1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to veterans and military affairs; expanding the powers of the adjutant 
1.3 	general; modifying veterans home provisions; modifying provisions related to 
1.4 	armories; amending policy provisions related to veterans; extending the availability 
1.5 	of a grant for the veterans Meals on Wheels program;amending Minnesota Statutes 
1.6 	2022, sections 190.16, subdivisions 3, 6a; 192.501, by adding a subdivision; 
1.7 	193.143; 193.29, subdivisions 1, 4; 193.36, subdivisions 2, 3, by adding 
1.8 	subdivisions; 197.63, subdivision 1; 198.005; 198.006; 375.34; 375.35; Laws 2010, 
1.9 	chapter 333, article 2, section 23, as amended; Laws 2023, chapter 38, article 1, 
1.10 	section 3, subdivision 2.
1.11 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.12 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 190.16, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
1.13 		Subd. 3.Contracts; agreements. When prescribed or required by the laws of the United 
1.14 	States and any rules or regulations made thereunder, and Notwithstanding any state law to 
1.15 	the contrary, the adjutant general shall be the contracting authority and officer for any 
1.16 	construction, improvement or maintenance program or project, or any other program or 
1.17 	project financed either in whole or in part by moneys made available by the federal 
1.18 	government and may execute agreements and contracts for and in behalf of the state therefor, 
1.19 	including a dedication of the primary use and purpose of such buildings, air bases, roads, 
1.20 	utilities or other structures or facilities required in the training, housing, and maintenance 
1.21 	of the military forces of the state for periods up to and including 25 years.

1.22 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 190.16, subdivision 6a, is amended to read:
1.23 		Subd. 6a.Rental of Camp Ripley military facilities. The adjutant general or the adjutant 
1.24 	general's designee may rent buildings or other facilities at Camp Ripley of the Minnesota 
1.25 	National Guard to persons under terms and conditions specified by the adjutant general or 
2.1 	designee. Subject to any prohibitions or restrictions in any agreement between the United 
2.2 	States and the state of Minnesota, proceeds of rentals under this subdivision must be applied 
2.3 	as follows:
2.4 	(1) payment of increased utilities, maintenance, or other costs directly attributable to 
2.5 	the rental;
2.6 	(2) other operating and maintenance or repair costs for the building or facility being 
2.7 	rented; and
2.8 	(3) maintenance and improvement of buildings or other facilities at Camp Ripley.
2.9 	Rentals under this subdivision must be made under terms and conditions that do not conflict 
2.10 	with the use of Camp Ripley the facilities for military purposes.

2.11 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 192.501, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
2.12 	read:
2.13 		Subd. 1e.Referral bonus program. (a) The adjutant general may establish a program 
2.14 	to provide a bonus for referrals leading to enlistment in or commissioning into the Minnesota 
2.15 	National Guard.
2.16 	(b) The adjutant general may determine eligibility criteria for the bonus.  The adjutant 
2.17 	general must specify all criteria for the bonus in regulations and publish changes as necessary.
2.18 	(c) The referral bonus payments must be made on a schedule that is determined and 
2.19 	published in department regulations by the adjutant general.
2.20 	(d) If the adjutant general determines that a referral bonus was paid to an individual who 
2.21 	was ineligible, the adjutant general may seek to recoup the bonus.
2.22 	(e) If the adjutant general implements a referral bonus program, the adjutant general 
2.23 	must:
2.24 	(1) notify the legislative committees with jurisdiction over the Minnesota National Guard;
2.25 	(2) develop internal controls for the referral bonus program aimed at preventing fraud, 
2.26 	waste, and abuse of government resources, and publish these internal controls in regulation;
2.27 	(3) by January 16 each year, submit regulations developed under this subdivision to the 
2.28 	legislative committees with jurisdiction over the Minnesota National Guard; and
2.29 	(4) maintain an accurate record of the recipients and benefits paid under this subdivision 
2.30 	and summarize this information in the agency performance report, including information 
2.31 	regarding the rank and unit locations of bonus recipients.

