,000 in fiscal 
3.30 	year 2027 and each year thereafter.

3.31	Subd. 2.Veterans Programs and Services
 		55,799,000
		30,704,000
	
3.32 	The amounts that may be spent for each 
3.33 	purpose are specified in the following 
4.1 	subdivisions. The base is $30,207,000 in fiscal 
4.2 	year 2026 and $30,241,000 in fiscal year 2027.
4.3 	(a) State's Veterans Cemeteries. $4,598,000 
4.4 	the first year and $4,627,000 the second year 
4.5 	are for the operation of the state's veterans 
4.6 	cemeteries. The base is $4,158,000 in fiscal 
4.7 	year 2026 and $4,192,000 in fiscal year 2027.
4.8 	(b) Veterans Service Organizations.
4.9 	$500,000 each year is for grants to the 
4.10 	following congressionally chartered veterans 
4.11 	service organizations as designated by the 
4.12 	commissioner: Disabled American Veterans, 
4.13 	Military Order of the Purple Heart, the 
4.14 	American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, 
4.15 	Vietnam Veterans of America, AMVETS, and 
4.16 	Paralyzed Veterans of America. This funding 
4.17 	must be allocated in direct proportion to the 
4.18 	funding currently being provided by the 
4.19 	commissioner to these organizations.
4.20 	(c) Honor Guards. $200,000 each year is for 
4.21 	compensation for honor guards at the funerals 
4.22 	of veterans under Minnesota Statutes, section 
4.23 	197.231.
4.24 	(d) Minnesota GI Bill. $200,000 each year is 
4.25 	for the costs of administering the Minnesota 
4.26 	GI Bill postsecondary educational benefits, 
4.27 	on-the-job training, and apprenticeship 
4.28 	program under Minnesota Statutes, section 
4.29 	197.791.
4.30 	(e) Gold Star Program. $100,000 each year 
4.31 	is for administering the Gold Star Program for 
4.32 	surviving family members of deceased 
4.33 	veterans.
5.1 	(f) County Veterans Service Office.
5.2 	$1,550,000 each year is for funding the 
5.3 	County Veterans Service Office grant program 
5.4 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 197.608.
5.5 	(g) Camp Bliss. $150,000 each year is for a 
5.6 	grant to Camp Bliss as provided for in section 
5.7 	6. The base for this appropriation in fiscal year 
5.8 	2026 and each year thereafter is $75,000.
5.9 	(h) Veterans on the Lake. $50,000 each year 
5.10 	is for a grant to Veterans on the Lake for 
5.11 	expenses related to retreats for Minnesota 
5.12 	veterans, including therapy, transportation, 
5.13 	and activities customized for veterans. These 
5.14 	are onetime appropriations.
5.15 	(i) Veteran Resilience Project. $400,000 each 
5.16 	year is for a grant to the veteran resilience 
5.17 	project. Grant funds must be used to make eye 
5.18 	movement desensitization and reprocessing 
5.19 	therapy available to veterans, veterans' 
5.20 	spouses, current military service members, 
5.21 	and current military service members' spouses 
5.22 	who are suffering from posttraumatic stress 
5.23 	disorder and trauma. To be eligible for 
5.24 	services, a prospective client must be a 
5.25 	resident of the state or assigned to a permanent 
5.26 	duty station in the state pursuant to their 
5.27 	military service. The base for this 
5.28 	appropriation in fiscal year 2026 and each year 
5.29 	thereafter is $200,000.
5.30 	The veteran resilience project must report to 
5.31 	the commissioner of veterans affairs and the 
5.32 	chairs and ranking minority members of the 
5.33 	legislative committees with jurisdiction over 
5.34 	veterans affairs policy and finance by January 
5.35 	15 of each year on the program. The report 
6.1 	must include an overview of the program's 
6.2 	budget, a detailed explanation of program 
6.3 	expenditures, the number of veterans and 
6.4 	service members served by the program, and 
6.5 	a list and explanation of the services provided 
6.6 	to program participants.
6.7 	(j) Minnesota Military and Veterans 
6.8 	Museum. $300,000 each year is for a grant to 
6.9 	the Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum 
6.10 	for museum staff to provide direct services to 
6.11 	veterans and their families.
6.12 	(k) Every Third Saturday. $100,000 each 
6.13 	year is for a grant to Every Third Saturday to 
6.14 	provide veterans with emergency assistance 
6.15 	and internships. Every Third Saturday must 
6.16 	report to the commissioner of veterans affairs 
6.17 	and the chairs and ranking minority members 
6.18 	of the legislative committees with jurisdiction 
6.19 	over veterans affairs policy and finance no 
6.20 	later than September 1, 2024, and by 
