1st Engrossment - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am
A bill for an act
relating to the military; expanding eligibility for the salary differential program
for state employees ordered into active military service; permitting military
personnel stationed outside Minnesota to use state parks without fee while
home on leave; providing leave without pay to family members of soldiers
wounded or killed while in active service, and for family members of deployed
soldiers to attend send-off or homecoming ceremonies; establishing a policy
statement supportive of military service; providing certain job protections for
persons ordered into active military service; adding cross-references; directing
institutions of higher education to provide credit for military training and
experience for veterans; clarifying law governing renewal of occupational
licenses and professional certifications during and following active military
service; authorizing National Guard security guard employees to carry certain
weapons; authorizing the placement of plaques honoring certain veterans in the
Court of Honor; amending Minnesota Statutes 2004, sections 85.053, by adding
a subdivision; 190.055; 326.56; 609.67, subdivisions 3, 5; 626.88, subdivision
1; Minnesota Statutes 2005 Supplement, sections 43A.183; 192.502, by adding
subdivisions; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters
181; 190; 197.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Minnesota Statutes 2005 Supplement, section 43A.183, is amended to read:
deleted text begin(a)deleted text end Each agency head shall pay to each eligible
member deleted text beginof the National Guard or other reserve component of the United States armed
forcesdeleted text end an amount equal to the person's salary differential for each month or portion of
month that the person is ordered to serve in active deleted text beginmilitarydeleted text end service. deleted text beginThe person's salary
differential is calculated as
deleted text end
new text begin
This payment may be made only to a person for whom the amount in subdivision
2, paragraph (b), clause (1), is greater than the amount in subdivision 2, paragraph (b),
clause (2). Payments must be made at the intervals at which the member received pay
as a state employee, except that any back pay due under this section may be paid as a
lump sum. Payment under this section must not extend beyond four years from the date
the employee reported for active service, plus any additional time the employee may
be legally required to serve. An eligible member may apply for the salary differential
benefits authorized under this section prior to, during, or following the person's active
service on or after May 29, 2003.
new text end
new text begin
(a) The definitions in this subdivision apply to this section.
new text end
new text begin (b) "Salary differential" meansnew text end the difference between:
(1) the person's monthly total gross earnings as an active state employee, excluding
any overtime pay received but including all other earnings, averaged over the last three
full months of the person's active state employment prior to reporting to active deleted text beginmilitarydeleted text end
service, and including any additional salary or earnings adjustments that the person
would have received at any time during the person's deleted text beginmilitarydeleted text endnew text begin authorizednew text end leave new text beginfrom state
employment new text endhad the person been serving as an active state employee during that time; and
(2) the person's monthly base pay in active deleted text beginmilitarydeleted text end service.
deleted text begin
This payment may be made only to a person for whom the amount in clause (1) is
greater than the amount in clause (2). Payments must be made at the intervals at which
the member received pay as a state employee, except that any back pay due under this
section may be paid as a lump sum. Payment under this section must not extend beyond
four years from the date the employee reported for active service, plus any additional
time the employee may be legally required to serve. An eligible member of the National
Guard or other reserve component of the United States armed forces may apply for the
pay differential benefits authorized under this section prior to, during, or following the
person's active military service on or after May 29, 2003.
deleted text end
deleted text begin (b) An eligible member of the reserve componentsdeleted text end new text begin(c) "Eligible member" means:
new text end
new text begin (1) any member of the National Guard or other reserve component new text endof the United
States armed forces deleted text beginis a reservist or National Guard memberdeleted text end who was an employee of
the state of Minnesota at the time the member took military leave under section 192.261
to report for active military servicenew text begin; and
new text end
new text begin (2) any member of any other nonmilitary reserve component of the uniformed
services of the United States who was an employee of Minnesota at the time the member
took properly authorized leave from state employment under substantially comparable
federal or state authority ordering the person to report for federal or state active servicenew text end.
