SF 3633

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to appropriations; appropriating money for veterans affairs, military
affairs, and the Board of Animal Health; reducing and adjusting appropriations
for agriculture; authorizing issuance of special veteran contribution plate for
motorcycles; providing for disposition of certain funds; removing a limit on
certain grants; eliminating a sunset date; amending Minnesota Statutes 2006,
sections 168.1255, subdivisions 1, 3, by adding subdivisions; 190.19, subdivision
1, by adding a subdivision; 190.25, subdivision 3, by adding a subdivision;
192.501, by adding subdivisions; 197.585, subdivision 5; Minnesota Statutes
2007 Supplement, sections 35.244; 190.19, subdivision 2; Laws 2007, chapter
45, article 2, section 1; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 192.

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

ARTICLE 1

APPROPRIATIONS

Section 1. new text begin SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS. new text end

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 2007, chapter 45, articles 1 to
3, to the agencies and for the purposes specified in this act. The appropriations are from
the general fund or another named fund and are available for the fiscal years indicated for
each purpose. The figures "2008" and "2009" 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, 2008, or June 30, 2009, respectively. Supplemental appropriations and
reductions to appropriations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, are effective the
day following final enactment.
new text end

			new text begin APPROPRIATIONS new text end
			new text begin Available for the Year new text end
			new text begin Ending June 30 new text end
				new text begin 2008 new text end		new text begin 2009 new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 0 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin (102,000) new text end

new text begin To reduce funding for administrative
services.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin BOARD OF ANIMAL HEALTH new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 472,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 2,252,000 new text end

new text begin For monitoring, testing, eradication,
education and outreach, and other activities
the board is required to undertake to
comply with federal regulations concerning
cattle, bison, and farmed cervidae under
a USDA modified accredited status. This
appropriation is added to the base.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin VETERANS AFFAIRS new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end new text begin Total Appropriation new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 0 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 5,805,000 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 Benefits and Services new text end

new text begin 0 new text end

new text begin 3,420,000 new text end

new text begin $2,500,000 in fiscal year 2009 is for state
soldiers' assistance under Minnesota Statutes,
section 197.05. $2,000,000 is added to the
base for this activity.
new text end

new text begin $220,000 in fiscal year 2009 is for operations
of the LinkVET linkage line.
new text end

new text begin $200,000 in fiscal year 2009 is for traumatic
brain injury (TBI) and posttraumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) outreach and education, and
for a follow-up study on future mental health
needs of veterans with TBI or PTSD. This is
a onetime appropriation.
new text end

new text begin $500,000 in fiscal year 2009 is for additional
state veterans case workers to provide
comprehensive individual assistance to
veterans and to coordinate services for
veterans, military members, and their
families.
new text end

new text begin For fiscal years 2010 and 2011, if a new
veterans cemetery is developed in northern
Minnesota, $325,000 each year must be
added to the agency's base funding for
cemetery operations.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end new text begin Claims and Outreach new text end

new text begin 0 new text end

new text begin 2,085,000 new text end

new text begin $250,000 in fiscal year 2009 is for a grant
to the Minnesota Assistance Council for
Veterans for their work in helping veterans
and their families affected by homelessness.
The base funding for this purpose is $250,000
each year for fiscal years 2010 and 2011.
new text end

new text begin $120,000 in fiscal year 2009 is to add "state
navigator" positions to coordinate state
agency programs and activities to support
and assist soldiers and their families during
and after the reintegration process.
new text end

new text begin $250,000 in fiscal year 2009 is for the
Veterans Claims Office for outreach and
training to improve services and benefits
to veterans. This appropriation includes
money to add a female veterans service
officer/coordinator position.
new text end

new text begin $500,000 in fiscal year 2009 is appropriated
for grants to county veterans services offices.
The provisions of Laws 2007, chapter 45,
article 2, section 1, paragraph (b), apply to
this appropriation.
new text end

new text begin $250,000 in fiscal year 2009 is to add county
veterans services office training coordinator
positions and to provide CVSO training,
coordination, and grant oversight.
new text end

new text begin $715,000 in fiscal year 2009 is for the
higher education veterans assistance
program under Minnesota Statutes,
section 197.585, to increase the number
of campus representatives for broader
statewide assistance. This appropriation is
added to the base for this program. This
appropriation includes money to keep the
MyMilitaryEducation.org Web site and
toll-free call center operational.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end new text begin Departmental Operations new text end

new text begin 0 new text end

new text begin 100,000 new text end

new text begin $100,000 in fiscal year 2009 is for veterans
affairs marketing.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end new text begin Veterans Homes new text end

new text begin 0 new text end

new text begin 200,000 new text end

new text begin $200,000 in fiscal year 2009 is for a strategic
planning study of the operations and capacity
of the Minnesota veterans homes. This is a
onetime appropriation.
new text end

Sec. 5. new text begin MILITARY AFFAIRS new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 0 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 390,000 new text end

new text begin $75,000 in fiscal year 2009 is to establish a
state enhancement of the employer support of
the guard and reserve program. The funding
base for this activity is $35,000 each year in
fiscal years 2010 and 2011.
new text end

new text begin $135,000 in fiscal year 2009 is to make
$1,000 biannual bonus payments to National
Guard medics who meet recertification
requirements during the fiscal year.
new text end

new text begin $180,000 in fiscal year 2009 is to add "state
navigator" positions to coordinate state
agency programs and activities to support
and assist soldiers and their families during
and after the reintegration process.
new text end

new text begin For fiscal year 2010, $392,000 is added
to the base of the tuition and textbook
reimbursement program under Minnesota
Statutes, section 192.501, subdivision 2, for
new subdivision 2a. For fiscal year 2011,
$441,000 is added to this program's base for
this purpose.
new text end

ARTICLE 2

RELATED PROVISIONS

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 35.244, is amended to read:

35.244 deleted text begin RULES FOR deleted text end CONTROL OF BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS.

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Designation of zones. new text end

new text begin The board has the authority to control
tuberculosis and the movement of cattle, bison, and farmed cervidae within and between
tuberculosis zones in the state. Zones within the state may be designated as accreditation
preparatory, modified accredited, modified accredited advanced, or accredited free as those
terms are defined in Code of Federal Regulations, title 9, part 77.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Control within modified accredited zone. new text end

new text begin In a modified accredited
zone, the board has the authority to:
new text end

new text begin (1) require owners of cattle, bison, or farmed cervidae to report personal contact
information and location of livestock to the board;
new text end

new text begin (2) require a permit or movement certificates for all cattle, bison, and farmed
cervidae moving between premises within the zone or leaving or entering the zone;
new text end

new text begin (3) require official identification of all cattle, bison, and farmed cervidae within
the zone or leaving or entering the zone;
new text end

new text begin (4) require a negative tuberculosis test within 60 days prior to movement for any
individual cattle, bison, or farmed cervidae leaving the zone with the exception of cattle
moving under permit directly to a slaughter facility under state or federal inspection;
new text end

new text begin (5) require a whole-herd tuberculosis test within 12 months prior to moving breeding
cattle out of the zone;
new text end

new text begin (6) require annual herd inventories on all cattle, bison, or farmed cervidae herds; and
new text end

new text begin (7) require that a risk assessment be performed to evaluate the interaction of
free-ranging deer with cattle, bison, and farmed cervidae herds and require the owner to
implement the recommendations of the risk assessment.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Authority to adopt rules. new text end

The board may adopt rules to provide for the
control of tuberculosis in cattle. The rules may include provisions for quarantine, tests,
and such other measures as the board deems appropriate. Federal regulations, as provided
by Code of Federal Regulations, title 9, part 77, and the Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication
Uniform Methods and Rules, are incorporated as part of the rules in this state.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 168.1255, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

General requirements and procedures.

The commissioner shall
issue special veteran contribution plates new text begin or a single motorcycle plate new text end to an applicant who:

(1) is a veteran, as defined in section 197.447;

(2) is a registered owner of a passenger automobile new text begin or motorcycle new text end ;

(3) pays a fee of $10 to cover the costs of handling and manufacturing the plates;

(4) pays the registration tax required under section 168.013;

(5) pays the fees required under this chapter;

(6) pays an additional onetime World War II memorial contribution of $30, which
the department shall retain until all start-up costs associated with the development and
issuing of the plates have been recovered, after which the commissioner shall deposit
contributions in the World War II donation match account; and

(7) complies with this chapter and rules governing the registration of motor vehicles
and licensing of drivers.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 168.1255, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 1a. new text end

new text begin Motorcycle plate. new text end

new text begin A motorcycle plate issued under this section must be
the same size as a regular motorcycle plate.
new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 168.1255, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Plate transfers.

Despite section 168.12, subdivision 1, on payment of a
transfer fee of $5, plates issued under this section may be transferred to another passenger
automobile registered to the individual to whom the veteran contribution plates were
issued new text begin , or a single motorcycle plate may be transferred to another motorcycle registered to
the individual to whom the plate was issued new text end .

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 168.1255, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin World War II memorial donation match account. new text end

new text begin Money remaining
in the World War II memorial donation match account after the state share of the
construction costs of the World War II memorial has been paid in full is appropriated to the
commissioner of veterans affairs for services and programs for veterans and their families.
new text end

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 190.19, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Establishment.

The Minnesota "Support Our Troops" account is
established in the special revenue fund. The account shall consist of contributions from
private sources and appropriations. new text begin Money in the account is appropriated in equal shares
to the Department of Military Affairs and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding Laws 2007, chapter 45, article 2, section
1, and article 3, section 2, subdivision 3, this section is effective for distribution of the
Minnesota "Support Our Troops" account the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 190.19, subdivision 2, is
amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Uses.

(a) Money appropriated from the Minnesota "Support Our Troops"
account new text begin to the Department of Military Affairs new text end may be used for:

(1) grants directly to eligible individuals;

(2) grants to one or more eligible foundations for the purpose of making grants to
eligible individuals, as provided in this section; deleted text begin or
deleted text end

(3) veterans' services deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin ; or
new text end

new text begin (4) grants to family readiness groups chartered by the adjutant general.
new text end

(b) new text begin As used in paragraph (a), new text end the term deleted text begin , deleted text end "eligible individual" includes any person
who is:

(1) a member of the Minnesota National Guard or a reserve unit based in Minnesota
who has been called to active service as defined in section 190.05, subdivision 5;

(2) a Minnesota resident who is a member of a military reserve unit not based
in Minnesota, if the member is called to active service as defined in section 190.05,
subdivision 5;

(3) any other Minnesota resident performing active service for any branch of the
military of the United States;

(4) a person who served in one of the capacities listed in clause (1), (2), or (3) who
has current financial needs directly related to that service; and

(5) a member of the immediate family of an individual identified in clause (1), (2),
(3), or (4). For purposes of this clause, "immediate family" means the individual's spouse
and minor children and, if they are dependents of the member of the military, the member's
parents, grandparents, siblings, stepchildren, and adult children.

(c) new text begin As used in paragraph (a), new text end the term "eligible foundation" includes any organization
that:

(1) is a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
Code;

(2) has articles of incorporation under chapter 317A specifying the purpose of
the organization as including the provision of financial assistance to members of the
Minnesota National Guard and other United States armed forces reserves and their
families and survivors; and

(3) agrees in writing to distribute any grant money received from the adjutant general
under this section to eligible individuals as defined in this section and in accordance
with any written policies and rules the adjutant general may impose as conditions of the
grant to the foundation.

(d) The maximum grant awarded to an eligible individual new text begin under paragraph (a) new text end in a
calendar year with funds from the Minnesota "Support Our Troops" account, either through
an eligible institution or directly from the adjutant general, may not exceed $2,000.

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 190.19, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 2a. new text end

new text begin Uses; veterans. new text end

new text begin Money appropriated to the Department of Veterans
Affairs from the Minnesota "Support Our Troops" account may be used for:
new text end

new text begin (1) grants to veterans service organizations; and
new text end

new text begin (2) outreach to underserved veterans.
new text end

Sec. 9.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 190.25, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Sale; use of funds.

The adjutant general is authorized to sell in the manner
provided by law any or all

(1) land, and

(2) deleted text begin timber, deleted text end growing crops, buildings, and other improvements, if any, situated upon
the land,

acquired under the authority of subdivision 1 or which may hereafter comprise the Camp
Ripley Military Field Training Center and not needed for military training purposes. The
proceeds of any sales shall be deposited in the general fund.

The adjutant general may use funds that are directly appropriated for the acquisition
of land, the payment of expenses of forest management on land forming the Camp
Ripley Military Reservation, and the provision of an Enlisted Person's Service Center. If
amounts that are directly appropriated for these purposes in either year of a biennium are
insufficient, the appropriation for the other year of the biennium is available.

Sec. 10.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 190.25, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 3a. new text end

new text begin Timber sales; use of funds. new text end

new text begin The adjutant general is authorized to sell
in the manner provided by law any or all timber on land acquired under the authority of
subdivision 1 or which may hereafter comprise the Camp Ripley Military Field Training
Center. The proceeds of any sales of timber under this subdivision must be deposited in an
account in the special revenue fund and are appropriated to the adjutant general to be used
to manage the timber resources of Camp Ripley in a manner consistent with the camp's
purpose as lands for training armed forces.
new text end

Sec. 11.

new text begin [192.341] STATE ENHANCED EMPLOYER SUPPORT OF GUARD
AND RESERVE (ESGR) PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin The adjutant general is authorized to establish and administer a state enhancement
to the federal Employer Support of Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Program. The adjutant
general shall develop policy and guidelines for the administration of the program
established under this section.
new text end

Sec. 12.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 192.501, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 1c. new text end

new text begin Medic recertification bonus program. new text end

new text begin (a) The adjutant general
may establish a program to provide a recertification bonus to eligible members of the
Minnesota National Guard who recertify as emergency medical technicians (EMTs) in
the National Guard within the limitations of this subdivision. The bonus payments are
intended to generally encourage a member's continuing certification as an EMT.
new text end

new text begin (b) Eligibility for the recertification bonus is limited to a member of the National
Guard who:
new text end

new text begin (1) is serving satisfactorily as determined by the adjutant general; and
new text end

new text begin (2) has successfully completed the training required for recertification and warrants
the payment of a bonus.
new text end

new text begin (c) The adjutant general may, within the limitations of this subdivision and other
applicable laws, determine additional eligibility criteria for the bonus, and must specify all
of the criteria in regulations and publish changes as necessary.
new text end

new text begin (d) Payments under this subdivision must be made on a schedule that is determined
and published in department regulations by the adjutant general.
new text end

Sec. 13.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 192.501, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 2a. new text end

new text begin Usage of tuition and textbook reimbursement grant program by
spouse permitted. new text end

new text begin (a) Notwithstanding the eligibility limitations of subdivision 2,
paragraph (b), the spouse of a person eligible under subdivision 2, paragraph (b), is
eligible to use up to 12 semester hours per year, or the equivalent amount of quarter
credits, of that eligible person's unused tuition reimbursement benefit for each year of
service in the Minnesota National Guard after the eighth year of such service.
new text end

new text begin (b) Total benefits under this subdivision cannot exceed the total unused portion of
the service member's benefit. A service member's and spouse's eligibility for tuition
reimbursement under this subdivision is limited by the provisions of subdivision 2,
paragraph (g).
new text end

Sec. 14.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 197.585, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Expiration.

This section expires at the end of the first fiscal year in which
the number of veterans enrolled in Minnesota public institutions of higher education is
fewer than 4,000 deleted text begin , but no later than June 30, 2011 deleted text end .

Sec. 15.

Laws 2007, chapter 45, article 2, section 1, is amended to read:

Section 1. VETERANS AFFAIRS

$

12,855,000

$

12,571,000

Appropriations by Fund
	2008	2009
General	12,517,000	12,233,000
Special Revenue	338,000	338,000

(a) $1,000,000 each year is added to the
base for state soldier's assistance under
Minnesota Statutes, section 197.05. new text begin If the
appropriation for this purpose for either year
is insufficient, the appropriation for the other
year is available for it.
new text end

(b) $750,000 the first year and $750,000
the second year are added to the base for
grants to counties under the terms of this
section. The commissioner shall issue a
request for proposals for grants to enhance
the benefits, programs, and services provided
to veterans. The request must specify that
priority will be given to proposals that meet
the programmatic goals established by the
commissioner, including proposals that will:

(1) provide the most effective outreach to
veterans;

(2) reintegrate combat veterans into society;

(3) collaborate with other social service
agencies, educational institutions, and other
relevant community resources;

(4) reduce homelessness among veterans;
and

(5) provide measurable outcomes.