6.21 	September 1 of each subsequent year. Each 
6.22 	report must include, at a minimum, a detailed 
6.23 	explanation of how the grant money was used 
6.24 	and the number of veterans served by the 
6.25 	program. These are onetime appropriations.
6.26 	(l) CORE Program. $1,225,000 each year is 
6.27 	for the Counseling and Case Management 
6.28 	Outreach Referral and Education (CORE) 
6.29 	program.
6.30 	(m) LinkVet Call Center. $369,000 each year 
6.31 	is for the operation of the state's LinkVet Call 
6.32 	Center.
6.33 	(n) Recently Separated Veterans Program.
6.34 	$325,000 each year is for the operation of the 
7.1 	recently separated veterans program. The 
7.2 	commissioner of veterans affairs may use 
7.3 	Department of Defense and other veteran data 
7.4 	that were provided with an appropriate 
7.5 	disclosure to assist with connecting veterans 
7.6 	to resources and new programming. The 
7.7 	commissioner may use money for personnel, 
7.8 	research, marketing, technology solutions, and 
7.9 	professional or technical contracts. The base 
7.10 	for this appropriation in fiscal year 2026 and 
7.11 	each year thereafter is $300,000.
7.12 	(o) Homeless Veterans and SOAR Program.
7.13 	$675,000 each year is to operate the homeless 
7.14 	veteran registry and homeless programs and 
7.15 	to assist veterans, former service members, 
7.16 	and their dependents with obtaining federal 
7.17 	benefits through the Social Security 
7.18 	Administration. The commissioner of veterans 
7.19 	affairs may use money for personnel, training, 
7.20 	research, marketing, and professional or 
7.21 	technical contracts. The base for this 
7.22 	appropriation in fiscal year 2026 and each year 
7.23 	thereafter is $1,097,000.
7.24 	(p) Minnesota Assistance Council for 
7.25 	Veterans. $7,090,000 the first year and 
7.26 	$970,000 the second year are for grants to the 
7.27 	Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans 
7.28 	to provide assistance throughout Minnesota 
7.29 	to veterans and their families who are 
7.30 	homeless or in danger of homelessness, 
7.31 	including assistance with:
7.32 	(1) supportive services to maintain housing;
7.33 	(2) employment;
7.34 	(3) legal issues;
8.1 	(4) housing and housing-related costs;
8.2 	(5) transportation;
8.3 	(6) the acquisition and creation of permanent 
8.4 	supportive housing; and
8.5 	(7) property management of permanent 
8.6 	supportive housing.
8.7 	Of these amounts, $5,680,000 the first year is 
8.8 	for the establishment of permanent supportive 
8.9 	housing options for homeless veterans and 
8.10 	former service members. This is a onetime 
8.11 	appropriation and is available until June 30, 
8.12 	2026. $440,000 the first year is for the direct 
8.13 	veteran assistance grant. This is a onetime 
8.14 	appropriation. Any unencumbered balance 
8.15 	remaining in this subdivision in the first year 
8.16 	for grants to the Minnesota Assistance Council 
8.17 	for Veterans does not cancel and is available 
8.18 	for the second year. The base is $970,000 in 
8.19 	fiscal year 2026 and each year thereafter. 
8.20 	Assistance authorized under this paragraph 
8.21 	must be provided only to a veteran who has 
8.22 	resided in Minnesota for 30 days prior to the 
8.23 	veteran's application for assistance and 
8.24 	according to other guidelines established by 
8.25 	the commissioner. To avoid duplication of 
8.26 	services, the commissioner must ensure that 
8.27 	this assistance is coordinated with all other 
8.28 	available programs for veterans.
8.29 	(q) Veterans Bonus Program. $15,000,000 
8.30 	the first year is for service bonuses to 
8.31 	Post-9/11 Veterans and Gold Star families 
8.32 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 197.79. This 
8.33 	is a onetime appropriation and is available 
8.34 	until June 30, 2024.
9.1 	(r) Veteran Homelessness Initiative.
9.2 	$4,311,000 the first year and $1,311,000 the 
9.3 	second year are for an initiative to prevent and 
9.4 	end veteran homelessness.
9.5 	(s) Veterans Campground Wastewater 
9.6 	System Upgrades.
9.7 	$754,000 the first year is for one or more 
9.8 	grants to the Veterans Campground on Big 
9.9 	Marine Lake, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit 
9.10 	organization, to design, engineer, permit, and 
9.11 	construct wastewater systems on campground 
9.12 	property to increase the capacity of wastewater 
9.13 	systems. This is a onetime appropriation.

