Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

SF 2439

as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 03/21/2012 01:28pm

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.

Current Version - as introduced

Line numbers 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6
1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11
2.12
2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19
2.20

A bill for an act
relating to veterans; expanding eligibility for burial in the Minnesota State
Veterans Cemetery to include deceased allied Hmong-American or Lao-American
veterans of the American Secret War in Laos; amending Minnesota Statutes
2010, section 197.236, subdivision 8.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 197.236, subdivision 8, is amended to read:


Subd. 8.

Eligibility.

new text begin (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), Minnesota state
veterans
new text end cemeteries must be operated solely for the burial of service members who die
on active duty, eligible veterans, and their spouses and dependent children, as defined in
United States Code, title 38, section 101, paragraph (2).

new text begin (b) To the extent permitted by United States law or federal regulation, eligibility for
burial in any Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery shall also include any deceased person
determined by the Minnesota commissioner of veterans affairs, or the commissioner's
designee, to be an allied Hmong-American or Lao-American veteran, or the spouse or
dependent of an allied Hmong-American or Lao-American veteran, of the American
Secret War in Laos.
new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner is authorized to designate responsibility for confirming an
applicant's status as an allied Hmong-American or Lao-American veteran of the American
Secret War in Laos to the chairperson of the Special Guerilla Unit Veterans & Families
Development of USA, Inc. The form SGU-DD214, signed by the current or former
chairperson of the association and issued to an applicant shall confirm the applicant's
status as an allied Hmong-American or Lao-American veteran of the American Secret
War in Laos.
new text end

new text begin (d) For purposes of this subdivision:
new text end

new text begin (1) "allied Hmong-American or Lao-American veteran" means a person who is
an American citizen of Hmong or Lao ethnicity who was recruited, trained, directed,
supported, and paid by the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) or other
military, paramilitary or nonmilitary department, agency, or unit of the United States
government at any time during the period of the Vietnam War, as an allied soldier or other
paramilitary agent assigned as a member of the CIA's Hmong Special Guerilla Unit for the
purpose of assisting the United States armed forces in any combat role or combat support
role during the Vietnam War, as verified in any reasonable manner as evidenced by a
written policy by the Minnesota commissioner of veterans affairs or the commissioner's
designee; and
new text end

new text begin (2) "period of the Vietnam War" means July 1, 1961, to April 30, 1975.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2012.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin PURPOSE STATEMENT.
new text end

new text begin The purpose of section 1 is to recognize and honor this state and nation's allied
Hmong-American and Lao-American veterans of America's Secret War in Laos, in which
these Hmong-American and Lao-American veterans fought so valiantly and sacrificed
so greatly on behalf of members of the United States armed forces who themselves were
simultaneously engaged in this nation's war in Vietnam, by sharing with them the honor
and solace of the special eternal resting place in Minnesota's State Veterans Cemetery.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2012.
new text end