1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to the military; establishing a service member and veteran service center 
1.3 	pilot grant program; authorizing use of Support Our Troops account funds;
1.4 	proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 197.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [197.792] SERVICE MEMBER AND VETERAN SERVICE CENTER 
1.7 	PILOT GRANT PROGRAM.
1.8 		Subdivision 1.Grant program. A service member and veteran service center pilot grant 
1.9 	program is established to be administered by the commissioner of veterans affairs. The 
1.10 	program consists of grant awards to nonprofits that serve service members, veterans, and 
1.11 	their families to enable a nonprofit service member and veteran service center to enhance 
1.12 	the effectiveness of its services.
1.13 		Subd. 2.Eligibility. (a) To be eligible for a grant under subdivision 4, a service member 
1.14 	and veteran service center must, at a minimum:
1.15 	(1) provide space where service members, veterans, and their families are able to gather;
1.16 	(2) assist service members, veterans, and their families with finding local, state, and 
1.17 	federal resources;
1.18 	(3) assist service members, veterans, and their families in connecting with services, 
1.19 	resources, and advocacy in the areas of law, education, employment, housing, health, and 
1.20 	wellness;
1.21 	(4) utilize public and private partnerships to share resources and increase innovation to 
1.22 	effectively assist service members, veterans, and their families; and
2.1 	(5) be a nonprofit corporation as defined in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue 
2.2 	Code.
2.3 	(b) Any grant awarded under this section to a service member and veterans service center 
2.4 	requires a 50 percent match from nonstate sources.
2.5 		Subd. 3.Grant process. (a) The commissioner shall determine the process for awarding 
2.6 	grants. A grant may be used only for the purpose of enhancing the operations of or renovating 
2.7 	the facility of a service member and veteran service center.
2.8 	(b) The commissioner must give preference to service member and veterans service 
2.9 	centers that:
2.10 	(1) demonstrate meaningful collaboration with other organizations that enhance the 
2.11 	services offered by the service center; and
2.12 	(2) are located outside of the metropolitan area, as defined in section 473.121, subdivision 
2.13 	2.
2.14 		Subd. 4.Grant amount. A service member and veteran service center is eligible to 
2.15 	receive a onetime grant of $....... under this section.

2.16 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; SERVICE MEMBER AND VETERAN SERVICE 
2.17 	CENTER PILOT GRANT PROGRAM.
 2.18 	In fiscal year 2018, the commissioner of veterans affairs shall use $500,000 from the 
2.19 	Support Our Troops account in the special revenue fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 
2.20 	190.19, for the service member and veteran service center pilot grant program under section 
2.21 	1. The grant money is available until expended.