9.14	Subd. 3.Veterans Health Care
 		89,510,000
		100,847,000
	
9.15 	(a) The base for this appropriation in fiscal 
9.16 	year 2026 is $92,987,000 and $94,035,000 in 
9.17 	fiscal year 2027 and each year thereafter.
9.18 	(b) $88,610,000 the first year and $99,847,000 
9.19 	the second year may be transferred to a 
9.20 	veterans homes special revenue account in the 
9.21 	special revenue fund in the same manner as 
9.22 	other receipts are deposited according to 
9.23 	Minnesota Statutes, section 198.34, and are 
9.24 	appropriated to the commissioner of veterans 
9.25 	affairs for the operation of veterans homes 
9.26 	facilities and programs. The base for this 
9.27 	transfer is $92,437,000 in fiscal year 2026 and 
9.28 	$93,485,000 in fiscal year 2027.
9.29 	(c) The department shall seek opportunities to 
9.30 	maximize federal reimbursements of 
9.31 	Medicare-eligible expenses and provide annual 
9.32 	reports to the commissioner of management 
9.33 	and budget on the federal Medicare 
9.34 	reimbursements that are received. Contingent 
10.1 	upon future federal Medicare receipts, 
10.2 	reductions to the veterans homes' general fund 
10.3 	appropriation may be made.
10.4 	(d) $350,000 the first year and $450,000 the 
10.5 	second year are for the department to staff 
10.6 	Veteran Community Health Navigators in 
10.7 	community-based hospitals. These are onetime 
10.8 	appropriations.

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

10.11	Subd. 2.Veterans Programs and Services
 		27,073,000
		22,153,000
	
10.12 	(a) CORE Program. $750,000 each year is 
10.13 	for the Counseling and Case Management 
10.14 	Outreach Referral and Education (CORE) 
10.15 	program.
10.16 	(b) Veterans Service Organizations.
10.17 	$353,000 each year is for grants to the 
10.18 	following congressionally chartered veterans 
10.19 	service organizations as designated by the 
10.20 	commissioner: Disabled American Veterans, 
10.21 	Military Order of the Purple Heart, the 
10.22 	American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, 
10.23 	Vietnam Veterans of America, AMVETS, and 
10.24 	Paralyzed Veterans of America. This funding 
10.25 	must be allocated in direct proportion to the 
10.26 	funding currently being provided by the 
10.27 	commissioner to these organizations.
10.28 	(c) Minnesota Assistance Council for 
10.29 	Veterans. $750,000 each year is for a grant 
10.30 	to the Minnesota Assistance Council for 
10.31 	Veterans to provide assistance throughout 
10.32 	Minnesota to veterans and their families who 
10.33 	are homeless or in danger of homelessness, 
10.34 	including assistance with the following:
11.1 	(1) utilities;
11.2 	(2) employment; and
11.3 	(3) legal issues.
11.4 	The assistance authorized under this paragraph 
11.5 	must be made only to veterans who have 
11.6 	resided in Minnesota for 30 days prior to 
11.7 	application for assistance and according to 
11.8 	other guidelines established by the 
11.9 	commissioner. In order to avoid duplication 
11.10 	of services, the commissioner must ensure that 
11.11 	this assistance is coordinated with all other 
11.12 	available programs for veterans.
11.13 	(d) State's Veterans Cemeteries. $6,172,000 
11.14 	the first year and $1,672,000 the second year 
11.15 	are for the state's veterans cemeteries. Of these 
11.16 	amounts, $4,500,000 the first year is to 
11.17 	construct and equip the new veterans cemetery 
11.18 	in Redwood Falls.
11.19 	(e) Honor Guards. $200,000 each year is for 
11.20 	compensation for honor guards at the funerals 
11.21 	of veterans under Minnesota Statutes, section 
11.22 	197.231.
11.23 	(f) Minnesota GI Bill. $200,000 each year is 
11.24 	for the costs of administering the Minnesota 
11.25 	GI Bill postsecondary educational benefits, 
11.26 	on-the-job training, and apprenticeship 
11.27 	program under Minnesota Statutes, section 
11.28 	197.791.
11.29 	(g) Gold Star Program. $100,000 each year 
11.30 	is for administering the Gold Star Program for 
11.31 	surviving family members of deceased 
11.32 	veterans.
12.1 	(h) County Veterans Service Office.
12.2 	$1,100,000 each year is for funding the 
12.3 	County Veterans Service Office grant program 
12.4 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 197.608.
12.5 	(i) Veteran Homelessness Initiative.
12.6 	$3,165,000 each year is for an initiative to 
12.7 	prevent and end veteran homelessness. The 
12.8 	commissioner of veterans affairs may provide 
12.9 	housing vouchers and other services to 
12.10 	alleviate homelessness among veterans and 
12.11 	former service members in Minnesota. The 
12.12 	commissioner may contract for program 
12.13 	administration and may establish a vacancy 
12.14 	reserve fund. The base for this appropriation 
12.15 	in fiscal year 2024 and each year thereafter is 
12.16 	$1,311,000.
12.17 	(j) Camp Bliss. $75,000 each year is for a 
12.18 	grant to Independent Lifestyles, Inc. for 
12.19 	expenses related to retreats for veterans at 
12.20 	Camp Bliss in Walker, Minnesota, including 
12.21 	therapy, transportation, and activities 
12.22 	customized for veterans.
12.23 	(k) Veterans On The Lake. $50,000 in the 
12.24 	first year is for a grant to Veterans on the Lake 
12.25 	for expenses related to retreats for veterans, 
12.26 	including therapy, transportation, and activities 
12.27 	customized for veterans.
12.28 	(l) Veterans Resilience Project. $400,000 
12.29 	each year is for a grant to the veterans 
12.30 	resilience project. Grant funds must be used 
12.31 	to make eye movement desensitization and 
12.32 	reprocessing therapy available to veterans and, 
12.33 	veterans' spouses, current military service 
12.34 	members, and current military service 
12.35 	members' spouses who are suffering from 
13.1 	posttraumatic stress disorder and trauma. The 
13.2 	base for this appropriation in fiscal year 2024 
13.3 	and each year thereafter is $200,000.
13.4 	The veterans resilience project must report to 
13.5 	the commissioner of veterans affairs and the 
13.6 	chairs and ranking minority members of the 
13.7 	legislative committees with jurisdiction over 
13.8 	veterans affairs policy and finance by January 
13.9 	15 of each year on the program. The report 
13.10 	must include an overview of the program's 
13.11 	budget, a detailed explanation of program 
13.12 	expenditures, the number of veterans and 
13.13 	service members served by the program, and 
13.14 	a list and explanation of the services provided 
13.15 	to program participants.
13.16 	(m) 9/11 Task Force. $500,000 the first year 
13.17 	is for the Advisory Task Force on 9/11 and 
13.18 	Global War on Terrorism Remembrance. The 
13.19 	task force must collect, memorialize, and 
13.20 	publish stories of Minnesotans' service in the 
13.21 	Global War on Terrorism and impacts on their 
13.22 	dependents. The task force must host a 
13.23 	remembrance program in September 2021. 
13.24 	This is a onetime appropriation.