deleted text begin (c) For purposes of this section, an employee of the state isdeleted text endnew text begin (d) "State employee"
meansnew text end an employee of the executive, judicial, or legislative branch of state government or
an employee of the Minnesota State Retirement System, the Public Employee Retirement
Association, or the Teachers Retirement Association.
deleted text begin (d) For purposes of this section, the termdeleted text endnew text begin (e)new text end "Active service" has the meaning
given in section 190.05, subdivision 5, new text beginfor military members, and includes substantially
comparable service for reserve members of other nonmilitary components of the uniformed
services of the United States, new text endbut excludes service performed exclusively for purposes of:
(1) basic deleted text begincombatdeleted text end training, advanced individual training, annual training, and periodic
inactive duty training;
(2) special training periodically made available to reserve members;
(3) service performed in accordance with section 190.08, subdivision 3; and
(4) service performed as part of the active guard/reserve program pursuant to United
States Code, title 32, section 502(f), or other applicable authoritynew text begin, as well as substantially
comparable service by members of other nonmilitary components of the uniformed
services of the United Statesnew text end.
deleted text begin(e)deleted text end The agency head must continue the
employee's enrollment in health and dental coverage, and the employer contribution
toward that coverage, until the employee reports for active deleted text beginmilitarydeleted text end service. If the
employee had elected dependent coverage for health or dental coverage as of the time that
the employee reported for active service, the agency head must offer the employee the
option to continue the dependent coverage at the employee's own expense. The agency
head must permit the employee to continue participating in any pretax account in which
the employee participated when the employee reported for active service, to the extent
of employee pay available for that purpose. An employee who has opted to continue a
permitted benefit may cancel that continuation at any time during the person's deleted text beginmilitarydeleted text endnew text begin
authorizednew text end leave new text beginfrom state employment new text endby written notification from the employee, or
from the employee's designated attorney-in-fact under a power of attorney, to the agency
head or the commissioner of employee relations.
deleted text begin(f)deleted text end The agency head must periodically inform in writing all
agency personnel who are or may be members of the reserve component of the United
States armed forces new text beginor any other nonmilitary reserve component of the uniformed services
of the United States new text endof the benefits provided under this section and of the procedures
relevant to securing those benefits, including, but not limited to, any procedures regarding
the continuation and discontinuation of any optional deductions. It will suffice to meet
this requirement if the agency head posts the information on the agency Web site in a
highly recognizable manner that can be easily found and understood by the employees
to whom it might apply.
Upon being ordered to active deleted text begindutydeleted text endnew text begin servicenew text end, the employee must notify the agency
head of that order in a timely manner and must provide to the agency head the name of
and contact information for the employee's designated attorney-in-fact under a power of
attorney. Prior to the commencement of the employee's deleted text beginmilitarydeleted text endnew text begin authorizednew text end leavenew text begin from
state employmentnew text end, the agency head must ensure the agency's receipt of that information
and immediately convey that information to the commissioners of finance and employee
relations, including any subsequent change in that designation by the employee. When
communicating with the employee during the person's deleted text beginmilitarydeleted text end leave, the agency head and
the commissioners of finance and employee relations must immediately provide a copy of
the communication to the employee's designated attorney-in-fact. Those officials must
also honor requests for information or other appropriate directives from that designee on
behalf of the employee during the employee's deleted text beginmilitarydeleted text end leave.
deleted text begin(g)deleted text end The commissioners of employee relations and finance
shall adopt procedures required to implement this section. The procedures are exempt
from chapter 14.
deleted text begin(h)deleted text end This section does not apply to a judge, legislator, or
constitutional officer of the executive branch.
new text begin
This section is effective for Minnesota state employees
serving in active service on or after July 1, 2006.
