SF 1397

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) 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 notification; 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 Definitions. 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 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 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

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Notification of availability to those eligible. new text end

new text begin All Minnesota veterans must
be informed of their 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 of the availability of free testing for depleted uranium
exposure by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $3,000,000 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 pursuant to
section 1.
new text end