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

13.26 	Sec. 5. CANCELLATION; FISCAL YEAR 2023.
 13.27 	(a) $3,000,000 of the fiscal year 2023 general fund appropriation under Laws 2021, First 
13.28 	Special Session chapter 12, article 1, section 37, subdivision 2, paragraph (i), is canceled 
13.29 	to the general fund on June 30, 2023.
13.30 	(b) $754,000 of the fiscal year 2023 general fund appropriation under Laws 2022, chapter 
13.31 	54, article 1, section 3, subdivision 2, paragraph (k), is canceled to the general fund on June 
13.32 	30, 2023.

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

14.1 	Sec. 6. CAMP BLISS GRANT PROGRAM.
 14.2 		Subdivision 1.Grant program; eligibility; reimbursement requirements. (a) The 
14.3 	commissioner of veterans affairs shall issue a grant to Independent Lifestyles, Inc., for 
14.4 	expenses related to retreats for eligible veterans and their family members at Camp Bliss 
14.5 	in the city of Walker.
14.6 	(b) The grant recipient may use grant money to provide therapy, transportation, and 
14.7 	activities customized for eligible veterans and their family members.
14.8 	(c) The commissioner must reimburse the grant recipient at least $850 for each eligible 
14.9 	veteran or family member who the commissioner verifies attended the camp and received 
14.10 	services from the grant recipient. The commissioner shall disburse money to the grant 
14.11 	recipient for up to two visits per year to the camp for each eligible veteran or family member.
14.12 		Subd. 2.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the 
14.13 	meanings given.
14.14 	(b) "Eligible veteran" means a Minnesota resident who is either:
14.15 	(1) a former armed forces service member who has a DD-214 or other official document 
14.16 	from the official military personnel file of the veteran that describes the honorable service 
14.17 	of the veteran; or
14.18 	(2) a current armed forces member, whether serving in the active or reserve component.
14.19 	(c) "Family member" means an eligible veteran's spouse, domestic partner, and children.