3.1 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 193.143, is amended to read:
3.2 	193.143 STATE ARMORY BUILDING COMMISSION, POWERS.
3.3 	Such corporation, subject to the conditions and limitations prescribed in sections 193.141
3.4 	to 193.149, shall possess all the powers of a body corporate necessary and convenient to 
3.5 	accomplish the objectives and perform the duties prescribed by sections 193.141 to 193.149, 
3.6 	including the following, which shall not be construed as a limitation upon the general powers 
3.7 	hereby conferred:
3.8 	(1) To acquire by lease, purchase, gift, or condemnation proceedings all necessary right, 
3.9 	title, and interest in and to the lands required for a site for a new armory and all other real 
3.10 	or personal property required for the purposes contemplated by the Military Code and to 
3.11 	hold and dispose of the same, subject to the conditions and limitations herein prescribed; 
3.12 	provided that any such real or personal property or interest therein may be so acquired or 
3.13 	accepted subject to any condition which may be imposed thereon by the grantor or donor 
3.14 	and agreed to by such corporation not inconsistent with the proper use of such property by 
3.15 	the state for armory or military purposes as herein provided.
3.16 	(2) To exercise the power of eminent domain in the manner provided by chapter 117, 
3.17 	for the purpose of acquiring any property which such corporation is herein authorized to 
3.18 	acquire by condemnation; provided, that the corporation may take possession of any such 
3.19 	property so to be acquired at any time after the filing of the petition describing the same in 
3.20 	condemnation proceedings; provided further, that this shall not preclude the corporation 
3.21 	from abandoning the condemnation of any such property in any case where possession 
3.22 	thereof has not been taken.
3.23 	(3) To construct and equip new armories as authorized herein; to pay therefor out of the 
3.24 	funds obtained as hereinafter provided and to hold, manage, and dispose of such armory, 
3.25 	equipment, and site as hereinafter provided. The total amount of bonds issued on account 
3.26 	of such armories shall not exceed the amount of the cost thereof; provided also, that the 
3.27 	total bonded indebtedness of the commission shall not at any time exceed the aggregate 
3.28 	sum of $15,000,000.
3.29 	(4) To provide partnerships with federal and state governments and to match federal and 
3.30 	local funds, when available.
3.31 	(5) To sue and be sued.
3.32 	(6) To contract and be contracted with in any matter connected with any purpose or 
3.33 	activity within the powers of such corporations as herein specified; provided, that no officer 
4.1 	or member of such corporation shall be personally interested, directly or indirectly, in any 
4.2 	contract in which such corporation is interested.
4.3 	(7) To employ any and all professional and nonprofessional services and all agents, 
4.4 	employees, workers, and servants necessary and proper for the purposes and activities of 
4.5 	such corporation as authorized or contemplated herein and to pay for the same out of any 
4.6 	portion of the income of the corporation available for such purposes or activities. The officers 
4.7 	and members of such corporation shall not receive any compensation therefrom, but may 
4.8 	receive their reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in connection with the performance 
4.9 	of their duties; provided however, that whenever the duties of any member of the commission 
4.10 	require full time and attention the commission may compensate the member therefor at such 
4.11 	rates as it may determine.
4.12 	(8) To borrow money and issue bonds for the purposes and in the manner and within 
4.13 	the limitations herein specified, and to pledge any and all property and income of such 
4.14 	corporation acquired or received as herein provided to secure the payment of such bonds, 
4.15 	subject to the provisions and limitations herein prescribed, and to redeem any such bonds 
