1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to veterans; establishing a statewide veteran-to-veteran peer counseling 
1.3 	pilot program; appropriating money;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
1.4 	Statutes, chapter 197.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [197.792] VETERAN-TO-VETERAN PEER COUNSELING PILOT 
1.7 	PROGRAM.
1.8 	(a) The commissioner of veterans affairs, in consultation with the adjutant general, 
1.9 	the commissioner of human services, and any other entity that the commissioner considers 
1.10 	helpful, shall provide start-up instruction and training for volunteer facilitators who are 
1.11 	combat veterans selected by the commissioner for a pilot program for veteran-to-veteran 
1.12 	peer counseling among combat veterans throughout the state. The commissioner shall 
1.13 	create and provide a two- to three-day instructional and training curriculum for the 
1.14 	volunteer facilitators.
1.15 	(b) The trained volunteer facilitators shall coordinate with county veteran service 
1.16 	officers from throughout the state to conduct grassroots outreach to interested veterans and 
1.17 	to conduct regular veteran-to-veteran peer counseling meetings.
1.18 	(c) The commissioner of veterans affairs may accept nongovernmental donations of 
1.19 	money, materials, labor, meeting space, and other relevant assistance for use in this pilot 
1.20 	program. State facilities may be made available for this program at no cost and on a space 
1.21 	available basis during normal working hours or at the convenience of the facility manager.
1.22 	(d) By February 15, 2009, and each year thereafter, the commissioner must report to 
1.23 	the chairs of the house and senate committees responsible for military and veterans affairs. 
2.1 	The report must describe and discuss program activity and effectiveness and include an 
2.2 	accounting of any public resources used in this program.

2.3 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 2.4 	$50,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of veterans 
2.5 	affairs in fiscal year 2009 for the pilot program in Minnesota Statutes, section 197.792.

2.6 	Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 2.7 	Sections 1 and 2 are effective July 1, 2008.