Minnesota Legislature
SF 4233
3rd Engrossment - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 05/12/2022 09:35am
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A bill for an act
relating to state government; appropriating money for veterans and military affairs;
creating a Veterans Service Office grant program; requiring a report; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2020, sections 43A.183, subdivision 1; 197.608, subdivisions
4, 6; 197.79, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 5, 10; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 197.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
ARTICLE 1
VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS APPROPRIATIONS
Section 1. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS.
|
new text begin
The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are added to or, if shown in
parentheses, subtracted from the appropriations in Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter
12, article 1, to the agencies and for the purposes specified in this article. The appropriations
are from the general fund, or another named fund, and are available for the fiscal years
indicated for each purpose. The figures "2022" and "2023" used in this article mean that
the addition to or subtraction from the appropriation listed under them is available for the
fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, or June 30, 2023, respectively. "The first year" is the fiscal
year ending June 30, 2022. "The second year" is the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023.
Supplemental appropriations and reductions to appropriations for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 2022, are effective the day following final enactment.
new text end
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new text begin
APPROPRIATIONS new text end |
||||||
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new text begin
Available for the Year new text end |
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new text begin
Ending June 30 new text end |
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new text begin
2022 new text end |
new text begin
2023 new text end |
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Sec. 2. new text begin MILITARY AFFAIRS
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||||||
new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end
new text begin
Total Appropriation
|
new text begin
$ new text end |
new text begin
-0- new text end |
new text begin
$ new text end |
new text begin
2,200,000 new text end |
||
new text begin
The base is increased $1,000,000 in fiscal year
2024 and each year thereafter.
new text end
new text begin
The amounts that may be spent for each
purpose are specified in the following
subdivisions.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 2. new text end
new text begin
General Support
|
new text begin
-0- new text end |
new text begin
200,000 new text end |
||||
new text begin
$200,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for a grant to
the Minnesota Navy League to support
activities related to the commissioning of the
USS Minneapolis-St. Paul. This is a onetime
appropriation.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 3. new text end
new text begin
Enlistment Incentives
|
new text begin
-0- new text end |
new text begin
2,000,000 new text end |
||||
new text begin
$2,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for
enlistment incentives. The base for this
appropriation is increased by $1,000,000 in
fiscal year 2024 and each fiscal year thereafter.
new text end
Sec. 3. new text begin VETERANS AFFAIRS
|
||||||
new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end
new text begin
Total Appropriation
|
new text begin
$ new text end |
new text begin
-0- new text end |
new text begin
$ new text end |
new text begin
52,351,000 new text end |
||
new text begin
The base is increased $4,091,000 in fiscal year
2024 and each fiscal year thereafter.
new text end
new text begin
The amounts that may be spent for each
purpose are specified in the following
subdivisions.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 2. new text end
new text begin
Veterans Programs and Services
|
new text begin
-0- new text end |
new text begin
52,351,000 new text end |
||||
new text begin
(a) Base Adjustment. The base is increased
$4,091,000 in fiscal year 2024 and each fiscal
year thereafter.
new text end
new text begin
(b) Veterans Homes. $16,544,000 is for
transfer to the commissioner of administration
for the design, construction, and equipping of
site and building improvements at the Bemidji,
Montevideo, and Preston state veterans home
building projects. This appropriation may also
be utilized for furniture, fixtures, and
equipment. Of this amount, $4,351,000 is for
the Bemidji state veterans home, $5,269,000
is for the Montevideo state veterans home, and
$6,924,000 is for the Preston state veterans
home. This is a onetime appropriation and is
available until the project is completed or
abandoned subject to Minnesota Statutes,
section 16A.642.
new text end
new text begin
(c) Veterans Bonus Program. $24,880,000
in fiscal year 2023 is for service bonuses to
Post-9/11 Veterans and Gold Star families
under Minnesota Statutes, section 197.79. This
is a onetime appropriation and is available
until June 30, 2025.
