1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to capital investment; modifying prior appropriation for state veterans 
1.3 	cemeteries; planning new veterans cemetery in northwestern Minnesota; amending 
1.4 	Laws 2009, chapter 93, article 1, section 14, subdivision 3, as amended; Laws 
1.5 	2010, chapter 333, article 2, section 23, as amended.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. Laws 2009, chapter 93, article 1, section 14, subdivision 3, as amended by Laws 
1.8 	2011, First Special Session chapter 12, section 37, Laws 2018, chapter 214, article 2, section 
1.9 	23, and Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 9, section 2, is amended to read:

1.10	Subd. 3.Veterans Cemeteries
 				1,500,000
	
1.11 	Of this amount, up to $500,000 is to acquire 
1.12 	land located in southeastern, southwestern, 
1.13 	northwestern, and northeastern Minnesota for 
1.14 	publicly owned veterans cemeteries, to be 
1.15 	operated by the commissioner of veterans 
1.16 	affairs. The commissioner also must seek 
1.17 	donations of land for the cemeteries. The 
1.18 	balance of the appropriation is to predesign, 
1.19 	design, construct, and equip the cemeteries. 
1.20 	Federal reimbursement of design, construction, 
1.21 	and equipping costs for each cemetery must 
1.22 	be deposited in the state treasury and is 
1.23 	appropriated to the commissioner of veterans 
1.24 	affairs to design, construct, and equip the 
2.1 	remaining cemeteries. Following completion 
2.2 	of the legislatively authorized Minnesota state 
2.3 	veterans cemeteries in northwestern 
2.4 	Minnesota, Redwood, St. Louis, and Fillmore 
2.5 	Counties, final federal reimbursement of 
2.6 	predesign, design, construction, and equipping 
2.7 	costs is appropriated to the commissioner for 
2.8 	asset preservation of veterans homes 
2.9 	statewide, to be spent in accordance with 
2.10 	Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.307. Federal 
2.11 	reimbursement may be sought for each 
2.12 	cemetery and must be spent to acquire land 
2.13 	for, to predesign, design, construct, and equip 
2.14 	additional cemeteries, or for asset preservation 
2.15 	as provided in this subdivision. 
2.16 	Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 
2.17 	16A.642, the bond sale authorization and 
2.18 	appropriation of bond proceeds for this project 
2.19 	are available until December 31, 2024 2034.

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

2.21 	Sec. 2. Laws 2010, chapter 333, article 2, section 23, as amended by Laws 2011, First 
2.22 	Special Session chapter 12, section 47, is amended to read:
2.23 	Sec. 23. PLANNING NEW VETERANS CEMETERIES.
 2.24 	(a) The commissioner of veterans affairs shall determine a suitable site and plan for 
2.25 	threefour new state veterans cemeteries, one to be located in northeastern Minnesota, one 
2.26 	to be located in northwestern Minnesota, one to be located in southeastern Minnesota, and 
2.27 	one to be located in southwestern Minnesota. In determining the site for a cemetery, the 
2.28 	commissioner shall consider available public land options and shall seek proposals for 
2.29 	donated land from interested counties, local communities, civic organizations, veterans 
2.30 	service organizations, and individuals.
2.31 	(b) For determining the veterans cemetery site in southeastern Minnesota, the 
2.32 	commissioner shall give priority consideration to land owned and proposed for donation 
2.33 	by the county of Fillmore.
3.1 	(c) The commissioner's planning process for a state veterans cemetery must include, at 
3.2 	a minimum, the following actions:
3.3 	(1) determining the need for the cemetery;
3.4 	(2) investigating the availability of suitable land for the cemetery;
3.5 	(3) assessment of impacts of the cemetery;
3.6 	(4) encouragement of support from veteran service organizations and local governments; 
3.7 	and
3.8 	(5) preparation and submission of a preapplication for a grant from the United States 
3.9 	Department of Veterans Affairs for commitment of funding for establishing the cemetery.
3.10 	(d) By January 15, 2011, the commissioner shall report to the chair and ranking minority 
3.11 	member of the house of representatives and senate committees having responsibility for 
3.12 	veterans affairs with a report of the commissioner's progress in implementing this section.

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