Minnesota Session Laws - 2006, Regular Session

CHAPTER 273--H.F.No. 3664

An act

relating to the military; expanding eligibility for the salary differential program for state employees ordered into active military service; permitting military personnel stationed outside Minnesota to use state parks without fee while home on leave; providing leave without pay to family members of soldiers wounded or killed while in active service, and for family members of deployed soldiers to attend send-off or homecoming ceremonies; establishing a policy statement supportive of military service; providing certain job protections for persons ordered into active military service; adding cross-references; directing institutions of higher education to provide credit for military training and experience for veterans; clarifying law governing renewal of occupational licenses and professional certifications during and following active military service; authorizing National Guard security guard employees to carry certain weapons; authorizing the placement of plaques honoring certain veterans in the Court of Honor;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2004, sections 85.053, by adding a subdivision; 190.055; 326.56; 609.67, subdivisions 3, 5; 626.88, subdivision 1; Minnesota Statutes 2005 Supplement, sections 43A.183; 192.502, by adding subdivisions; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 181; 190; 197.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2005 Supplement, section 43A.183, is amended to read:

43A.183 PAYMENT OF SALARY DIFFERENTIAL deleted text begin FOR deleted text end new text begin TO new text end RESERVE FORCES WHO deleted text begin REPORTED deleted text end new text begin REPORT new text end FOR ACTIVE SERVICE.

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Payment required. new text end

deleted text begin (a) deleted text end Each agency head shall pay to each eligible member deleted text begin of the National Guard or other reserve component of the United States armed forces deleted text end 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 deleted text begin military deleted text end service. deleted text begin The person's salary differential is calculated as deleted text end

new text begin 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 prior to, during, or following the person's active service on or after May 29, 2003. new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) The definitions in this subdivision apply to this section. new text end

new text begin (b) "Salary differential" means new text end the difference between:

(1) the person's monthly total gross earnings as an active state employee, excluding any overtime pay received but including all other earnings, averaged over the last three full months of the person's active state employment prior to reporting to active deleted text begin military deleted text end service, and including any additional salary or earnings adjustments that the person would have received at any time during the person's deleted text begin military deleted text end new text begin authorized new text end leave new text begin from state employment new text end had the person been serving as an active state employee during that time; and

(2) the person's monthly base pay in active deleted text begin military deleted text end service.

deleted text begin This payment may be made only to a person for whom the amount in clause (1) is greater than the amount in 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 of the National Guard or other reserve component of the United States armed forces may apply for the pay differential benefits authorized under this section prior to, during, or following the person's active military service on or after May 29, 2003. deleted text end

deleted text begin (b) An eligible member of the reserve components deleted text end new text begin (c) "Eligible member" means: new text end

new text begin (1) any member of the National Guard or other reserve component new text end of the United States armed forces deleted text begin is a reservist or National Guard member deleted text end who was an employee of the state of Minnesota at the time the member took military leave under section 192.261 to report for active military service new text begin ; and new text end

new text begin (2) any member of any other nonmilitary reserve component of the uniformed services of the United States who was an employee of Minnesota at the time the member took properly authorized leave from state employment under substantially comparable federal or state authority ordering the person to report for federal or state active service new text end .

deleted text begin (c) For purposes of this section, an employee of the state is deleted text end new text begin (d) "State employee" means new text end an employee of the executive, judicial, or legislative branch of state government or an employee of the Minnesota State Retirement System, the Public Employee Retirement Association, or the Teachers Retirement Association.

deleted text begin (d) For purposes of this section, the term deleted text end new text begin (e) new text end "Active service" has the meaning given in section 190.05, subdivision 5, new text begin for military members, and includes substantially comparable service for reserve members of other nonmilitary components of the uniformed services of the United States, new text end but excludes service performed exclusively for purposes of:

(1) basic deleted text begin combat deleted text end training, advanced individual training, annual training, and periodic inactive duty training;

(2) special training periodically made available to reserve members;

(3) service performed in accordance with section 190.08, subdivision 3; and

(4) service performed as part of the active guard/reserve program pursuant to United States Code, title 32, section 502(f), or other applicable authority new text begin , as well as substantially comparable service by members of other nonmilitary components of the uniformed services of the United States new text end .