14.20 	Sec. 7. FINANCIAL REVIEW OF NONPROFIT GRANT RECIPIENTS REQUIRED.
 14.21 		Subdivision 1.Financial review required. (a) Before awarding a competitive, 
14.22 	legislatively named, single-source, or sole-source grant to a nonprofit organization under 
14.23 	this act, the grantor must require the applicant to submit financial information sufficient for 
14.24 	the grantor to document and assess the applicant's current financial standing and management. 
14.25 	Items of significant concern must be addressed with the applicant and resolved to the 
14.26 	satisfaction of the grantor before a grant is awarded. The grantor must document the material 
14.27 	requested and reviewed; whether the applicant had a significant operating deficit, a deficit 
14.28 	in unrestricted net assets, or insufficient internal controls; whether and how the applicant 
14.29 	resolved the grantor's concerns; and the grantor's final decision. This documentation must 
14.30 	be maintained in the grantor's files.
14.31 	(b) At a minimum, the grantor must require each applicant to provide the following 
14.32 	information:
15.1 	(1) the applicant's most recent Form 990, Form 990-EZ, or Form 990-N filed with the 
15.2 	Internal Revenue Service. If the applicant has not been in existence long enough or is not 
15.3 	required to file Form 990, Form 990-EZ, or Form 990-N, the applicant must demonstrate 
15.4 	to the grantor that the applicant is exempt and must instead submit documentation of internal 
15.5 	controls and the applicant's most recent financial statement prepared in accordance with 
15.6 	generally accepted accounting principles and approved by the applicant's board of directors 
15.7 	or trustees or, if there is no such board, by the applicant's managing group;
15.8 	(2) evidence of registration and good standing with the secretary of state under Minnesota 
15.9 	Statutes, chapter 317A, or other applicable law;
15.10 	(3) unless exempt under Minnesota Statutes, section 309.515, evidence of registration 
15.11 	and good standing with the attorney general under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 309; and
15.12 	(4) if required under Minnesota Statutes, section 309.53, subdivision 3, the applicant's 
15.13 	most recent audited financial statement prepared in accordance with generally accepted 
15.14 	accounting principles.
15.15 		Subd. 2.Authority to postpone or forgo. Notwithstanding any contrary provision in 
15.16 	this act, a grantor that identifies an area of significant concern regarding the financial standing 
15.17 	or management of a legislatively named applicant may postpone or forgo awarding the 
15.18 	grant.
15.19 		Subd. 3.Authority to award subject to additional assistance and oversight. A grantor 
15.20 	that identifies an area of significant concern regarding an applicant's financial standing or 
15.21 	management may award a grant to the applicant if the grantor provides or the grantee 
15.22 	otherwise obtains additional technical assistance, as needed, and the grantor imposes 
15.23 	additional requirements in the grant agreement. Additional requirements may include but 
15.24 	are not limited to enhanced monitoring, additional reporting, or other reasonable requirements 
15.25 	imposed by the grantor to protect the interests of the state.
15.26 		Subd. 4.Relation to other law and policy. The requirements in this section are in 
15.27 	addition to any other requirements imposed by law; the commissioner of administration 
15.28 	under Minnesota Statutes, sections 16B.97 and 16B.98; or agency policy.

16.1 	ARTICLE 2
16.2 	VETERANS AFFAIRS STATUTORY CHANGES

16.3 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 190.19, subdivision 2a, is amended to read:
16.4 		Subd. 2a.Uses; veterans. (a) Money appropriated to the Department of Veterans Affairs 
16.5 	from the Minnesota "Support Our Troops" account may be used for:
16.6 	(1) grants to veterans service organizations;
16.7 	(2) outreach to underserved veterans;
16.8 	(3) providing services and programs for veterans and their families;
16.9 	(4) transfers to the vehicle services account for Gold Star license plates under section 
16.10 	168.1253;
16.11 	(5) grants of up to $100,000 to any organization approved by the commissioner of 
16.12 	veterans affairs for the purpose of supporting and improving the lives of veterans and their 
16.13 	families;
16.14 	(6) grants to an eligible foundation; and
16.15 	(7) the agency's uncompensated burial costs for eligible dependents to whom the 
16.16 	commissioner grants a no-fee or reduced-fee burial in the state's veteran cemeteries pursuant 
16.17 	to section 197.236, subdivision 9, paragraph (b).
16.18 	(b) For purposes of this subdivision, "eligible foundation" includes any organization 
16.19 	that:
16.20 	(1) is a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code; and
16.21 	(2) is a nonprofit corporation under chapter 317A and the organization's articles of 
16.22 	incorporation specify that a purpose of the organization includes: (i) providing assistance 
16.23 	to veterans and their families; or (ii) enhancing the lives of veterans and their families.