4.16 	if so provided therein or in the mortgage or trust deed accompanying the same.
4.17 	(9) To use for the following purposes any available money received by such corporation 
4.18 	from any source as herein provided in excess of those required for the payment of the cost 
4.19 	of such armory and for the payment of any bonds issued by the corporation and interest 
4.20 	thereon according to the terms of such bonds or of any mortgage or trust deed accompanying 
4.21 	the same:
4.22 	(a) to pay the necessary incidental expenses of carrying on the business and activities 
4.23 	of the corporation as herein authorized;
4.24 	(b) to pay the cost of operating, maintaining, repairing, and improving such new armories;
4.25 	(c) if any further excess money remains, to purchase upon the open market at or above 
4.26 	or below the face or par value thereof any bonds issued by the corporation as herein 
4.27 	authorized, provided that any bonds so purchased shall thereupon be canceled.
4.28 	(10) To adopt and use a corporate seal.
4.29 	(11) To adopt all needful bylaws and rules for the conduct of business and affairs of 
4.30 	such corporation and for the management and use of all armories while under the ownership 
4.31 	and control of such corporation as herein provided, not inconsistent with the use of such 
4.32 	armory for armory or military purposes.
4.33 	(12) Such corporation shall issue no stock.
5.1 	(13) No officer or member of such corporation shall have any personal share or interest 
5.2 	in any funds or property of the corporation or be subject to any personal liability by reason 
5.3 	of any liability of the corporation.
5.4 	(14) The Minnesota State Armory Building Commission created under section 193.142
5.5 	shall keep all money and credits received by it as a single fund, to be designated as the 
5.6 	"Minnesota State Armory Building Commission fund," with separate accounts for each 
5.7 	armory; and the commission may make transfers of money from funds appertaining to any 
5.8 	armory under its control for use for any other such armory; provided such transfers shall 
5.9 	be made only from money on hand, from time to time, in excess of the amounts required 
5.10 	to meet payments of interest or principal on bonds or other obligations appertaining to the 
5.11 	armory to which such funds pertain and only when necessary to pay expenses of construction, 
5.12 	operation, maintenance, and debt service, and other obligations reasonable and necessary,
5.13 	of such other armory; provided further, no such transfer of any money paid for the support 
5.14 	of any armory by the municipality in which such armory is situated shall be made by the 
5.15 	commission.
5.16 	(15) The corporation created under section 193.142 may designate one or more state or 
5.17 	national banks as depositories of its funds, and may provide, upon such conditions as the 
5.18 	corporation may determine, that the treasurer of the corporation shall be exempt from 
5.19 	personal liability for loss of funds deposited in any such depository due to the insolvency 
5.20 	or other acts or omissions of such depository.
5.21 	(16) The governor is empowered to apply for grants of money, equipment, and materials 
5.22 	which may be made available to the states by the federal government for leasing, building, 
5.23 	and equipping armories for the use of the military forces of the state which are reserve 
5.24 	components of the armed forces of the United States, whenever the governor is satisfied 
5.25 	that the conditions under which such grants are offered by the federal government, are for 
5.26 	the best interests of the state and are not inconsistent with the laws of the state relating to 
5.27 	armories, and to accept such grants in the name of the state. The Minnesota State Armory 
5.28 	Building Commission is designated as the agency of the state to receive such grants and to 
5.29 	use them for armory purposes as prescribed in this chapter, and by federal laws, and 
5.30 	regulations not inconsistent therewith.

