HF 2086

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 04/26/2019 03:45pm

A bill for an act
relating to state government; establishing a budget for military affairs and veterans
affairs.

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

Section 1. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS. new text end

new text begin The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are appropriated to the agencies
and for the purposes specified in this article. The appropriations are from the general fund,
or another named fund, and are available for the fiscal years indicated for each purpose.
The figures "2020" and "2021" used in this article mean that the appropriations listed under
them are available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, or June 30, 2021, respectively.
"The first year" is fiscal year 2020. "The second year" is fiscal year 2021. "The biennium"
is fiscal years 2020 and 2021.
new text end

			new text begin APPROPRIATIONS new text end
			new text begin Available for the Year new text end
			new text begin Ending June 30 new text end
				new text begin 2020 new text end		new text begin 2021 new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin MILITARY AFFAIRS new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end new text begin Total Appropriation new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 24,197,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 24,197,000 new text end

new text begin The amounts that may be spent for each
purpose are specified in the following
subdivisions.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end new text begin Maintenance of Training Facilities new text end

new text begin 9,701,000 new text end

new text begin 9,701,000 new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end new text begin General Support new text end

new text begin 3,382,000 new text end

new text begin 3,382,000 new text end

new text begin $258,000 each year is for re-integration
activities. If the amount for fiscal year 2020
is insufficient, the amount for 2021 is available
in fiscal year 2020. Any unencumbered
balance does not cancel at the end of the first
year and is available for the second year.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end new text begin Enlistment Incentives new text end

new text begin 11,114,000 new text end

new text begin 11,114,000 new text end

new text begin The appropriations in this subdivision are
available until June 30, 2023, except that any
unspent amounts allocated to a program
otherwise supported by this appropriation are
canceled to the general fund upon receipt of
federal funds in the same amount to support
administration of that program.
new text end

new text begin If the amount for fiscal year 2020 is
insufficient, the amount for 2021 is available
in fiscal year 2020. Any unencumbered
balance does not cancel at the end of the first
year and is available for the second year.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin VETERANS AFFAIRS new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end new text begin Total Appropriation new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 75,691,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 75,914,000 new text end

new text begin The amounts that may be spent for each
purpose are specified in the following
subdivisions.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end new text begin Veterans Programs and Services new text end

new text begin 17,930,000 new text end

new text begin 18,153,000 new text end

new text begin CORE Program. $750,000 each year is for
the Counseling and Case Management
Outreach Referral and Education (CORE)
program.
new text end

new text begin new text begin Veterans Service Organizations. new text end $353,000
each year is for grants to the following
congressionally chartered veterans service
organizations as designated by the
commissioner: Disabled American Veterans,
Military Order of the Purple Heart, the
American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars,
Vietnam Veterans of America, AMVETS, and
Paralyzed Veterans of America. This funding
must be allocated in direct proportion to the
funding currently being provided by the
commissioner to these organizations.
new text end

new text begin new text begin Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans. new text end
$750,000 each year is for a grant to the
Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans
to provide assistance throughout Minnesota
to veterans and their families who are
homeless or in danger of homelessness,
including assistance with the following:
new text end

new text begin (1) utilities;
new text end

new text begin (2) employment; and
new text end

new text begin (3) legal issues.
new text end

new text begin The assistance authorized under this paragraph
must be made only to veterans who have
resided in Minnesota for 30 days prior to
application for assistance and according to
other guidelines established by the
commissioner. In order to avoid duplication
of services, the commissioner must ensure that
this assistance is coordinated with all other
available programs for veterans.
new text end

new text begin State's Veterans Cemeteries. $1,647,000 in
the first year and $1,672,000 in the second
year are for the state's veterans cemeteries.
new text end

new text begin new text begin Honor Guards. new text end $200,000 each year is for
compensation for honor guards at the funerals
of veterans under Minnesota Statutes, section
197.231.
new text end

new text begin new text begin Minnesota GI Bill. new text end $200,000 each year is for
the costs of administering the Minnesota GI
Bill postsecondary educational benefits,
on-the-job training, and apprenticeship
program under Minnesota Statutes, section
197.791.
new text end

new text begin new text begin Gold Star Program. new text end $100,000 each year is
for administering the Gold Star Program for
surviving family members of deceased
veterans.
new text end

new text begin new text begin County Veterans Service Office. new text end $1,100,000
each year is for funding the County Veterans
Service Office grant program under Minnesota
Statutes, section 197.608.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end new text begin Veterans Health Care new text end

new text begin 57,761,000 new text end

new text begin 57,761,000 new text end

new text begin These appropriations may be transferred to a
veterans homes special revenue account in the
special revenue fund in the same manner as
other receipts are deposited according to
Minnesota Statutes, section 198.34, and are
appropriated to the commissioner of veterans
affairs for the operation of veterans homes
facilities and programs.
new text end

new text begin No later than January 15, 2020, the
commissioner of veterans affairs must submit
a report to the legislative committees with
jurisdiction over veterans affairs on reserve
amounts maintained in the veterans homes
special revenue account. The report must detail
current and historical amounts maintained as
a reserve, and uses of those amounts. The
report must also include data on the utilization
of existing veterans homes, including current
and historical bed capacity and usage, staffing
levels and staff vacancy rates, and
staff-to-resident ratios.
new text end

new text begin new text begin Maximize Federal Reimbursements. new text end The
commissioner shall seek opportunities to
maximize federal reimbursements of
Medicare-eligible expenses and provide annual
reports to the commissioner of management
and budget on the federal Medicare
reimbursements received. Contingent upon
future federal Medicare receipts, reductions
to the homes' general fund appropriation may
be made.
new text end