SF 2062

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 11:33pm

A bill for an act
relating to veterans; establishing a veterans' mental health facility in Kandiyohi
County; specifying services to be provided; providing for funding and
commencement of operations; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 198.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [198.365] VETERANS MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY; KANDIYOHI
COUNTY.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of veterans affairs shall
establish a 90-bed facility in Kandiyohi County to provide residential mental health
nursing services to veterans, in conformance with licensing rules of the Department of
Health and funding requirements of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
new text end

new text begin (b) Services provided by the facility must include, but not be limited to:
new text end

new text begin (1) geriatric care for mentally ill veterans who have severe behavior problems;
new text end

new text begin (2) inpatient treatment, including long-term and domiciliary care, for veterans with
traumatic brain injury;
new text end

new text begin (3) inpatient treatment services, including long-term and domiciliary care, for
veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder;
new text end

new text begin (4) inpatient treatment for veterans with a dual diagnosis of mental illness and
chemical dependency;
new text end

new text begin (5) long-term and domiciliary care for any veteran; and
new text end

new text begin (6) standard long-term care.
new text end

new text begin (c) To the extent practicable, the facility shall accept referrals from veterans homes
in the state.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Funding. new text end

new text begin (a) The facility must be purchased or built with funds, 65
percent of which must be provided by the federal government, and 35 percent by other
nonstate sources, including local units of government, veterans organizations, business
entities, volunteer organizations, and any other nonstate sources considered acceptable
by the commissioner. Local contributions must include land for the facility and grounds
and funding sufficient to cover the full state and local contribution for the federal
matching grant. The commissioner is authorized to accept pledges and funding, including
contributions of land, from these local sources for this purpose.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner shall seek private funding to develop a public-private
partnership to provide services at this facility for veterans with traumatic brain injury and
with post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as for veterans who have a dual diagnosis of
mental illness and chemical dependency.
new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner shall seek all sources of federal funding available for
long-term and domiciliary care, and for treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and
traumatic brain injury at this facility.
new text end

new text begin (d) The commissioner shall seek funding from state and federal sources to fund
traumatic brain injury research at this facility.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Ownership; lease-buy agreement. new text end

new text begin Upon completion of construction and
commencement of operations the facility shall be owned by the county or city providing
the majority of the local share funding. The commissioner of administration may enter
into a 20-year lease-buy back agreement with that local government entity, following
satisfaction of which all ownership shall transfer to the state.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Support services. new text end

new text begin Upon request, the commissioner of human services shall
arrange for the extension of support services to the veterans facility in Willmar including,
but not limited to, the provision of utilities and kitchen and laundry services.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin DATE OPERATIONAL.
new text end

new text begin To the extent practicable, the commissioner of veterans affairs shall design, construct,
furnish, and equip the veterans mental health facility authorized in Minnesota Statutes,
section 198.365, to begin operations on July 1, 2013. No state general fund money may be
spent to operate this facility prior to that date and without further legislative authorization.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end

new text begin Sections 1 and 2 are effective the day following final enactment.
new text end