new text end
new text begin
(d)new text begin Veterans Service Organizations Grant
Program.new text end $147,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for
grants to congressionally chartered veterans
service organizations meeting eligibility
requirements under Minnesota Statutes,
section 197.61, subdivision 3, as designated
by the commissioner.
new text end
new text begin
(e)
new text end
new text begin
County Veterans Service Office Grant
Program.
new text end
new text begin
$450,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for
funding the County Veterans Service Office
grant program under Minnesota Statutes,
section 197.608.
new text end
new text begin
(f) Fisher House. $500,000 in fiscal year 2023
is for the purpose of supporting the creation
of a new Fisher House near the Fargo Veterans
Affairs (VA) Medical Center campus. The
facility will provide temporary
accommodations at no charge to families and
caregivers of veterans receiving care at the
Fargo VA Health Care System. This is a
onetime appropriation and is available until
the project is completed or abandoned, subject
to Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.642.
new text end
new text begin
(g)new text begin Redwood Falls State Veterans Cemetery.new text end
$830,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for operations
of the state's veterans cemeteries, including
operations in Redwood County.
new text end
new text begin
(h)new text begin Minnesota Assistance Council for
Veterans.new text end $5,412,000 in fiscal year 2023 is
for a grant to the Minnesota Assistance
Council for Veterans to provide assistance
throughout Minnesota to veterans and former
service members and their families who are
homeless or in danger of homelessness,
including assistance with the following:
new text end
new text begin
(1) supportive services to maintain housing;
new text end
new text begin
(2) employment;
new text end
new text begin
(3) legal issues;
new text end
new text begin
(4) housing and housing-related costs; and
new text end
new text begin
(5) transportation.
new text end
new text begin
The assistance authorized under this paragraph
must be made only to veterans or former
service members who have resided in
Minnesota for 30 days prior to application for
assistance and according to other guidelines
established by the commissioner. In order to
avoid duplication of services, the
commissioner must ensure that this assistance
is coordinated with all other available
programs for veterans.
new text end
new text begin
This appropriation must be used for the
establishment and management of permanent
supportive housing options for homeless
veterans and former service members.
new text end
new text begin
This is a onetime appropriation. Any
unencumbered balance remaining in this
subdivision in fiscal year 2023 is available in
fiscal years 2024 and 2025.
new text end
new text begin
(i)new text begin Increase Engagement and Outreach
Activities; Support Temporary Housing
Options.new text end $1,714,000 in fiscal year 2023 is for
temporary alternative housing options for
homeless veterans and former service
members and for staff to increase outreach
activities to end homelessness. The
commissioner of veterans affairs may use
funds for personnel, research, marketing, and
professional or technical contracts.
new text end
new text begin
(j)new text begin Tenancy Supports and Landlord
Engagement.new text end $1,100,000 in fiscal year 2023
is for incentives for landlords to assist in
housing homeless veterans and former service
members, staff, and funding to remove barriers
to permanent housing. The commissioner of
veterans affairs may use funds for financial
assistance, personnel, research, marketing, and
professional or technical contracts. The base
in fiscal year 2024 and each year thereafter is
$950,000.
new text end
new text begin
(k) Veterans Campground Wastewater
System Upgrades. $774,000 in fiscal year
2023 is for one or more grants to the Veterans
Campground on Big Marine Lake, a 501(c)(3)
nonprofit organization, to design, engineer,
permit, and construct wastewater systems on
campground property to increase the capacity
of wastewater systems. This is a onetime
appropriation.
new text end
Sec. 4. new text begin NEW VETERANS HOMES; BEMIDJI, MONTEVIDEO, AND PRESTON;
APPROPRIATION.
new text end
new text begin
(a) $10,329,000 in fiscal year 2022 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of administration for new veterans homes in Bemidji, Montevideo, and
Preston. This appropriation is in addition to the appropriation for the same purposes in Laws
2018, chapter 214, article 1, section 19, subdivision 3, and is available until the project is
completed or abandoned subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.642.
new text end
new text begin
(b) $2,389,000 of this appropriation is to design, construct, furnish, and equip the veterans
home in Bemidji.
new text end
new text begin
(c) $6,955,000 of this appropriation is to design, construct, furnish, and equip the veterans
home in Montevideo.
new text end
new text begin
(d) $985,000 of this appropriation is to design, construct, furnish, and equip the veterans
home in Preston.
new text end
new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end
new text begin
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end
Sec. 5. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS GIVEN EFFECT ONCE.
new text end
new text begin
If an appropriation in this act is enacted more than once during the 2022 regular session,
the appropriation is to be given effect only once.
new text end
new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end
new text begin
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end
ARTICLE 2
VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS POLICY
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 43A.183, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1.