5.31 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 193.29, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
5.32 		Subdivision 1.Armory board. The adjutant general may delegate authority for the
5.33 	control, operation, and use of each armory building and grounds occupied by any of the 
5.34 	military forces of the state shall be vested in to an armory board consisting of officers, 
6.1 	warrant officers, or enlisted personnel representing the organization or organizations 
6.2 	quartered therein, as hereinafter provided, except that the commission-owned armories 
6.3 	which have been or may be constructed or acquired and operated under the provisions of 
6.4 	sections 193.139 to 193.149, and acts supplementary thereto shall be controlled and operated 
6.5 	as provided therein.

6.6 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 193.29, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
6.7 		Subd. 4.Rentals; proceeds. The armory board may rent an armory to entities or 
6.8 	individuals under terms and conditions the board determines as determined by the adjutant 
6.9 	general, but rentals may not conflict with the use of the armory for military purposes. The 
6.10 	proceeds of rentals and all other income accruing to each armory constitutes the armory 
6.11 	fund and must be applied by the armory board of each armory, as the adjutant general shall 
6.12 	direct, for its maintenance, extension, improvement, and equipment, but all armory funds 
6.13 	and all allowances from the state accruing to commission-owned armories must be paid to 
6.14 	the commission.

6.15 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 193.36, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
6.16 		Subd. 2.May sell and convey property in certain cases. In any case when the adjutant 
6.17 	general finds it advantageous for military training, the adjutant general may sell and convey 
6.18 	property to the municipality or county in which the property is located at a price to be 
6.19 	determined by an appraiser to be selected by the adjutant general. The money received must 
6.20 	be credited to the general fund and is appropriated to the adjutant general to be used: (1) as 
6.21 	a contribution for the construction or acquisition of an armory, armories, or armory facilities 
6.22 	to replace the one sold; or (2) for the maintenance, operation, repair, rehabilitation, or 
6.23 	improvement of existing armory facilities. The money may also be transferred to the 
6.24 	Minnesota State Armory Commission: (1) for the replacement of an armory, armories, or 
6.25 	armory facilities constructed or acquired by the commission; or (2) for the maintenance, 
6.26 	operation, repair, rehabilitation, or improvement of facilities owned by the commission. If 
6.27 	the money received is not expended for the purposes stated in this subdivision within ten 
6.28 	years after the old armory has been sold, the appropriation to the adjutant general as provided 
6.29 	in this subdivision lapses. In the event that both the municipality and the county desire to 
6.30 	purchase the armory, the municipality must be given first priority to purchase the armory.
6.31 	In addition to money, the adjutant general may consider local government contributions to 
6.32 	include the donation of land, provision of utilities to provide for a new armory, or other 
6.33 	expenditures by the municipality or county.
7.1 	If the municipality or county does not purchase the property after a reasonable 
7.2 	opportunity, the adjutant general may sell and convey it to any person after a public sale of 
7.3 	the property by first advertising for bids or proposals for three consecutive weeks in a 
7.4 	newspaper of general circulation in the area that the property is located and accepting the 
7.5 	proposal most favorable to the department. The adjutant general may reject all proposals. 
7.6 	The proceeds of the sale must be credited as provided in this subdivision. The adjutant 
7.7 	general may lease any armory remaining unsold to the municipality for public purposes.

7.8 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 193.36, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
7.9 	read:
7.10 		Subd. 2a.May sell and convey property in certain cases to limited resource 
7.11 	municipalities. The adjutant general may sell and convey property to a municipality at a 
7.12 	price to be determined by the adjutant general with the condition that the property remain 
7.13 	in public use by the municipality for no less than 25 years, if the adjutant general:
7.14 	(1) finds it advantageous for military training;
7.15 	(2) intends to sell and convey property located in a municipality; and
7.16 	(3) determines that the municipality in which the property is located lacks sufficient 
7.17 	property tax base or other resources to purchase the property at the appraised value.

7.18 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 193.36, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
7.19 	read:
7.20 		Subd. 2b.Exchange of property. The adjutant general with the approval of the Land 
7.21 	Exchange Board may exchange any property for any publicly or privately held property 
7.22 	without regard for value when the adjutant general finds it advantageous for military training, 
7.23 	operations, or reduction of management costs.

7.24 	Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 193.36, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
7.25 		Subd. 3.Disposition of unsuitable armory sites and buildings. The adjutant general 
7.26 	with the approval of the governor, may sell and convey on behalf of the state any state 
7.27 	armory sites and buildings which in the judgment of the adjutant general are unsuitable for 
7.28 	military purposes or which have been condemned by proper authority as unsafe. Money 
7.29 	received from the sale of such armories shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to 
7.30 	the general fund maintenance appropriation of the Department of Military Affairs or the 
7.31 	Minnesota State Armory Building Commission as determined by the adjutant general.