new text end
Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 85.053, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:
new text begin
(a) The provisions of this
section requiring a state park permit and regulating its display do not apply to a motor
vehicle being used by a person who is serving in active military service in any branch or
unit of the United States armed forces and who is stationed outside Minnesota, during
the period of active service and for 90 days immediately thereafter, if the person notifies
the park attendant on duty or other designee of the commissioner of the person's military
status at the time of usage. It is sufficient notice for the eligible person to temporarily affix
to the inside of the windshield of the vehicle in a visible manner the person's current
military orders to carry in the person's possession current military identification attesting
to the person's active or recent military status.
new text end
new text begin
(b) For purposes of this section, "active service" has the meaning given under section
190.05, subdivision 5c, when performed outside Minnesota.
new text end
new text begin
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end
new text begin
(a) The definitions in this subdivision apply to this
section.
new text end
new text begin
(b) "Active service" has the meaning given in section 190.05, subdivision 5.
new text end
new text begin
(c) "Employee" means a person, independent contractor, or person working for an
independent contractor who performs services for compensation, in whatever form, for
an employer.
new text end
new text begin
(d) "Employer" means a person or entity located or doing business in this state
and having one or more employees, and includes the state and all political or other
governmental subdivisions of the state.
new text end
new text begin
(e) "Immediate family member" means a person's parent, child, grandparents,
siblings, or spouse.
new text end
new text begin
An employer must grant up to ten working days
of a leave of absence without pay to an employee whose immediate family member, as a
member of the United States armed forces, has been injured or killed while engaged in
active service.
new text end
new text begin
An employee must give as much notice to the employee's employer
as practicable of the employee's intent to exercise the leave guaranteed by this section.
new text end
new text begin
The length of leave provided under this
section may be reduced by any period of paid leave provided by the employer. Nothing
in this section prevents an employer from providing leave benefits in addition to those
provided in this section or otherwise affects an employee's rights with respect to other
employment benefits.
new text end
new text begin
This section is effective the day following final enactment
and applies to the immediate family members of military personnel injured or killed on or
after that date, as well as to the immediate family members of military personnel who, on
the effective date, are recovering from injuries that occurred prior to that date.
new text end
new text begin
(a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms
have the meaning given in this subdivision.
new text end
new text begin
(b) "Active service" has the meaning given in section 190.05, subdivision 5.
new text end
new text begin
(c) "Employee" means a person who performs services for compensation, in
whatever form, for an employer. Employee does not include an independent contractor.
new text end
new text begin
(d) "Employer" means a person or entity located or doing business in this state
and having one or more employees, and includes the state and all political or other
governmental subdivisions of the state.
new text end
new text begin
(e) "Immediate family member" means a person's grandparent, parent, legal
guardian, sibling, child, grandchild, spouse, fiance, or fiancee.
new text end
new text begin
Unless the leave would unduly disrupt the
operations of the employer, an employer shall grant a leave of absence without pay to an
employee whose immediate family member, as a member of the United States armed
forces, has been ordered into active service in support of a war or other national emergency.
The employer may limit the amount of leave provided under this subdivision to the actual
time necessary for the employee to attend a send-off or homecoming ceremony for the
mobilized service member, not to exceed one day's duration in any calendar year.
new text end
new text begin
In recognition of the necessity of maintaining a strong military force for the
protection and survival of this state and nation and of free and democratic allied
societies throughout the world, and of the numerous and varied sacrifices required of
military personnel and their families both in peacetime and war, and of the exemplary
character, courage, leadership, and training of United States armed forces personnel of
all generations, it is the policy of the state of Minnesota to promulgate, implement, and
maintain laws, policies, rules, and procedures, insofar as is practicable and beneficial
to the people of this state and within available resources as may exist at any time, that
encourage, recognize, and reward honorable military service to this state and nation,
whether in regular active service or in the National Guard or other reserve component
service, during both peacetime and war. This includes, but is not limited to, policies
supportive of the physical and mental health needs of returning veterans.