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Health and dental coverage. new text end

deleted text begin (e) deleted text end The agency head must continue the employee's enrollment in health and dental coverage, and the employer contribution toward that coverage, until the employee reports for active deleted text begin military deleted text end service. If the employee had elected dependent coverage for health or dental coverage as of the time that the employee reported for active service, the agency head must offer the employee the option to continue the dependent coverage at the employee's own expense. The agency head must permit the employee to continue participating in any pretax account in which the employee participated when the employee reported for active service, to the extent of employee pay available for that purpose. An employee who has opted to continue a permitted benefit may cancel that continuation at any time during the person's deleted text begin military deleted text end new text begin authorized new text end leave new text begin from state employment new text end by written notification from the employee, or from the employee's designated attorney-in-fact under a power of attorney, to the agency head or the commissioner of employee relations.

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Notice. new text end

deleted text begin (f) deleted text end The agency head must periodically inform in writing all agency personnel who are or may be members of the reserve component of the United States armed forces new text begin or any other nonmilitary reserve component of the uniformed services of the United States new text end of the benefits provided under this section and of the procedures relevant to securing those benefits, including, but not limited to, any procedures regarding the continuation and discontinuation of any optional deductions. It will suffice to meet this requirement if the agency head posts the information on the agency Web site in a highly recognizable manner that can be easily found and understood by the employees to whom it might apply.

Upon being ordered to active deleted text begin duty deleted text end new text begin service new text end , the employee must notify the agency head of that order in a timely manner and must provide to the agency head the name of and contact information for the employee's designated attorney-in-fact under a power of attorney. Prior to the commencement of the employee's deleted text begin military deleted text end new text begin authorized new text end leave new text begin from state employment new text end , the agency head must ensure the agency's receipt of that information and immediately convey that information to the commissioners of finance and employee relations, including any subsequent change in that designation by the employee. When communicating with the employee during the person's deleted text begin military deleted text end leave, the agency head and the commissioners of finance and employee relations must immediately provide a copy of the communication to the employee's designated attorney-in-fact. Those officials must also honor requests for information or other appropriate directives from that designee on behalf of the employee during the employee's deleted text begin military deleted text end leave.

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Procedures. new text end

deleted text begin (g) deleted text end The commissioners of employee relations and finance shall adopt procedures required to implement this section. The procedures are exempt from chapter 14.

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Exclusion. new text end

deleted text begin (h) deleted text end This section does not apply to a judge, legislator, or constitutional officer of the executive branch.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for Minnesota state employees serving in active service on or after July 1, 2006. new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 85.053, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Military personnel on leave; exemption. new text end

new text begin (a) The provisions of this section requiring a state park permit and regulating its display do not apply to a motor vehicle being used by a person who is serving in active military service in any branch or unit of the United States armed forces and who is stationed outside Minnesota, during the period of active service and for 90 days immediately thereafter, if the person notifies the park attendant on duty or other designee of the commissioner of the person's military status at the time of usage. It is sufficient notice for the eligible person to temporarily affix to the inside of the windshield of the vehicle in a visible manner the person's current military orders to carry in the person's possession current military identification attesting to the person's active or recent military status. new text end

new text begin (b) For purposes of this section, "active service" has the meaning given under section 190.05, subdivision 5c, when performed outside Minnesota. 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. 3.

new text begin [181.947] LEAVE FOR IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS OF MILITARY PERSONNEL INJURED OR KILLED IN ACTIVE SERVICE. new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) The definitions in this subdivision apply to this section. new text end

new text begin (b) "Active service" has the meaning given in section 190.05, subdivision 5. new text end

new text begin (c) "Employee" means a person, independent contractor, or person working for an independent contractor who performs services for compensation, in whatever form, for an employer. new text end

new text begin (d) "Employer" means a person or entity located or doing business in this state and having one or more employees, and includes the state and all political or other governmental subdivisions of the state. new text end

new text begin (e) "Immediate family member" means a person's parent, child, grandparents, siblings, or spouse. new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Unpaid leave required. new text end

new text begin An employer must grant up to ten working days of a leave of absence without pay to an employee whose immediate family member, as a member of the United States armed forces, has been injured or killed while engaged in active service. new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Notice. new text end

new text begin An employee must give as much notice to the employee's employer as practicable of the employee's intent to exercise the leave guaranteed by this section. new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Relationship to other leave. new text end

new text begin The length of leave provided under this section may be reduced by any period of paid leave provided by the employer. Nothing in this section prevents an employer from providing leave benefits in addition to those provided in this section or otherwise affects an employee's rights with respect to other employment benefits. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment and applies to the immediate family members of military personnel injured or killed on or after that date, as well as to the immediate family members of military personnel who, on the effective date, are recovering from injuries that occurred prior to that date. new text end

Sec. 4.