8.1 	Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 193.36, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
8.2 	read:
8.3 		Subd. 4.Bond financed property. Notwithstanding a provision to the contrary in this 
8.4 	section, all conveyances, sales, or exchanges under this section of state bond financed 
8.5 	property, as defined in section 16A.695, subdivision 1, are subject to section 16A.695, 
8.6 	subdivision 3.

8.7 	Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 197.63, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
8.8 		Subdivision 1.Issuance without charge. A certified copy of a birth, death, marriage, 
8.9 	divorce, dissolution of marriage record, or certified copy of veteran's discharge recorded 
8.10 	pursuant to section 386.20, shall be issued promptly by the officer charged with the keeping 
8.11 	of the records upon the request of, and without any charge to, any veteran, the surviving 
8.12 	spouse or next of kin of the veteran, a county veteran service officer appointed pursuant to 
8.13 	section 197.60, or a service officers officer of any veterans organization chartered by the 
8.14 	Congress of the United States, or the Department of Veterans Affairs, for use in the 
8.15 	presentation of claims to the United States Veterans Administration or in connection with 
8.16 	any veterans organization or the Department of Veterans Affairs. The word "veteran" as 
8.17 	used in this section means any man or woman who is a veteran as defined in section 197.447, 
8.18 	and who is a citizen of the United States or resident alien.

8.19 	Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 198.005, is amended to read:
8.20 	198.005 ADMINISTRATORS.
8.21 	The commissioner shall appoint an administrator for each of the veterans homes. The 
8.22 	administrators act as the administrative head for their respective veterans homes. The 
8.23 	administrators shall have a current Minnesota nursing home administrator's license and shall 
8.24 	serve in the unclassified service. The salaries of the administrators are not subject to section 
8.25 	43A.17, subdivision 1. The administrators serve at the pleasure of the commissioner and 
8.26 	report directly to the commissioner.

8.27 	Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 198.006, is amended to read:
8.28 	198.006 SUPPLEMENTAL PROGRAMS.
8.29 	(a) The commissioner must work with federal, state, local, and private agencies to develop 
8.30 	alternative institutional and noninstitutional care programs for veterans to supplement the 
8.31 	mission of the homes. Veterans shall be afforded the least restrictive, most appropriate level 
8.32 	of care available.
9.1 	(b) The commissioner may work with federal, state, local, and private entities to make 
9.2 	available appropriate dental services for veterans homes residents. The commissioner may 
9.3 	engage with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to support the dental benefits 
9.4 	program authorized under this paragraph.
9.5 	(c) The commissioner may provide adult day care center programs that offer therapeutic 
9.6 	and rehabilitation health care services to veterans and support services for caregivers of 
9.7 	veterans. If the commissioner provides adult day care center programs, the commissioner 
9.8 	may collect fees from program participants. The commissioner is authorized to apply for 
9.9 	and accept federal funding for purposes of this paragraph.
9.10 	(d) The commissioner may operate a central pharmacy to provide any veterans home 
9.11 	resident with pharmaceuticals prescribed as part of the resident's care plan. Any pharmacy 
9.12 	established under this paragraph must comply with state and federal law, including any 
9.13 	applicable rules.  The commissioner may engage with the United States Department of 
9.14 	Veterans Affairs to support the central pharmacy authorized under this paragraph.

9.15 	Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 375.34, is amended to read:
9.16 	375.34 MEMORIAL DAY AND VETERANS DAY, APPROPRIATION FOR 
9.17 	OBSERVANCE.
9.18 	The county board of each county may appropriate funds from the revenue fund of the 
9.19 	county not more than $3,500 annually to aid in the observance of Memorial Day in 
9.20 	commemoration of the noble and valiant deeds of the nation's soldier dead and Veterans 
9.21 	Day.

9.22 	Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 375.35, is amended to read:
9.23 	375.35 $300 APPROPRIATIONS TO MILITARY SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS 
9.24 	FOR MEMORIAL DAY AND VETERANS DAY.
9.25 	A county board may also appropriate funds annually not more than $300 to each post 
9.26 	of a recognized military service persons' organization or society, holding charter from 
9.27 	Congress or incorporated in this state, organized and existing in the county, to defray the 
9.28 	expenses of Memorial Day and Veterans Day exercises.

