2001 Minnesota Statutes

     197.75 Educational assistance, war orphans and veterans. 

    Subdivision 1.    Benefits; eligibility.  The 
 commissioner of veterans affairs shall spend a biennial 
 appropriation for tuition of veterans, and for tuition, fees, 
 board, room, books and supplies of the children of veterans who 
 have died as a result of their service in the armed forces of 
 the United States as determined by the United States Veterans 
 Administration or other instrumentality of the United States, in 
 the University of Minnesota, a state university, a community 
 college, a technical college, or any other university of higher 
 learning within the state accredited by the North Central 
 Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, a law college 
 approved by the supreme court, a nursing school approved by the 
 state board of nursing, or in a trade, business, or vocational 
 school in the state approved by the state department of 
 children, families, and learning, or in a theological seminary, 
 for any course which such veteran or child may elect.  Not more 
 than $750 shall be expended for the benefit of any individual 
 veteran, and not more than $750 in any fiscal year shall be 
 expended for the benefit of any child under this section, and 
 the need for the benefit shall be established and determined by 
 the commissioner of veterans affairs.  No child of any veteran 
 shall make application for the benefits provided in this section 
 unless the child resided in Minnesota for at least two years 
 immediately prior to the date of the application.  Children of 
 veterans eligible for benefits according to this section shall 
 be admitted to state institutions of university grade free of 
 tuition until they receive a bachelors or equivalent degree.  
 Payments of benefits shall be made directly to the institution 
 in which the course of instruction is given or to the individual 
 on forms prescribed by the commissioner. 

    Subd. 2.    Limitations.  The benefits in subdivision 1 
 are not available to a veteran who is entitled to the same or 
 similar benefits under a law or regulation of the United States, 
 except that a veteran who has been eligible for and has used up 
 the benefits the veteran is entitled to under the laws of the 
 United States is entitled to the benefits provided for by 
 subdivision 1. 

    Subd. 3.    Proof of eligibility.  Approval for benefits 
 under this section shall require submission of the following 
 evidence:  application, financial statement, proof of military 
 service, proof of residency and where applicable, a statement 
 from the United States Veterans Administration that the veteran 
 has exhausted entitlement to federal educational benefits 
 through use thereof or that the veteran died of service 
 connected disabilities.  Upon submission of satisfactory proof 
 of eligibility, benefits shall be provided from the date of 
 application and notification of approval shall be sent to the 
 educational institution and applicant. 

    Subd. 4.    Reimbursement form.  Reimbursement to such 
 institution or eligible individual authorized under subdivision 
 1 shall be on forms prescribed by the commissioner. 

    Subd. 5.    Definition of veteran.  The word "veteran" 
 as used in this section shall have the same meaning as defined 
 in section 197.447 except that it shall include service persons 
 that died while on active duty.  

    Subd. 6.    Residence required.  Veterans under this 
 section shall have been a resident of the state of Minnesota at 
 the time of induction into the armed forces and six months 
 immediately preceding the induction.  

    HIST: 1943 c 663 s 5; 1945 c 235 s 2; 1947 c 176 s 2,3; 1953 c 
 108 s 1; 1955 c 45 s 1; 1957 c 258 s 2; 1957 c 576 s 1,2; 1969 c 
 275 s 9,10; 1971 c 24 s 16; 1971 c 97 s 1-3; 1973 c 349 s 2; 
 1975 c 321 s 2; 1980 c 614 s 99; 1983 c 335 s 1; 1987 c 258 s 
 12; 1989 c 246 s 2; 1990 c 444 s 2; 1Sp1995 c 3 art 16 s 13; 
 1Sp2001 c 10 art 2 s 68,69