Payment required.
Each agency head shall pay to each eligible member
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 service.
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 deleted text begin prior to, during, or following the person's active service on or after May 29,
2003deleted text end new text begin no later than two years after completion of active service. The eligible member must
be provided with notice as described in subdivision 4 of the two-year deadline. A copy of
military orders showing active service must be provided prior to paymentnew text end .
new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end
new text begin
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end
Sec. 2.
Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 197.608, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
Subd. 4.
Grant process.
(a) The commissioner shall determine the process for awarding
grants. A grant may be used only for the purpose of enhancing the operations of the County
Veterans Service Office.
(b) The commissioner shall provide a list of qualifying uses for grant expenditures as
developed in subdivision 5 and shall approve a grant under subdivision 6 only for a qualifying
use and if there are sufficient funds remaining in the grant program to cover the full amount
of the grant.
(c) The commissioner is authorized to use any unexpended funding for this program deleted text begin to
provide training and education for county veterans service officers.deleted text end new text begin for the following
purposes:
new text end
new text begin
(1) to provide training and education for county veterans service officers; and
new text end
new text begin
(2) to provide additional grants on a competitive basis to any county that proposes to
provide programs and services that the commissioner determines to be new and innovative
in serving veterans and their families.
new text end
Sec. 3.
Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 197.608, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
Subd. 6.
Grant amount.
(a) Each county is eligible to receive an annual grant of $7,500
for the following purposes:
(1) to provide outreach to the county's veterans;
(2) to assist in the reintegration of combat veterans into society;
(3) to collaborate with other social service agencies, educational institutions, and other
community organizations for the purposes of enhancing services offered to veterans;
(4) to reduce homelessness among veterans; and
(5) to enhance the operations of the county veterans service office.
(b) In addition to the grant amount in paragraph (a), each county is eligible to receive
an additional annual grant under this paragraph. The amount of each additional annual grant
must be determined by the commissioner and may not exceed:
(1) $0, if the county's veteran population is less than 1,000;
(2) $2,500, if the county's veteran population is 1,000 or more but less than 3,000;
(3) $5,000, if the county's veteran population is 3,000 or more but less than deleted text begin 4,999deleted text end new text begin 5,000new text end ;
(4) $7,500, if the county's veteran population is 5,000 or more but less than deleted text begin 9,999deleted text end new text begin 10,000new text end ;
(5) $10,000, if the county's veteran population is 10,000 or more but less than deleted text begin 19,999deleted text end new text begin
20,000new text end ;
(6) $15,000, if the county's veteran population is 20,000 or more but less than deleted text begin 29,999deleted text end new text begin
30,000new text end ; or
(7) $20,000, if the county's veteran population is 30,000 or more.
(c) The Minnesota Association of County Veterans Service Officers is eligible to receive
an annual grant of deleted text begin $50,000deleted text end new text begin $100,000new text end . The grant shall be used for administrative costs of
the association, certification of mandated county veterans service officer training and
accreditation, and costs associated with reintegration services.
The veteran population of each county shall be determined by the figure supplied by the
United States Department of Veterans Affairs, as adopted by the commissioner.