10.1 	Sec. 17. Laws 2010, chapter 333, article 2, section 23, as amended by Laws 2011, First 
10.2 	Special Session chapter 12, section 47, is amended to read:
10.3 	Sec. 23. PLANNING NEW VETERANS CEMETERIES.
 10.4 	(a) The commissioner of veterans affairs shall determine a suitable site and plan for 
10.5 	threefour new state veterans cemeteries, one to be located in northeastern Minnesota, one 
10.6 	to be located in northwestern Minnesota, one to be located in southeastern Minnesota, and 
10.7 	one to be located in southwestern Minnesota. In determining the site for a cemetery, the 
10.8 	commissioner shall consider available public land options and shall seek proposals for 
10.9 	donated land from interested counties, local communities, civic organizations, veterans 
10.10 	service organizations, and individuals.
10.11 	(b) For determining the veterans cemetery site in southeastern Minnesota, the 
10.12 	commissioner shall give priority consideration to land owned and proposed for donation 
10.13 	by the county of Fillmore.
10.14 	(c) The commissioner's planning process for a state veterans cemetery must include, at 
10.15 	a minimum, the following actions:
10.16 	(1) determining the need for the cemetery;
10.17 	(2) investigating the availability of suitable land for the cemetery;
10.18 	(3) assessment of impacts of the cemetery;
10.19 	(4) encouragement of support from veteran service organizations and local governments; 
10.20 	and
10.21 	(5) preparation and submission of a preapplication for a grant from the United States 
10.22 	Department of Veterans Affairs for commitment of funding for establishing the cemetery.
10.23 	(d) By January 15, 2011, the commissioner shall report to the chair and ranking minority 
10.24 	member of the house of representatives and senate committees having responsibility for 
10.25 	veterans affairs with a report of the commissioner's progress in implementing this section.