new text begin [181.948] LEAVE TO ATTEND MILITARY CEREMONIES. new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the meaning given in this subdivision. new text end

new text begin (b) "Active service" has the meaning given in section 190.05, subdivision 5. new text end

new text begin (c) "Employee" means a person who performs services for compensation, in whatever form, for an employer. Employee does not include an independent contractor. new text end

new text begin (d) "Employer" means a person or entity located or doing business in this state and having one or more employees, and includes the state and all political or other governmental subdivisions of the state. new text end

new text begin (e) "Immediate family member" means a person's grandparent, parent, legal guardian, sibling, child, grandchild, spouse, fiance, or fiancee. new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Unpaid leave required. new text end

new text begin Unless the leave would unduly disrupt the operations of the employer, an employer shall grant a leave of absence without pay to an employee whose immediate family member, as a member of the United States armed forces, has been ordered into active service in support of a war or other national emergency. The employer may limit the amount of leave provided under this subdivision to the actual time necessary for the employee to attend a send-off or homecoming ceremony for the mobilized service member, not to exceed one day's duration in any calendar year. new text end

Sec. 5.

new text begin [190.001] POLICY STATEMENT. new text end

new text begin In recognition of the necessity of maintaining a strong military force for the protection and survival of this state and nation and of free and democratic allied societies throughout the world, and of the numerous and varied sacrifices required of military personnel and their families both in peacetime and war, and of the exemplary character, courage, leadership, and training of United States armed forces personnel of all generations, it is the policy of the state of Minnesota to promulgate, implement, and maintain laws, policies, rules, and procedures, insofar as is practicable and beneficial to the people of this state and within available resources as may exist at any time, that encourage, recognize, and reward honorable military service to this state and nation, whether in regular active service or in the National Guard or other reserve component service, during both peacetime and war. This includes, but is not limited to, policies supportive of the physical and mental health needs of returning veterans. new text end

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 190.055, is amended to read:

190.055 PROTECTIONS.

new text begin (a) new text end A person called or ordered to active service, as defined in section 190.05, subdivision 5a or 5b, has all the protections afforded to persons in the military service of the United States under new text begin : new text end

new text begin (1) new text end the deleted text begin Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act of 1940 deleted text end new text begin Service Members Civil Relief Act new text end , United States Code, Appendix 50, sections 501 to 548, and 560 to 591, as amended deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin at any time; and new text end

new text begin (2) the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, United States Code, title 38, sections 4301 to 4333, as amended at any time. new text end

new text begin (b) The acts referenced in paragraph (a), clauses (1) and (2), may be cited as the "SCRA" and "USERRA," respectively. 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. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2005 Supplement, section 192.502, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Unpaid leave to attend military ceremonies. new text end

new text begin Employees are entitled to unpaid leave, as required by section 181.948, to attend the send-off or homecoming ceremony of an immediate family member who, as a member of the United States armed forces, has been mobilized for active military service in support of a war or other national emergency. new text end

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2005 Supplement, section 192.502, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Unpaid leave for families of injured or deceased military members. new text end

new text begin Employees are entitled to unpaid leave, as required by section 181.947, when an immediate family member, as a member of the United States armed forces, has been injured or killed while engaged in active service. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment and applies to the immediate family members of military personnel injured or killed on or after that date, as well as to the immediate family members of military personnel who, on the effective date, are recovering from injuries that occurred prior to that date. new text end

Sec. 9.

new text begin [197.775] HIGHER EDUCATION FAIRNESS. new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) The definitions in this subdivision apply to this section. new text end

new text begin (b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of veterans affairs. new text end

new text begin (c) "State college or university" means a unit of the University of Minnesota or Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Recognition of courses. new text end

new text begin (a) Minnesota State Colleges and Universities must recognize courses and award educational credits for courses that were part of a veteran's military training or service if the courses meet the standards of the American Council on Education or equivalent standards for awarding academic credits. new text end

new text begin (b) The University of Minnesota and private colleges and universities in Minnesota are encouraged to recognize courses and award educational credits for courses that were part of a veteran's military training or service if the courses meet the standards of the American Council on Education or equivalent standards for awarding academic credits. new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Tuition status. new text end

new text begin A state college or university must treat a veteran as a Minnesota resident for purposes of determining the veteran's undergraduate tuition rate. A state college or university must treat a veteran as a Minnesota resident for purposes of determining the veteran's graduate school tuition rate if the veteran was a Minnesota resident on entering military service and starts attending the state college or university graduate program within two years of completing military service. new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Delayed payment of tuition. new text end

new text begin A state college or university may not assess late fees or other late charges for veterans who are eligible to receive federal educational assistance and who have applied for that assistance but not yet received it, nor may they prevent these students from registering for a subsequent term because of outstanding tuition charges that arise from delayed federal payments. The state college or university may request without delay the amount of tuition above expected federal educational assistance and may require payment of the full amount of tuition owed by the veteran within 30 days of receipt of the expected federal educational assistance. new text end

Sec. 10.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 326.56, is amended to read:

326.56 LICENSES, CERTIFICATES OF REGISTRATION; RENEWALS.

Subdivision 1.