Sec. 4.
new text begin
[197.61] VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS GRANT PROGRAM.
new text end
new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end
new text begin Grant program. new text end
new text begin
A veterans service organization grant program is
established to provide grants to congressionally chartered veterans service organizations
(VSO) to enhance the effectiveness of veterans services. The program shall be administered
by the commissioner of veterans affairs.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 2. new text end
new text begin Definitions. new text end
new text begin
(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the
meanings given.
new text end
new text begin
(b) "Accredited representation" means providing representation under the authority
granted by the VA to representatives, agents, and attorneys to assist claimants in the
preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims for VA benefits.
new text end
new text begin
(c) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of veterans affairs or a designee.
new text end
new text begin
(d) "Congressionally chartered veterans service organizations" are organizations that
have been granted charters by Congress through the enactment of public laws. Each
congressionally chartered VSO is listed in United States Code, title 36, subtitle II: Patriotic
and National Organizations.
new text end
new text begin
(e) "Department" means the Department of Veterans Affairs.
new text end
new text begin
(f) "Full member" means a veteran who meets the requirements for membership in a
congressionally chartered veterans service organization and is entitled to all of the rights
and privileges thereof. Full member does not include an associate or auxiliary member.
new text end
new text begin
(g) "VA" means the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 3. new text end
new text begin Eligibility. new text end
new text begin
To be eligible for a grant under subdivision 6, a veterans service
organization must provide:
new text end
new text begin
(1) accredited representation for the preparation and presentation of veteran claims to
the United States government for compensation and other benefits to which a veteran is
entitled as a result of the veteran's military service;
new text end
new text begin
(2) a state or department level veterans service officer to provide programs and services
to veterans; or
new text end
new text begin
(3) statewide transportation services to veterans.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 4. new text end
new text begin Grant process. new text end
new text begin
(a) A grant may be used only for the purpose of enhancing the
operations of congressionally chartered veterans service organizations.
new text end
new text begin
(b) The commissioner shall provide a list of qualifying uses for grant expenditures as
required in subdivision 5 and shall approve a grant for a qualifying use if there is sufficient
grant money remaining in the grant program to cover the full amount of the grant.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 5. new text end
new text begin Qualifying uses. new text end
new text begin
The commissioner shall develop a list of qualifying uses for
grants awarded under this section.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 6. new text end
new text begin Grant amount. new text end
new text begin
(a) Each congressionally chartered veterans service organization
is eligible to receive an annual grant determined by the commissioner as follows:
new text end
new text begin
(1) a dollar amount per full member for each organization member to be established by
the commissioner. The dollar amount may be adjusted every biennium, subject to available
funding; and
new text end
new text begin
(2) a dollar amount for each organization, established by the commissioner, based on
the organization's share of the VA claims workload for veterans and their dependents who
reside in Minnesota. The VA claims workload must be reported as a percentage of the state's
total VA workload.
new text end
new text begin
(b) The VA claims workload for each congressionally chartered veterans service
organization must be determined by a report supplied by the VA, as adopted by the
commissioner.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 7. new text end
new text begin Recapture. new text end
new text begin
If a congressionally chartered veterans service organization fails
to use the grant for a qualified use approved by the commissioner or does not spend the
allocated grant money, the commissioner shall seek recovery of the grant from the
organization and the organization must repay the grant amount or any unused grant money.
new text end
Sec. 5.
Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 197.79, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1.
Definitions.
For purposes of this section, the following terms have the
meanings given them.
(a) "Applicant" means a veteran or a veteran's guardian, conservator, or personal
representative or a beneficiary or a beneficiary's guardian, conservator, or personal
representative who has filed an application with the commissioner for a bonus under this
section.
(b) "Application" means a request for a bonus payment by a veteran, a veteran's
beneficiary, or a veteran's guardian, conservator, or personal representative through
submission of written information on a form designed by the commissioner for this purpose.
(c) "Beneficiary" means in relation to a deceased veteran and in the order named:
(1) the surviving spouse, if not remarried;
(2) the children of the veteran, if there is no surviving spouse or the surviving spouse
has remarried;
(3) the veteran's surviving parent or parents;
(4) the veteran's surviving sibling or siblings; or
(5) the veteran's estate.
(d) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(e) "Department" means the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(f) "Eligibility period for the bonus" means the period from deleted text begin August 2, 1990, to July 31,
1991deleted text end new text begin September 11, 2001, to August 30, 2021new text end .