new text end
Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 190.055, is amended to read:
new text begin (a) new text endA person called or ordered to active service, as defined in section 190.05,
subdivision 5a or 5b, has all the protections afforded to persons in the military service of
the United States undernew text begin:new text end
new text begin (1) new text endthe deleted text beginSoldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act of 1940deleted text endnew text begin Service Members Civil Relief
Actnew text end, United States Code, Appendix 50, sections 501 to 548, and 560 to 591, as amendeddeleted text begin.deleted text endnew text begin
at any time; and
new text end
new text begin (2) the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, United
States Code, title 38, sections 4301 to 4333, as amended at any time.new text end
new text begin
(b) The acts referenced in paragraph (a), clauses (1) and (2), may be cited as the
"SCRA" and "USERRA," respectively.
new text end
new text begin
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end
Minnesota Statutes 2005 Supplement, section 192.502, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
new text begin
Employees are entitled
to unpaid leave, as required by section 181.948, to attend the send-off or homecoming
ceremony of an immediate family member who, as a member of the United States armed
forces, has been mobilized for active military service in support of a war or other national
emergency.
new text end
Minnesota Statutes 2005 Supplement, section 192.502, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
new text begin
Employees are entitled to unpaid leave, as required by section 181.947, when an
immediate family member, as a member of the United States armed forces, has been
injured or killed while engaged in active service.
new text end
new text begin
This section is effective the day following final enactment
and applies to the immediate family members of military personnel injured or killed on or
after that date, as well as to the immediate family members of military personnel who, on
the effective date, are recovering from injuries that occurred prior to that date.
new text end
new text begin
(a) The definitions in this subdivision apply to this
section.
new text end
new text begin
(b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of veterans affairs.
new text end
new text begin
(c) "State college or university" means a unit of the University of Minnesota or
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.
new text end
new text begin
(a) Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
must recognize courses and award educational credits for courses that were part of a
veteran's military training or service if the courses meet the standards of the American
Council on Education or equivalent standards for awarding academic credits.
new text end
new text begin
(b) The University of Minnesota and private colleges and universities in Minnesota
are encouraged to recognize courses and award educational credits for courses that were
part of a veteran's military training or service if the courses meet the standards of the
American Council on Education or equivalent standards for awarding academic credits.
new text end
new text begin
A state college or university must treat a veteran as a
Minnesota resident for purposes of determining the veteran's undergraduate tuition rate. A
state college or university must treat a veteran as a Minnesota resident for purposes of
determining the veteran's graduate school tuition rate if the veteran was a Minnesota
resident on entering military service and starts attending the state college or university
graduate program within two years of completing military service.
new text end
new text begin
A state college or university may not assess
late fees or other late charges for veterans who are eligible to receive federal educational
assistance and who have applied for that assistance but not yet received it, nor may they
prevent these students from registering for a subsequent term because of outstanding
tuition charges that arise from delayed federal payments. The state college or university
may request without delay the amount of tuition above expected federal educational
assistance and may require payment of the full amount of tuition owed by the veteran
within 30 days of receipt of the expected federal educational assistance.
new text end
Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 326.56, is amended to read:
For the purposes of this section the terms defined in
this subdivision shall have the meanings ascribed to them.
(1) new text begin"Active military service" has the meaning given in section 190.05, subdivision 5.
new text end
new text begin (2) new text end"Employment essential to the prosecution of deleted text beginanydeleted text endnew text begin anew text end war deleted text beginanddeleted text endnew text begin ornew text end to the national
defense" means employment by the new text beginfederal government of the new text endUnited States of America,
new text begin or new text endany of its agencies, or deleted text beginanydeleted text endnew text begin by a federal governmentnew text end contractor deleted text beginunder the United States of
America,deleted text end or subcontractor deleted text beginunder such contractor,deleted text end in work connected with the prosecution
of new text begina new text endwar or for the defense of the United States deleted text beginof America and others of the United
Nations during wardeleted text endnew text begin or its alliesnew text end.