Definitions.

For the purposes of this section the terms defined in this subdivision shall have the meanings ascribed to them.

(1) new text begin "Active military service" has the meaning given in section 190.05, subdivision 5. new text end

new text begin (2) new text end "Employment essential to the prosecution of deleted text begin any deleted text end new text begin a new text end war deleted text begin and deleted text end new text begin or new text end to the national defense" means employment by the new text begin federal government of the new text end United States of America, new text begin or new text end any of its agencies, or deleted text begin any deleted text end new text begin by a federal government new text end contractor deleted text begin under the United States of America, deleted text end or subcontractor deleted text begin under such contractor, deleted text end in work connected with the prosecution of new text begin a new text end war or for the defense of the United States deleted text begin of America and others of the United Nations during war deleted text end new text begin or its allies new text end .

deleted text begin (2) deleted text end new text begin (3) new text end "Outside of the United States" means outside of the territorial limits of the 50 states of the United States and the District of Columbia.

Subd. 2.

Trade licenses or registrations, renewals; exemption deleted text begin of members of deleted text end new text begin for new text end armed forces new text begin and certain essential employees new text end .

new text begin Notwithstanding any other provision of statutes, new text end any person required by law to be licensed or registered new text begin by the state of Minnesota new text end in order to carry on or practice a trade, employment, occupation or profession deleted text begin in the deleted text end new text begin within this new text end state deleted text begin of Minnesota deleted text end who is also required by law to renew the license or certificate of registration at stated intervals and to pay a fee for such renewal on or before a specified date, or be subject to revocation of the license or certificate or other penalties, new text begin and new text end who has deleted text begin since the enactment by the Congress of the United States of the Selective Service and Training Act of 1940 entered, or shall hereafter enter, the armed forces of the United States of America deleted text end new text begin been ordered into active military service new text end , or who has deleted text begin since the enactment of said act deleted text end been engaged, or shall hereafter be engaged, in employment deleted text begin , deleted text end outside of the United States deleted text begin , deleted text end essential to the prosecution of deleted text begin any deleted text end new text begin a new text end war or to the national defense, whose license or certificate of registration was effective at the time of new text begin the person's new text end entry into deleted text begin the armed forces deleted text end new text begin active military service new text end or engagement in the employment deleted text begin aforesaid deleted text end , is hereby exempted from the payment of all renewal fees and from the filing of any application for renewal, which but for this section would have been required as a condition of the renewal of the license or certificate, during the time the person has been in deleted text begin such armed forces deleted text end new text begin active military service new text end or deleted text begin in such deleted text end new text begin that new text end employment, and from any penalties for nonpayment or late payment, and is hereby exempted from further payment of such renewal fees and from the making of any application for renewal during the period the person shall remain in deleted text begin such armed forces deleted text end new text begin active military service new text end or deleted text begin is engaged in such deleted text end new text begin the new text end employment, and for deleted text begin a further period of deleted text end six months deleted text begin from discharge from the armed forces, if a member thereof, or from the date of return within the boundaries of the United States if engaged in the employment hereinbefore referred to deleted text end new text begin thereafter new text end . The license or certificate in the meantime shall remain in full force and effect, and if it has been canceled or revoked deleted text begin since the date of the enactment of the Selective Service and Training Act of 1940 deleted text end solely on the deleted text begin ground deleted text end new text begin basis new text end of nonpayment of renewal fees deleted text begin , deleted text end or failure to apply for a renewal, it shall be reinstated upon the application of the licensee or registrant or deleted text begin any one on the licensee's or registrant's deleted text end new text begin by anyone on the person's new text end behalf without the payment of any penalties or costs. Any such person may within six months from the date of release from deleted text begin the armed forces of the United States, if the person has been a member of such armed forces deleted text end new text begin active military service new text end , or from the date of return within the boundaries of the United States if the person has been engaged in new text begin the essential new text end employment deleted text begin hereinbefore referred to deleted text end , make application for a renewal of the license or certificate without penalty and in the same manner as if the person had made application therefor at the time or time specified by existing laws new text begin , irrespective of whether the license or certificate has expired or is due to expire within that time period new text end .

