HF 3026

as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to veterans affairs; providing a health screening benefit for eligible
members of the armed forces; requiring a report; appropriating money; proposing
coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 197.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [197.08] HEALTH SCREENING FOR EXPOSURE TO DEPLETED
URANIUM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Exposure to depleted uranium. new text end

new text begin (a) The definitions in this
subdivision apply to this section.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Depleted uranium" means uranium containing less uranium 235 than the
naturally occurring distribution of uranium isotopes.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Eligible member" means a member who served in the Persian Gulf War, as
defined in United States Code, title 38, section 101, or in an area designated as a combat
zone by the president of the United States during Operation Enduring Freedom or
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
new text end

new text begin (d) "Member of the armed forces" or "member" means a member of the armed
forces of the United States, including the Minnesota National Guard, who is a resident of
this state.
new text end

new text begin (e) "Veteran" means a person who served as an eligible member.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Health screening test. new text end

new text begin After October 1, 2005, an eligible member or
veteran who returns or has returned to this state after service in an area designated as a
combat zone by the president of the United States and who has been assigned a risk level I
or II for depleted uranium exposure by the member's or veteran's branch of service,
or any other member or veteran who has reason to believe that the member or veteran
was exposed to depleted uranium during service, has the right to a best practice health
screening test for exposure to depleted uranium using a bioassay procedure involving
sensitive methods capable of detecting depleted uranium at low levels and the use of
equipment with the capacity to discriminate between different radioisotopes in naturally
occurring levels of uranium and the characteristic ratio and marker for depleted uranium.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin REPORT ON EXPOSURE TO DEPLETED URANIUM.
new text end

new text begin By January 15, 2007, the adjutant general of the Minnesota National Guard shall
submit a report to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over veterans affairs on the
scope and adequacy of training received by members of the armed forces on detecting
whether their service as eligible members is likely to entail, or to have entailed, exposure
to depleted uranium. The report must include an assessment of the feasibility and cost of
adding predeployment training concerning potential exposure to depleted uranium and
other toxic chemical substances and the precautions recommended under combat and
noncombat conditions while in a combat zone.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... is appropriated in fiscal year 2007 from the general fund to the commissioner
of veterans affairs for purposes of providing health screening for exposure to depleted
uranium to eligible members and veterans of the armed services.
new text end