1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to veterans; expanding eligibility for burial in the Minnesota State 
1.3 	Veterans Cemetery to include deceased allied Hmong-American or Lao-American 
1.4 	veterans of the American Secret War in Laos;amending Minnesota Statutes 
1.5 	2010, section 197.236, subdivision 8.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 197.236, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
1.8 		Subd. 8.Eligibility. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), Minnesota state 
1.9 	veterans cemeteries must be operated solely for the burial of service members who die 
1.10 	on active duty, eligible veterans, and their spouses and dependent children, as defined in 
1.11 	United States Code, title 38, section 101, paragraph (2).
1.12 	(b) To the extent permitted by United States law or federal regulation, eligibility for 
1.13 	burial in any Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery shall also include any deceased person 
1.14 	determined by the Minnesota commissioner of veterans affairs, or the commissioner's 
1.15 	designee, to be an allied Hmong-American or Lao-American veteran, or the spouse or 
1.16 	dependent of an allied Hmong-American or Lao-American veteran, of the American 
1.17 	Secret War in Laos.
1.18 	(c) The commissioner is authorized to designate responsibility for confirming an 
1.19 	applicant's status as an allied Hmong-American or Lao-American veteran of the American 
1.20 	Secret War in Laos to the chairperson of the Special Guerilla Unit Veterans & Families 
1.21 	Development of USA, Inc. The form SGU-DD214, signed by the current or former 
1.22 	chairperson of the association and issued to an applicant shall confirm the applicant's 
1.23 	status as an allied Hmong-American or Lao-American veteran of the American Secret 
1.24 	War in Laos.
1.25 	(d) For purposes of this subdivision:
2.1 	(1) "allied Hmong-American or Lao-American veteran" means a person who is 
2.2 	an American citizen of Hmong or Lao ethnicity who was recruited, trained, directed, 
2.3 	supported, and paid by the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) or other 
2.4 	military, paramilitary or nonmilitary department, agency, or unit of the United States 
2.5 	government at any time during the period of the Vietnam War, as an allied soldier or other 
2.6 	paramilitary agent assigned as a member of the CIA's Hmong Special Guerilla Unit for the 
2.7 	purpose of assisting the United States armed forces in any combat role or combat support 
2.8 	role during the Vietnam War, as verified in any reasonable manner as evidenced by a 
2.9 	written policy by the Minnesota commissioner of veterans affairs or the commissioner's 
2.10 	designee; and
2.11 	(2) "period of the Vietnam War" means July 1, 1961, to April 30, 1975.

2.12 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2012.

2.13 	Sec. 2. PURPOSE STATEMENT.
 2.14 	The purpose of section 1 is to recognize and honor this state and nation's allied 
2.15 	Hmong-American and Lao-American veterans of America's Secret War in Laos, in which 
2.16 	these Hmong-American and Lao-American veterans fought so valiantly and sacrificed 
2.17 	so greatly on behalf of members of the United States armed forces who themselves were 
2.18 	simultaneously engaged in this nation's war in Vietnam, by sharing with them the honor 
2.19 	and solace of the special eternal resting place in Minnesota's State Veterans Cemetery.

2.20 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2012.