1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to veterans affairs; permitting the 
  1.3             commissioner of veterans affairs access to taxpayer 
  1.4             identification information to notify veterans of 
  1.5             health hazards that might affect them; amending 
  1.6             Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 270B.14, by adding a 
  1.7             subdivision. 
  1.8   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.9      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 270B.14, is 
  1.10  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  1.11     Subd. 18.  [DISCLOSURE TO COMMISSIONER OF VETERANS 
  1.12  AFFAIRS.] (a) At the request of the commissioner of veterans 
  1.13  affairs, the commissioner may disclose return information to the 
  1.14  extent provided in paragraph (b) and for the purposes provided 
  1.15  in paragraph (c). 
  1.16     (b) Data that may be disclosed are limited to the 
  1.17  taxpayer's identity, as defined in section 270B.01, subdivision 
  1.18  5. 
  1.19     (c) The commissioner of veterans affairs may request data 
  1.20  only for the purposes of locating and notifying individual 
  1.21  veterans of health hazards including, but not limited to, 
  1.22  hearing loss; chemical, biological, and radiation exposure; Gulf 
  1.23  War Syndrome; and other injuries as they become recognized, as a 
  1.24  result of their service in the armed forces of the United States 
  1.25  and for the purpose of notifying veterans, their dependents, and 
  1.26  survivors of veterans of potential benefits to which they may be 
  2.1   entitled, including, but not limited to, eligibility for health 
  2.2   care assistance for post-traumatic stress disorders and chemical 
  2.3   dependency treatment as well as physical injuries.  Requests for 
  2.4   data by the commissioner of veterans affairs must be in writing 
  2.5   and state the purpose of the request. 
  2.6      Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.7      Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment.