Minnesota Session Laws - 1983, Regular Session

  

                         Laws of Minnesota 1983 

                         CHAPTER 313--H.F.No. 30
           An act relating to veterans affairs; providing 
          residents of the Minnesota veterans home with a right 
          to complain about home accommodations and services; 
          prohibiting retaliatory eviction of residents who 
          exercise their right to complain; proposing new law 
          coded in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 198.  
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
    Section 1.  [198.32] [VETERANS HOME; COMPLAINTS; RESIDENT'S 
RIGHTS.] 
     Subdivision 1.  [RESIDENT'S RIGHTS.] A resident of the 
Minnesota veterans home has the right to complain and otherwise 
exercise his freedom of expression and assembly which is 
guaranteed by amendment I of the United States Constitution. 
The administrator of the home shall inform each resident in 
writing at the time of admission of his right to complain to the 
administrator about home accommodations and services.  A notice 
of the right to complain shall be posted in the home.  The 
administrator shall also inform each resident of his right to 
complain to the commissioner of veterans affairs.  Each resident 
of the home shall be encouraged and assisted, throughout his 
period of stay in the home, to understand and exercise his 
rights of freedom of expression and assembly as a resident and 
as a citizen, and, to this end, he may voice grievances and 
recommend changes in policies and services to home staff, other 
residents, and outside representatives of his choice, free from 
restraint, interference, coercion, discrimination, or reprisal, 
including retaliatory eviction.  A resident of the home may not 
be denied any tenant rights available to him under chapter 566, 
including the right to recover possession of the premises.  
     Subd. 2.  [RETALIATION PROHIBITED.] The administrator may 
not retaliate against any resident who exercises his right to 
voice grievances by evicting the resident.  There shall be a 
rebuttable presumption that any eviction within 45 days of the 
exercise by a resident of his right to voice grievances is 
retaliatory. 
    Approved June 14, 1983