1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to veterans affairs; authorizing the
1.3 	commissioner of veterans affairs to establish a
1.4 	program of outreach to minority veterans;
1.5 	appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in
1.6 	Minnesota Statutes, chapter 197.
1.7 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.8 	Section 1. [197.785] OUTREACH TO UNDERSERVED VETERANS.
1.9 	The commissioner of veterans affairs must spend the amount
1.10 	appropriated for this purpose to foster and support an
1.11 	initiative of outreach and assistance to underserved veterans,
1.12 	including, but not limited to, veterans of color, female
1.13 	veterans, veterans of limited financial means, and the
1.14 	dependents and eligible survivors of those veterans.  The
1.15 	purpose of this initiative is to assist those veterans,
1.16 	dependents, and survivors in identifying and applying for
1.17 	federal and state veterans benefits for which they may be
1.18 	eligible.

1.19 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 1.20 	$250,000 annually is appropriated from the general fund to
1.21 	the commissioner of veterans affairs for fiscal years 2006 and
1.22 	2007 for the outreach initiative in section 1.  The commissioner
1.23 	may employ up to two full-time equivalent outreach coordinators
1.24 	and one administrative assistant to implement section 1.

1.25 	Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 1.26 	Sections 1 and 2 are effective July 1, 2005.