Sec. 11.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 609.67, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Uses permitted.

The following persons may own or possess a machine gun or short-barreled shotgun provided the provisions of subdivision 4 are complied with:

(1) law enforcement officers for use in the course of their duties;

(2) chief executive officers of correctional facilities and other personnel thereof authorized by them and persons in charge of other institutions for the retention of persons convicted or accused of crime, for use in the course of their duties;

(3) persons possessing machine guns or short-barreled shotguns which, although designed as weapons, have been determined by the superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension or the superintendent's delegate by reason of the date of manufacture, value, design or other characteristics to be primarily collector's items, relics, museum pieces or objects of curiosity, ornaments or keepsakes, and are not likely to be used as weapons;

(4) manufacturers of ammunition who possess and use machine guns for the sole purpose of testing ammunition manufactured for sale to federal and state agencies or political subdivisions; deleted text begin and deleted text end

(5) dealers and manufacturers who are federally licensed to buy and sell, or manufacture machine guns or short-barreled shotguns and who either use the machine guns or short-barreled shotguns in peace officer training under courses approved by the Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training, or are engaged in the sale of machine guns or short-barreled shotguns to federal and state agencies or political subdivisions deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin ; and new text end

new text begin (6) persons employed by the Minnesota National Guard as security guards, for use in accordance with applicable federal military regulations. new text end

Sec. 12.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 609.67, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Exceptions.

This section does not apply to members of the armed services of either the United States or the state of Minnesota for use in the course of their duties new text begin or to security guards employed by the Minnesota National Guard for use in accordance with applicable federal military regulations new text end .

Sec. 13.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 626.88, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Definitions.

(a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given them.

(b) "Peace officer" means an employee of a political subdivision or state law enforcement agency who is licensed pursuant to sections 626.84 to 626.863 charged with the prevention and detection of crime and the enforcement of the general criminal laws of the state and who has full power of arrest, and shall also include Minnesota state troopers, state conservation officers, park police, constables, and University of Minnesota police officers.

(c) "Security guard" means any person who is paid a fee, wage or salary to perform one or more of the following functions:

(1) prevention or detection of intrusion, unauthorized entry or activity, vandalism or trespass on private property;

(2) prevention or detection of theft, loss, embezzlement, misappropriation, or concealment of merchandise, money, bonds, stocks, notes, or other valuable documents or papers;

(3) control, regulation, or direction of the flow or movements of the public, whether by vehicle or otherwise, to assure protection of private property;

(4) protection of individuals from bodily harm; deleted text begin or deleted text end

new text begin (5) prevention or detection of intrusion, unauthorized entry or activity, vandalism, or trespass on Minnesota National Guard facilities, including, but not limited to, Camp Ripley and Air National Guard air bases; or new text end

deleted text begin (5) deleted text end new text begin (6) new text end enforcement of policies and rules of the security guard's employer related to crime reduction insofar as such enforcement falls within the scope of security guard's duties.

The term "security guard" does not include: (i) auditors, accountants, and accounting personnel performing audits or accounting functions; (ii) employees of a firm licensed pursuant to section 326.3381 whose duties are primarily administrative or clerical in nature; (iii) unarmed security personnel; (iv) personnel temporarily employed pursuant to statute or ordinance by political subdivisions to provide protective services at social functions; (v) employees of air or rail carriers.

Sec. 14.

new text begin MEMORIAL PLAQUES. new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Memorial plaque honoring military war dogs and their handlers. new text end

new text begin A memorial plaque may be placed in the Court of Honor on the Capitol grounds to recognize the valiant service to our nation by the thousands of brave military war dogs and their handlers who served honorably as members of the United States armed forces during all of our nation's wars and during peacetime. The plaque must be furnished by a person or organization other than the Department of Veterans Affairs and must be approved by the commissioner of veterans affairs and the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board. new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Memorial plaque honoring Medal of Honor recipients. new text end

new text begin A memorial plaque may be placed in the Court of Honor on the Capitol grounds to recognize those Minnesotans who have received the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the armed services of the United States. The plaque must be furnished by a person or organization other than the Department of Veterans Affairs and must be approved by the commissioner of veterans affairs and the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board. 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. 15.

new text begin REVISOR'S INSTRUCTION. new text end

new text begin The revisor of statutes shall insert a first grade header after Minnesota Statutes, section 181.946, that reads "LEAVE FOR FAMILIES OF MOBILIZED MILITARY MEMBERS." new text end

Presented to the governor May 22, 2006

Signed by the governor June 1, 2006, 9:45 p.m.