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

10.27 	Sec. 18. Laws 2023, chapter 38, article 1, section 3, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

10.28	Subd. 2.Veterans Programs and Services
 		56,523,000
		31,214,000
	
10.29 	The amounts that may be spent for each 
10.30 	purpose are specified in the following 
11.1 	subdivisions. The base is $30,258,000 in fiscal 
11.2 	year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter.
11.3 	(a) State's Veterans Cemeteries. $4,282,000 
11.4 	each year is for the operation of the state's 
11.5 	veterans cemeteries. The base for this 
11.6 	appropriation is $3,782,000 in fiscal year 2026 
11.7 	and each fiscal year thereafter.
11.8 	(b) Veterans Service Organizations.
11.9 	$500,000 each year is for grants to the 
11.10 	following congressionally chartered veterans 
11.11 	service organizations as designated by the 
11.12 	commissioner: Disabled American Veterans, 
11.13 	Military Order of the Purple Heart, the 
11.14 	American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, 
11.15 	Vietnam Veterans of America, AMVETS, and 
11.16 	Paralyzed Veterans of America. This funding 
11.17 	must be allocated in direct proportion to the 
11.18 	funding currently being provided by the 
11.19 	commissioner to these organizations.
11.20 	(c) Honor Guards. $200,000 each year is for 
11.21 	compensation for honor guards at the funerals 
11.22 	of veterans under Minnesota Statutes, section 
11.23 	197.231.
11.24 	(d) Minnesota GI Bill. $200,000 each year is 
11.25 	for the costs of administering the Minnesota 
11.26 	GI Bill postsecondary educational benefits, 
11.27 	on-the-job training, and apprenticeship 
11.28 	program under Minnesota Statutes, section 
11.29 	197.791.
11.30 	(e) Gold Star Program. $100,000 each year 
11.31 	is for administering the Gold Star Program for 
11.32 	surviving family members of deceased 
11.33 	veterans.
12.1 	(f) County Veterans Service Office.
12.2 	$1,550,000 each year is for funding the 
12.3 	County Veterans Service Office grant program 
12.4 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 197.608.
12.5 	(g) Camp Bliss. $150,000 each year is for a 
12.6 	grant to Camp Bliss as provided under article 
12.7 	2, section 9.
12.8 	(h) Veterans on the Lake. $50,000 each year 
12.9 	is for a grant to Veterans on the Lake for 
12.10 	expenses related to retreats for veterans, 
12.11 	including therapy, transportation, and activities 
12.12 	customized for veterans. These are onetime 
12.13 	appropriations.
12.14 	(i) Veteran Resilience Project. $300,000 each 
12.15 	year is for a grant to the veteran resilience 
12.16 	project. Grant funds must be used to make eye 
12.17 	movement desensitization and reprocessing 
12.18 	therapy available to veterans, veterans' 
12.19 	spouses, current military service members, 
12.20 	and current military service members' spouses 
12.21 	who are suffering from posttraumatic stress 
12.22 	disorder and trauma. The base for this 
12.23 	appropriation is $200,000 in fiscal year 2026 
12.24 	and each fiscal year thereafter.
12.25 	The veteran resilience project must report to 
12.26 	the commissioner of veterans affairs and the 
12.27 	chairs and ranking minority members of the 
12.28 	legislative committees with jurisdiction over 
12.29 	veterans affairs policy and finance by January 
12.30 	15 of each year on the program. The report 
12.31 	must include an overview of the program's 
12.32 	budget, a detailed explanation of program 
12.33 	expenditures, the number of veterans and 
12.34 	service members served by the program, and 
13.1 	a list and explanation of the services provided 
13.2 	to program participants.
13.3 	(j) CORE Program. $1,225,000 each year is 
13.4 	for the Counseling and Case Management 
13.5 	Outreach Referral and Education (CORE) 
13.6 	program.
13.7 	(k) LinkVet Call Center. $369,000 each year 
13.8 	is for the operation of the state's LinkVet Call 
13.9 	Center.
13.10 	(l) Recently Separated Veterans Program.
13.11 	$350,000 each year is for operation of the 
13.12 	recently separated veterans program. The 
13.13 	commissioner of veterans affairs may use 
13.14 	Department of Defense and other veteran data 
13.15 	that were provided with an appropriate 
13.16 	disclosure to assist with connecting veterans 
13.17 	to resources and new programming. The 
13.18 	commissioner may use money for personnel, 
13.19 	research, marketing, technology solutions, and 
13.20 	professional or technical contracts. The base 
13.21 	for this appropriation is $300,000 in fiscal year 
13.22 	2026 and each fiscal year thereafter.
13.23 	(m) Homeless Veterans and SOAR 
13.24 	Program. $1,035,000 each year is to operate 
13.25 	the homeless veteran registry and homeless 
13.26 	programs and to assist veterans, former service 
13.27 	members, and veterans' and former service 
13.28 	members' dependents with obtaining federal 
13.29 	benefits through the Social Security 