deleted text begin (2)deleted text endnew text begin (3)new text end "Outside of the United States" means outside of the territorial limits of the 50
states of the United States and the District of Columbia.
new text beginNotwithstanding any other provision of
statutes, new text endany person required by law to be licensed or registered new text beginby the state of Minnesota
new text end in order to carry on or practice a trade, employment, occupation or profession deleted text beginin thedeleted text endnew text begin within
this new text end state deleted text beginof Minnesota deleted text endwho is also required by law to renew the license or certificate of
registration at stated intervals and to pay a fee for such renewal on or before a specified
date, or be subject to revocation of the license or certificate or other penalties, new text beginand new text endwho
has deleted text beginsince the enactment by the Congress of the United States of the Selective Service and
Training Act of 1940 entered, or shall hereafter enter, the armed forces of the United States
of Americadeleted text endnew text begin been ordered into active military servicenew text end, or who has deleted text beginsince the enactment of
said actdeleted text end been engaged, or shall hereafter be engaged, in employmentdeleted text begin,deleted text end outside of the United
Statesdeleted text begin,deleted text end essential to the prosecution of deleted text beginanydeleted text endnew text begin anew text end war or to the national defense, whose license
or certificate of registration was effective at the time of new text beginthe person's new text endentry into deleted text beginthe armed
forcesdeleted text endnew text begin active military servicenew text end or engagement in the employment deleted text beginaforesaiddeleted text end, is hereby
exempted from the payment of all renewal fees and from the filing of any application for
renewal, which but for this section would have been required as a condition of the renewal
of the license or certificate, during the time the person has been in deleted text beginsuch armed forces
deleted text endnew text begin active military service new text endor deleted text beginin suchdeleted text endnew text begin thatnew text end employment, and from any penalties for nonpayment
or late payment, and is hereby exempted from further payment of such renewal fees and
from the making of any application for renewal during the period the person shall remain
in deleted text beginsuch armed forces deleted text endnew text begin active military service new text endor deleted text beginis engaged in suchdeleted text endnew text begin thenew text end employment, and for
deleted text begin a further period ofdeleted text end six months deleted text beginfrom discharge from the armed forces, if a member thereof,
or from the date of return within the boundaries of the United States if engaged in the
employment hereinbefore referred todeleted text endnew text begin thereafternew text end. The license or certificate in the meantime
shall remain in full force and effect, and if it has been canceled or revoked deleted text beginsince the date
of the enactment of the Selective Service and Training Act of 1940deleted text end solely on the deleted text begingrounddeleted text endnew text begin
basisnew text end of nonpayment of renewal feesdeleted text begin,deleted text end or failure to apply for a renewal, it shall be reinstated
upon the application of the licensee or registrant or deleted text beginany one on the licensee's or registrant'sdeleted text endnew text begin
by anyone on the person's new text end behalf without the payment of any penalties or costs. Any such
person may within six months from the date of release fromdeleted text begin the armed forces of the United
States, if the person has been a member of such armed forcesdeleted text endnew text begin active military servicenew text end, or
from the date of return within the boundaries of the United States if the person has been
engaged in new text beginthe essential new text endemployment deleted text beginhereinbefore referred todeleted text end, make application for a
renewal of the license or certificate without penalty and in the same manner as if the person
had made application therefor at the time or time specified by existing lawsnew text begin, irrespective
of whether the license or certificate has expired or is due to expire within that time periodnew text end.
Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 609.67, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
The following persons may own or possess a machine
gun or short-barreled shotgun provided the provisions of subdivision 4 are complied with:
(1) law enforcement officers for use in the course of their duties;
(2) chief executive officers of correctional facilities and other personnel thereof
authorized by them and persons in charge of other institutions for the retention of persons
convicted or accused of crime, for use in the course of their duties;
(3) persons possessing machine guns or short-barreled shotguns which, although
designed as weapons, have been determined by the superintendent of the Bureau
of Criminal Apprehension or the superintendent's delegate by reason of the date of
manufacture, value, design or other characteristics to be primarily collector's items,
relics, museum pieces or objects of curiosity, ornaments or keepsakes, and are not likely
to be used as weapons;
(4) manufacturers of ammunition who possess and use machine guns for the sole
purpose of testing ammunition manufactured for sale to federal and state agencies or
political subdivisions; deleted text beginand
deleted text end
(5) dealers and manufacturers who are federally licensed to buy and sell, or
manufacture machine guns or short-barreled shotguns and who either use the machine
guns or short-barreled shotguns in peace officer training under courses approved by the
Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training, or are engaged in the sale of machine guns
or short-barreled shotguns to federal and state agencies or political subdivisionsdeleted text begin.deleted text endnew text begin; and
new text end
new text begin
(6) persons employed by the Minnesota National Guard as security guards, for use in
accordance with applicable federal military regulations.
new text end
Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 609.67, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
This section does not apply to members of the armed services
of either the United States or the state of Minnesota for use in the course of their dutiesnew text begin
or to security guards employed by the Minnesota National Guard for use in accordance
with applicable federal military regulationsnew text end.
Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 626.88, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
(a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms
have the meanings given them.
(b) "Peace officer" means an employee of a political subdivision or state law
enforcement agency who is licensed pursuant to sections 626.84 to 626.863 charged
with the prevention and detection of crime and the enforcement of the general criminal
laws of the state and who has full power of arrest, and shall also include Minnesota state
troopers, state conservation officers, park police, constables, and University of Minnesota
police officers.
(c) "Security guard" means any person who is paid a fee, wage or salary to perform
one or more of the following functions:
(1) prevention or detection of intrusion, unauthorized entry or activity, vandalism
or trespass on private property;
(2) prevention or detection of theft, loss, embezzlement, misappropriation, or
concealment of merchandise, money, bonds, stocks, notes, or other valuable documents
or papers;
(3) control, regulation, or direction of the flow or movements of the public, whether
by vehicle or otherwise, to assure protection of private property;
(4) protection of individuals from bodily harm; deleted text beginor
deleted text end
new text begin
(5) prevention or detection of intrusion, unauthorized entry or activity, vandalism,
or trespass on Minnesota National Guard facilities, including, but not limited to, Camp
Ripley and Air National Guard air bases; or
new text end
deleted text begin (5)deleted text endnew text begin (6)new text end enforcement of policies and rules of the security guard's employer related
to crime reduction insofar as such enforcement falls within the scope of security guard's
duties.
The term "security guard" does not include: (i) auditors, accountants, and accounting
personnel performing audits or accounting functions; (ii) employees of a firm licensed
pursuant to section 326.3381 whose duties are primarily administrative or clerical in
nature; (iii) unarmed security personnel; (iv) personnel temporarily employed pursuant
to statute or ordinance by political subdivisions to provide protective services at social
functions; (v) employees of air or rail carriers.
new text begin
A memorial plaque may be placed in the Court of Honor on the Capitol grounds to
recognize the valiant service to our nation by the thousands of brave military war dogs and
their handlers who served honorably as members of the United States armed forces during
all of our nation's wars and during peacetime. The plaque must be furnished by a person
or organization other than the Department of Veterans Affairs and must be approved by the
commissioner of veterans affairs and the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board.
new text end
new text begin
A memorial
plaque may be placed in the Court of Honor on the Capitol grounds to recognize those
Minnesotans who have received the highest award for valor in action against an enemy
force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the armed services of the
United States. The plaque must be furnished by a person or organization other than the
Department of Veterans Affairs and must be approved by the commissioner of veterans
affairs and the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board.
new text end
new text begin
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end
new text begin
The revisor of statutes shall insert a first grade header after Minnesota Statutes,
section 181.946, that reads "LEAVE FOR FAMILIES OF MOBILIZED MILITARY
MEMBERS."
new text end