(g) "Guardian" or "conservator" means the legally appointed representative of a minor
new text begin or incapacitated new text end beneficiary or deleted text begin incompetentdeleted text end veteran, the chief officer of a hospital or
institution in which the deleted text begin incompetentdeleted text end new text begin incapacitatednew text end veteran is placed if the officer is authorized
to accept money for the benefit of the minor or deleted text begin incompetentdeleted text end new text begin incapacitatednew text end , the person
determined by the commissioner to be the person who is legally charged with the
responsibility for the care of the minor new text begin or incapacitated new text end beneficiary or deleted text begin incompetentdeleted text end veteran,
or the person determined by the commissioner to be the person who has assumed the
responsibility for the care of the minor new text begin or incapacitated new text end beneficiary or deleted text begin incompetentdeleted text end veteran.
(h) "Honorable service" means honorable new text begin federal new text end service in the United States armed
forces, as evidenced by:
(1) an honorable discharge;
(2) a general discharge under honorable conditions;
(3) in the case of an officer, a certificate of honorable service; or
(4) in the case of an applicant who is currently serving in active duty in the United States
armed forces, a certificate from an appropriate service authority that the applicant's service
to date has been honorable.
new text begin
(i) "Incapacitated person" means an individual who, for reasons other than being a minor,
lacks sufficient understanding or the capacity to make personal decisions and who is unable
to meet the individual's own personal needs for medical care, nutrition, clothing, shelter, or
safety even when assisted by appropriate technology or supported decision making.
new text end
deleted text begin (i)deleted text end new text begin (j)new text end "Resident veteran" means a veteran who served in active duty in the United States
armed forces at any time during the eligibility period for the bonus, and who also:
(1) has been separated or discharged from the United States armed forces, and whose
home of record at the time of entry into active duty in the United States armed forces, as
indicated on the person's form DD-214 or other documents the commissioner may authorize,
is the state of Minnesotanew text begin and who resides in Minnesota at the time of application with the
intention of residing in the state and not for any temporary purpose. An applicant may verify
a residence address by presenting a valid state driver's license; a state identification card; a
voter registration card; a rent receipt; a statement by the landlord, apartment manager, or
homeowner verifying that the individual is residing at the address; or other form of
verification approved by the commissionernew text end ; or
(2) is currently serving in the United States armed forces, and has a certificate from an
appropriate service authority stating that the person: (i) served in active duty in the United
States armed forces at any time during the eligibility period for the bonus; and (ii) deleted text begin haddeleted text end new text begin hasnew text end
Minnesota new text begin listed new text end as thenew text begin veteran'snew text end home of record deleted text begin at the time of entry into active duty in the
United States armed forcesdeleted text end new text begin in the veteran's official military personnel filenew text end .
deleted text begin (j)deleted text end new text begin (k)new text end "Service connected" means caused by an injury or disease incurred or aggravated
while on active duty, as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
deleted text begin (k)deleted text end new text begin (l)new text end "Veteran" has the meaning given in section 197.447deleted text begin ,deleted text end andnew text begin does not include a
member of the National Guard or the reserve components of the United States armed forces
ordered to active duty for the sole purpose of training. Veterannew text end also includesdeleted text begin :
deleted text end
deleted text begin (1)deleted text end a person who is providing honorable service on active duty in the United States
armed forces and has not been separated or dischargeddeleted text begin ; ordeleted text end new text begin .
new text end
deleted text begin
(2) a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including
the National Guard, who was ordered to active duty under United States Code, title 10,
section 673b, during the eligibility period for the bonus and who was deployed to a duty
station outside the state of Minnesota, as verified by the appropriate service authority. An
applicant's DD-214 form showing eligibility for or award of the Southwest Asia service
medal during the eligibility period for the bonus will suffice as verification.
deleted text end
deleted text begin
"Veteran" does not include a member of the National Guard or the reserve components
of the United States armed forces ordered to active duty for the sole purpose of training.
deleted text end
Sec. 6.
Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 197.79, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2.
Bonus amount.
(a) For a resident veteran who provided honorable service in
the United States armed forces at any time during the eligibility period for the bonus, the
bonus amount is:
(1) deleted text begin $300deleted text end new text begin $600new text end , if the veteran did not receive the deleted text begin Southwest Asia service medaldeleted text end new text begin Armed
Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign
Medal, or Afghanistan Campaign Medalnew text end during the eligibility period for the bonus;
(2) deleted text begin $600deleted text end new text begin $1200new text end , if the veteran received the deleted text begin Southwest Asia service medaldeleted text end new text begin Armed Forces
Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal,
or Afghanistan Campaign Medalnew text end during the eligibility period for the bonus; or
(3) $2,000, if the veteran was eligible for the deleted text begin Southwest Asia service medaldeleted text end new text begin Armed
Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign
Medal, or Afghanistan Campaign Medalnew text end during the eligibility period for the bonus, and
died during that time period as a direct result of a service connected injury, disease, or
condition.
(b) In the case of a deceased veteran, the commissioner shall pay the bonus to the veteran's
beneficiary.
deleted text begin
(c) No payment may be made to a veteran or beneficiary who has received a similar
bonus payment from another state.
deleted text end
Sec. 7.
Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 197.79, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3.
Application process.
A veteran, or the beneficiary of a veteran, entitled to a
bonus may make application for a bonus to the department deleted text begin on a formdeleted text end new text begin asnew text end prescribed by the
commissioner and verified by the applicant. If the veteran is deleted text begin incompetentdeleted text end new text begin incapacitatednew text end or
the veteran's beneficiary is a minor or deleted text begin incompetentdeleted text end new text begin incapacitatednew text end , the application must be
made by the person's guardian or conservator. An application must be accompanied by
evidence of residency, honorable service, active duty service during the eligibility period
for the bonus, and any other information the commissioner requires. The applicant must
indicate on the application form the bonus amount for which the applicant expects to be
eligible.
If the information provided in the application is incomplete, the department must notify
the applicant in writing of that fact and must identify the items of information needed to
make a determination. After notifying an applicant that the person's application is incomplete,
the department shall hold the application open new text begin for up to 120 days new text end while awaiting further
information from the applicant, and the applicant may submit that information new text begin within the
120-day period new text end without filing an appeal and request for review.
Sec. 8.
Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 197.79, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
Subd. 5.
Notices.
Notices and correspondence to an applicant must be directed to the
applicant by mail at the address listed in the applicationnew text begin or electronicallynew text end . Notices and
correspondence to the commissioner must be addressed to the commissioner's office deleted text begin in St.
Pauldeleted text end new text begin or the designated department systemnew text end .
Sec. 9.
Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 197.79, subdivision 10, is amended to read:
Subd. 10.
Deadline for applications.
The application period for the bonus program
established in this section shall be deleted text begin November 1, 1997, to June 30, 2001deleted text end new text begin July 1, 2022, to
June 30, 2024new text end . The department may not receive or accept new applications after June 30,
deleted text begin 2001deleted text end new text begin 2024new text end .
Sec. 10. new text begin CANCELLATION OF DEBT RELATED TO MILITARY SALARY
DIFFERENTIAL OVERPAYMENTS.
new text end
new text begin
Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, any debt incurred prior to the effective
date of this section by a current or former state employee on account of overpayment of
military salary differential under Minnesota Statutes, section 43A.183, is canceled.
new text end
new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end
new text begin
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end
Sec. 11. new text begin VETERANS HOMES; REPORT.
new text end
new text begin
By February 15, 2023, the commissioner of administration must report to the legislative
committees with jurisdiction over veterans affairs on the use of the money appropriated
under article 1, section 3, subdivision 2, paragraph (b), and section 4, including information
on the status of the Bemidji, Montevideo, and Preston state veterans homes building projects.
By February 15, 2026, the commissioner of administration must submit a final report to the
legislative committees with jurisdiction over veterans affairs on how the total appropriations
were spent.
new text end