16.24 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 197.236, subdivision 9, is amended to read:
16.25 		Subd. 9.Burial fees prohibited. (a) The commissioner of veterans affairs shall establish 
16.26 	a fee schedule, which may be adjusted from time to time, for the interment of eligible spouses 
16.27 	and dependent children. The fees shall cover as nearly as practicable the actual costs of 
16.28 	interment, excluding the value of the plot.
17.1 	(b) Upon application, the commissioner may waive or reduce the burial fee for an indigent 
17.2 	eligible person. The commissioner shall develop a policy, eligibility standards, and 
17.3 	application form for requests to waive or reduce the burial fee to indigent eligible applicants.
17.4 	(c) No plot or interment fees may be charged for the burial of service members who die 
17.5 	on active duty or eligible veterans, as defined in United States Code, title 38, section 101, 
17.6 	paragraph (2) eligible persons under subdivision 8.

17.7 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 197.79, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
17.8 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the 
17.9 	meanings given them.
17.10 	(a) "Applicant" means a veteran or a veteran's guardian, conservator, or personal 
17.11 	representative or a beneficiary or a beneficiary's guardian, conservator, or personal 
17.12 	representative who has filed an application with the commissioner for a bonus under this 
17.13 	section.
17.14 	(b) "Application" means a request for a bonus payment by a veteran, a veteran's 
17.15 	beneficiary, or a veteran's guardian, conservator, or personal representative through 
17.16 	submission of written information on a form designed by the commissioner for this purpose.
17.17 	(c) "Beneficiary" means in relation to a deceased veteran and in the order named:
17.18 	(1) the surviving spouse, if not remarried;
17.19 	(2) the children of the veteran, if there is no surviving spouse or the surviving spouse 
17.20 	has remarried;
17.21 	(3) the veteran's surviving parent or parents;
17.22 	(4) the veteran's surviving sibling or siblings; or
17.23 	(5) the veteran's estate.
17.24 	(d) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
17.25 	(e) "Department" means the Department of Veterans Affairs.
17.26 	(f) "Eligibility period for the bonus" means the period from September 11, 2001, to 
17.27 	August 30, 2021.
17.28 	(g) "Guardian" or "conservator" means the legally appointed representative of a minor 
17.29 	or incapacitated beneficiary or veteran, the chief officer of a hospital or institution in which 
17.30 	the incapacitated veteran is placed if the officer is authorized to accept money for the benefit 
17.31 	of the minor or incapacitated veteran, the person determined by the commissioner to be the 
18.1 	person who is legally charged with the responsibility for the care of the minor or incapacitated 
18.2 	beneficiary or veteran, or the person determined by the commissioner to be the person who 
18.3 	has assumed the responsibility for the care of the minor or incapacitated beneficiary or 
18.4 	veteran.
18.5 	(h) "Honorable service" means honorable federal service in the United States armed 
18.6 	forces, as evidenced by:
18.7 	(1) an honorable discharge;
18.8 	(2) a general discharge under honorable conditions;
18.9 	(3) in the case of an officer, a certificate of honorable service; or
18.10 	(4) in the case of an applicant who is currently serving in active duty in the United States 
18.11 	armed forces, a certificate from an appropriate service authority that the applicant's service 
18.12 	to date has been honorable.
18.13 	(i) "Incapacitated person" means an individual who, for reasons other than being a minor, 
18.14 	lacks sufficient understanding or the capacity to make personal decisions and who is unable 
18.15 	to meet the individual's own personal needs for medical care, nutrition, clothing, shelter, or 
18.16 	safety even when assisted by appropriate technology or supported decision making.
18.17 	(j) "Resident veteran" means a veteran who served in active duty in the United States 
18.18 	armed forces at any time during the eligibility period for the bonus, and who also:
18.19 	(1) has been separated or discharged from the United States armed forces, and whose 
18.20 	home of record at the time of entry into active duty in the United States armed forces, as 
18.21 	indicated on the person's form DD-214 or other documents the commissioner may authorize, 
18.22 	is the state of Minnesota and who resides in Minnesota at the time of application with the 
18.23 	intention of residing in the state and not for any temporary purpose. An applicant may verify 
18.24 	a residence address by presenting a valid state driver's license; a state identification card; a 
18.25 	voter registration card; a rent receipt; a statement by the landlord, apartment manager, or 
18.26 	homeowner verifying that the individual is residing at the address; or other form of 
18.27 	verification approved by the commissioner; or
18.28 	(2) is currently serving in the United States armed forces, and has a certificate from an 
18.29 	appropriate service authority stating that the person: (i) served in active duty in the United 
18.30 	States armed forces at any time during the eligibility period for the bonus; and (ii) has 
18.31 	Minnesota listed as the veteran's home of record in the veteran's official military personnel 
18.32 	file.
19.1 	(k) "Service connected" means caused by an injury or disease incurred or aggravated 
19.2 	while on active duty, as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
19.3 	(l) "Veteran" has the meaning given in section 197.447 and does not include a member 
19.4 	of the National Guard or the reserve components of the United States armed forces ordered 
19.5 	to active duty for the sole purpose of training. Veteran also includes a person who is providing 
19.6 	honorable service on active duty in the United States armed forces and has not been separated 
19.7 	or discharged.

