SF 1452

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 06/06/2025 10:22 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to veterans affairs; modifying the veterans service office grant program;
appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 197.608,
subdivision 6.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 197.608, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Grant amount.

(a) Each county is eligible to receive an annual grant of $7,500
for the following purposes:

(1) to provide outreach to the county's veterans;

(2) to assist in the reintegration of combat veterans into society;

(3) to collaborate with other social service agencies, educational institutions, and other
community organizations for the purposes of enhancing services offered to veterans;

(4) to reduce homelessness among veterans; and

(5) to enhance the operations of the county veterans service office.

(b) In addition to the grant amount in paragraph (a), each county is eligible to receive
an additional annual grant under this paragraph. The amount of each additional annual grant
must be determined by the commissioner and may not exceed:

(1) $0, if the county's veteran population is less than 1,000;

(2) $2,500, if the county's veteran population is 1,000 or more but less than 3,000;

(3) $5,000, if the county's veteran population is 3,000 or more but less than 5,000;

(4) $7,500, if the county's veteran population is 5,000 or more but less than 10,000;

(5) $10,000, if the county's veteran population is 10,000 or more but less than 20,000;

(6) $15,000, if the county's veteran population is 20,000 or more but less than 30,000;
or

(7) $20,000, if the county's veteran population is 30,000 or more.

(c) The Minnesota Association of County Veterans Service Officers is eligible to receive
an annual grant of deleted text begin $100,000 deleted text end new text begin $160,000 new text end . The grant deleted text begin shall deleted text end new text begin must new text end be used for administrative costs
of the association, certification of mandated county veterans service officer training and
accreditation, and costs associated with reintegration services. new text begin Up to $60,000 of this amount
may be used to train technical assistance coordinators and for technical assistance
coordinators to travel to consult with Minnesota counties on specific areas of expertise upon
request. The Minnesota Association of County Veterans Service Officers executive board
must select technical assistance coordinators, who are either county veterans service officers
or assistant county veterans service officers, to serve for a minimum of one year.
new text end

new text begin (d) new text end The veteran population of each county shall be determined by the figure supplied
by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, as adopted by the commissioner.

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE GRANT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin $60,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $60,000 in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated from the
general fund to the commissioner of veterans affairs for a grant to the Minnesota Association
of County Veterans Service Officers under Minnesota Statutes, section 197.608, subdivision
6, paragraph (c). Of this amount, $20,000 is for a women veterans technical assistance
coordinator, $20,000 is for a veteran suicide prevention technical assistance coordinator,
and $20,000 is for a justice-involved veteran technical assistance coordinator. Any
unencumbered balance in fiscal year 2026 does not cancel and is available in fiscal year
2027.
new text end