13.30 	Administration. The commissioner of veterans 
13.31 	affairs may use money for personnel, training, 
13.32 	research, marketing, and professional or 
13.33 	technical contracts. The base for this 
13.34 	appropriation is $1,344,000 in fiscal year 2026 
13.35 	and each fiscal year thereafter.
14.1 	(n) Minnesota Assistance Council for 
14.2 	Veterans. $7,865,000 the first year and 
14.3 	$1,075,000 the second year are for grants to 
14.4 	the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans 
14.5 	to provide assistance throughout Minnesota 
14.6 	to veterans and veterans' families who are 
14.7 	homeless or in danger of homelessness, 
14.8 	including assistance with:
14.9 	(1) supportive services to maintain housing;
14.10 	(2) employment;
14.11 	(3) legal issues;
14.12 	(4) housing and housing-related costs;
14.13 	(5) transportation;
14.14 	(6) the acquisition and creation of permanent 
14.15 	supportive housing; and
14.16 	(7) property management of permanent 
14.17 	supportive housing.
14.18 	Of these amounts, $6,350,000 the first year is 
14.19 	for the establishment of permanent supportive 
14.20 	housing options for homeless veterans and 
14.21 	former service members. This is a onetime 
14.22 	appropriation and is available until June 30, 
14.23 	2026. $440,000 the first year is for the direct 
14.24 	veteran assistance grant. This is a onetime 
14.25 	appropriation. Any unencumbered balance 
14.26 	remaining in this subdivision in the first year 
14.27 	for grants to the Minnesota Assistance Council 
14.28 	for Veterans does not cancel and is available 
14.29 	for the second year. Assistance authorized 
14.30 	under this paragraph must be provided only 
14.31 	to a veteran who has resided in Minnesota for 
14.32 	30 days prior to the veteran's application for 
14.33 	assistance and according to other guidelines 
15.1 	established by the commissioner. To avoid 
15.2 	duplication of services, the commissioner must 
15.3 	ensure that this assistance is coordinated with 
15.4 	all other available programs for veterans.
15.5 	(o) Veterans Bonus Program. $15,000,000 
15.6 	the first year is for service bonuses to 
15.7 	Post-9/11 Veterans and Gold Star families 
15.8 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 197.79. This 
15.9 	is a onetime appropriation and is available 
15.10 	until June 30, 2024.
15.11 	(p) Metro Meals on Wheels. $540,000 each 
15.12 	year is for a grant to Metro Meals on Wheels 
15.13 	to provide: (1) home-delivered meals to 
15.14 	veterans; and (2) technical, enrollment, 
15.15 	outreach, and volunteer recruitment assistance 
15.16 	to member programs. Metro Meals on Wheels 
15.17 	must report to the commissioner of veterans 
15.18 	affairs and the chairs and ranking minority 
15.19 	members of the legislative committees with 
15.20 	jurisdiction over veterans affairs policy and 
15.21 	finance by September 1 each year with a 
15.22 	detailed explanation of how the grant money 
15.23 	was used and the number of veterans and 
15.24 	service members served by the program. This 
15.25 	is a onetime appropriation. Any unencumbered 
15.26 	balance does not cancel at the end of the first 
15.27 	year and is available for the second year.
15.28 	(q) Minnesota Military and Veterans 
15.29 	Museum. $225,000 the second year is for a 
15.30 	grant to the Minnesota Military and Veterans 
15.31 	Museum for museum staff to provide direct 
15.32 	services to veterans and their families. The 
15.33 	base for this appropriation is $300,000 in fiscal 
15.34 	year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter.
16.1 	(r) Every Third Saturday. $100,000 each 
16.2 	year is for a grant to Every Third Saturday to 
16.3 	provide veterans with emergency assistance 
16.4 	and internships. Every Third Saturday must 
16.5 	report to the commissioner of veterans affairs 
16.6 	and the chairs and ranking minority members 
16.7 	of the legislative committees with jurisdiction 
16.8 	over veterans affairs policy and finance no 
16.9 	later than September 1, 2024, and by 
16.10 	September 1 of each subsequent year. Each 
16.11 	report must include, at a minimum, a detailed 
16.12 	explanation of how the grant money was used 
16.13 	and the number of veterans served by the 
16.14 	program. These are onetime appropriations.
16.15 	(s) Veteran Homelessness Initiative.
16.16 	$4,311,000 the first year and $1,311,000 the 
16.17 	second year are for an initiative to prevent and 
16.18 	end veteran homelessness.
16.19 	(t) Veterans Campground Wastewater 
16.20 	System Upgrades. $744,000 the first year is 
16.21 	for one or more grants to the Veterans 
16.22 	Campground on Big Marine Lake, a 501(c)(3) 
16.23 	nonprofit organization, to design, engineer, 
16.24 	permit, and construct wastewater systems on 
16.25 	campground property to increase the capacity 
16.26 	of wastewater systems. This is a onetime 
16.27 	appropriation.

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