The commissioner may provide incentives
to encourage, and may give priority to
proposals that foster, regional collaboration
for service delivery. The grants may be for a
term of up to two years. The commissioner
shall ensure that grants are made throughout
all regions of the state and shall develop a
description of best practices for the use of
these grants. A county may not reduce its
county veterans service officer budget by any
amount received as a grant under this section.
Grants made under this section are in addition
to and not subject to the requirements for
grants made under Minnesota Statutes,
section 197.608. The Minnesota Association
of County Veterans Service Officers may
apply for grants under this section beginning
July 1, 2007. Any balance remaining after
the first year does not cancel and is available
in the second year. This appropriation must
be included in the appropriation base through
fiscal year 2011.

(c) $750,000 each year is for tribal veterans
services offices.

(d) $750,000 each year is for a grant to the
Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans.
This is a onetime appropriation.

(e) $200,000 each year is for marketing
veterans outreach programs. This is a
onetime appropriation.

(f) $250,000 each year is added to the base
for grants to Disabled American Veterans,
Military Order of the Purple Heart, Veterans
of Foreign Wars, Vietnam Veterans of
America, and other congressionally chartered
veterans service organizations designated by
the commissioner.

(g) $450,000 the first year and $450,000
the second year are for the higher education
veterans assistance program under Minnesota
Statutes, section 197.585. This appropriation
must be included in the agency appropriation
base through fiscal year 2011.

(h) $100,000 each year is for information
technology.

(i) $75,000 each year is for operations at the
Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little
Falls.

(j) $250,000 each year is for administration
of veterans programming. This appropriation
includes money for the biennium for
an ombudsman for residents and family
members of residents at the Minneapolis
Veterans' Home. The ombudsman must
attend all meetings of the Veterans Homes
Board and provide a report at each
meeting regarding the status of concerns
communicated to the ombudsman.

(k) $100,000 each year is for compensation
for honor guards at the funerals of veterans
in accordance with the program established
in Minnesota Statutes, section 197.231. This
is a onetime appropriation.

(l) $52,000 the first year is for spousal
education benefits in accordance with
Minnesota Statutes, section 197.75. This
appropriation is available until June 30, 2009.

(m) $100,000 each year is for information
and outreach regarding the availability of
depleted uranium testing. The commissioner
shall collaborate with the adjutant general
to identify service members and veterans
who may have been exposed to expended
depleted uranium and to provide them with
information regarding depleted uranium
screening services provided by the federal
government. This is a onetime appropriation.

(n) $250,000 the first year is for grants to
assist World War II veterans in attending the
dedication of the Minnesota World War II
Memorial in St. Paul on June 9, 2007, and for
other expenses of the dedication event. The
commissioner may spend only that portion
of this sum for which a matching amount,
whether in cash or in kind, is donated by
nongovernmental sources for this purpose.
This appropriation is available immediately.

(o) $80,000 the first year is for suicide
prevention and psychological support for
veterans. Of this amount, $50,000 is for a
study by the commissioner and the adjutant
general of the psychological status and
needs of returning Minnesota veterans,
and $30,000 is for a telephone hotline to
refer veterans to available psychological
counseling services. The commissioner
may use this appropriation to supplement
an existing informational hotline service
within the department, or may collaborate
with any other provider of compatible,
existing hotline services for this purpose.
The referral hotline must be available to
veterans statewide at all practicable hours.
The commissioner must broadly publicize
the availability of the telephone hotline
and any local, state, and federal counseling
services for Minnesota veterans using all
practicable means available, including but
not limited to: the agency Web site; local
media announcements; announcements in
service and trade publications; and any other
practical means of communication.

The commissioner may spend up to two
percent of this appropriation for development
of special informational materials, such
as refrigerator magnets, wallet cards, and
other devices on which hotline numbers
may be kept for immediate use. The
commissioner also may accept and spend
other contributions from nongovernmental
sources for this purpose. This is a onetime
appropriation.

(p) $338,000 each year is from the account
in the special revenue fund established in
Minnesota Statutes, section 190.19, for (1)
grants to veterans service organizations; and
(2) outreach to underserved veterans. Any
balance in the first year does not cancel and
is available in the second year.