19.8 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 197.79, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
19.9 		Subd. 2.Bonus amount. (a) For a resident veteran who provided honorable service in 
19.10 	the United States armed forces at any time during the eligibility period for the bonus, the 
19.11 	bonus amount is:
19.12 	(1) $600, if the veteran did not receive the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global 
19.13 	War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, or Afghanistan Campaign 
19.14 	Medal, or Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal during the eligibility period for the bonus;
19.15 	(2) $1200, if the veteran received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War 
19.16 	on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, or Afghanistan Campaign Medal, 
19.17 	or Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal during the eligibility period for the bonus; or
19.18 	(3) $2,000, if the veteran was eligible for the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global 
19.19 	War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, or Afghanistan Campaign 
19.20 	Medal, or Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal during the eligibility period for the bonus, 
19.21 	and died during that time period as a direct result of a service connected injury, disease, or 
19.22 	condition.
19.23 	(b) In the case of a deceased veteran, the commissioner shall pay the bonus to the veteran's 
19.24 	beneficiary.

19.25 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 197.79, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
19.26 	read:
19.27 		Subd. 11.Reapplication allowed. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, an eligible 
19.28 	veteran who previously applied for a bonus under this section may reapply if the veteran 
19.29 	either was denied a bonus or is entitled to receive a larger bonus than was originally awarded 
19.30 	based on the amendments to this section contained in this act.

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

20.1 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 197.791, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
20.2 		Subd. 5.Educational assistance. (a) On approval by the commissioner of eligibility 
20.3 	for the program, the applicant shall be awarded, on a funds-available basis, the educational 
20.4 	assistance under the program for use at any time according to program rules at any eligible 
20.5 	institution.
20.6 	(b) The amount of educational assistance in any semester or term for an eligible person 
20.7 	must be determined by subtracting from the eligible person's cost of attendance the amount 
20.8 	the person received or was eligible to receive in that semester or term from:
20.9 	(1) the federal Pell Grant;
20.10 	(2) the state grant program under section 136A.121; and
20.11 	(3) any federal military or veterans educational benefits including but not limited to the 
20.12 	Montgomery GI Bill, GI Bill Kicker, the federal tuition assistance program, vocational 
20.13 	rehabilitation benefits, and any other federal benefits associated with the person's status as 
20.14 	a veteran, except veterans disability payments from the United States Department of Veterans 
20.15 	Affairs.
20.16 	(c) The amount of educational assistance for any eligible person who is a full-time
20.17 	student must not exceed the following:
20.18 	(1) $3,000 $5,000 per state fiscal year; and
20.19 	(2) $10,000 $15,000 in a lifetime.
20.20 	(d) For a part-time student, the amount of educational assistance must not exceed $500 
20.21 	per semester or term of enrollment. For the purpose of this paragraph, a part-time 
20.22 	undergraduate student is a student taking fewer than 12 credits or the equivalent for a 
20.23 	semester or term of enrollment and a part-time graduate student is a student considered part 
20.24 	time by the eligible institution the graduate student is attending. The minimum award for 
20.25 	undergraduate and graduate students is $50 per term.

20.26 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 197.791, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
20.27 		Subd. 6.Apprenticeship and on-the-job training. (a) The commissioner, in consultation 
20.28 	with the commissioners of employment and economic development and labor and industry, 
20.29 	shall develop and implement an apprenticeship and on-the-job training program to administer 
20.30 	a portion of the Minnesota GI Bill program to pay benefit amounts to eligible persons, as 
20.31 	provided in this subdivision.
21.1 	(b) An "eligible employer" means an employer operating a qualifying apprenticeship or 
21.2 	on-the-job training program that has been approved by the commissioner.
21.3 	(c) A person is eligible for apprenticeship and on-the-job training assistance under this 
21.4 	subdivision if the person is:
21.5 	(1) a veteran who is serving or has served honorably in any branch or unit of the United 
21.6 	States armed forces at any time;
21.7 	(2) a nonveteran who has served honorably for a total of five years or more cumulatively 
21.8 	as a member of the Minnesota National Guard or any other active or reserve component of 
21.9 	the United States armed forces, and any part of that service occurred on or after September 
21.10 	11, 2001;
21.11 	(3) the surviving spouse or child of a person who has served in the military and who has 
21.12 	died as a direct result of that military service, only if the surviving spouse or child is eligible 
21.13 	to receive federal education benefits under United States Code, title 38, chapter 33, as 
21.14 	amended, or United States Code, title 38, chapter 35, as amended; or
21.15 	(4) the spouse or child of a person who has served in the military at any time and who 
21.16 	has a total and permanent service-connected disability as rated by the United States Veterans 
21.17 	Administration, only if the spouse or child is eligible to receive federal education benefits 
21.18 	under United States Code, title 38, chapter 33, as amended, or United States Code, title 38, 
21.19 	chapter 35, as amended.
21.20 	(d) The amount of assistance paid to or on behalf of an eligible individual under this 
21.21 	subdivision must not exceed the following:
21.22 	(1) $3,000 per fiscal year for apprenticeship expenses;
21.23 	(2) $3,000 per fiscal year for on-the-job training;
21.24 	(3) $1,000 for a job placement credit payable to an eligible employer upon hiring and 
21.25 	completion of six consecutive months' employment of a person receiving assistance under 
21.26 	this subdivision; and
21.27 	(4) $1,000 for a job placement credit payable to an eligible employer after a person 
21.28 	receiving assistance under this subdivision has been employed by the eligible employer for 
21.29 	at least 12 consecutive months as a full-time employee.
21.30 	(e) No more than $5,000 in aggregate benefits under this subdivision may be paid to or 
21.31 	on behalf of an individual in one fiscal year.
22.1 	(f) If an eligible person receives benefits under subdivision 5 or 5b, the eligible person's 
22.2 	aggregate benefits under this subdivision and subdivisions 5 and 5b must not exceed $10,000
22.3 	$15,000 in the eligible person's lifetime.
22.4 	(g) Assistance for apprenticeship expenses and on-the-job training is available for 
22.5 	qualifying programs, which must, at a minimum, meet the following criteria:
22.6 	(1) the training must be with an eligible employer;
22.7 	(2) the training must be documented and reported;
22.8 	(3) the training must reasonably be expected to lead to an entry-level position; and
22.9 	(4) the position must require at least six months of training to become fully trained.

22.10 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 197.791, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
22.11 		Subd. 7.Additional professional or educational benefits. (a) The commissioner shall 
22.12 	develop and implement a program to administer a portion of the Minnesota GI Bill program 
22.13 	to pay additional benefit amounts to eligible persons as provided under this subdivision.
22.14 	(b) A person is eligible for additional benefits under this subdivision if the person is:
22.15 	(1) a veteran who is serving or has served honorably in any branch or unit of the United 
22.16 	States armed forces at any time;
22.17 	(2) a nonveteran who has served honorably for a total of five years or more cumulatively 
22.18 	as a member of the Minnesota National Guard or any other active or reserve component of 
22.19 	the United States armed forces, and any part of that service occurred on or after September 
22.20 	11, 2001;
22.21 	(3) the surviving spouse or child of a person who has served in the military and who has 
22.22 	died as a direct result of that military service, only if the surviving spouse or child is eligible 
22.23 	to receive federal education benefits under United States Code, title 38, chapter 33, as 
22.24 	amended, or United States Code, title 38, chapter 35, as amended; or
22.25 	(4) the spouse or child of a person who has served in the military at any time and who 
22.26 	has a total and permanent service-connected disability as rated by the United States Veterans 
22.27 	Administration, only if the spouse or child is eligible to receive federal education benefits 
22.28 	under United States Code, title 38, chapter 33, as amended, or United States Code, title 38, 
22.29 	chapter 35, as amended.
22.30 	(c) The amount of assistance paid to or on behalf of an eligible individual under this 
22.31 	subdivision must not exceed the following amounts:
23.1 	(1) $3,000 per state fiscal year; and
23.2 	(2) $10,000 $15,000 in a lifetime.
23.3 	(d) If an eligible person receives benefits under subdivision 5 or 5a, the eligible person's 
23.4 	aggregate benefits under this subdivision and subdivisions 5 and 5a must not exceed $10,000
23.5 	$15,000 in the eligible person's lifetime.
23.6 	(e) A person eligible under this subdivision may use the benefit amounts for the following 
23.7 	purposes:
23.8 	(1) licensing or certification tests, the successful completion of which demonstrates an 
23.9 	individual's possession of the knowledge or skill required to enter into, maintain, or advance 
23.10 	in employment in a predetermined and identified vocation or profession, provided that the 
23.11 	tests and the licensing or credentialing organizations or entities that offer the tests are 
23.12 	approved by the commissioner;
23.13 	(2) tests for admission to institutions of higher learning or graduate schools;
23.14 	(3) national tests providing an opportunity for course credit at institutions of higher 
23.15 	learning;
23.16 	(4) a preparatory course for a test that is required or used for admission to an institution 
23.17 	of higher education or a graduate program; and
23.18 	(5) any fee associated with the pursuit of a professional or educational objective specified 
23.19 	in clauses (1) to (4).