1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to veterans affairs; modifying the veterans service office grant program;
1.3 appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 197.608,
1.4 subdivision 6.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 197.608, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
1.7 Subd. 6.Grant amount.(a) Each county is eligible to receive an annual grant of $7,500
1.8for the following purposes:
1.9 (1) to provide outreach to the county's veterans;
1.10 (2) to assist in the reintegration of combat veterans into society;
1.11 (3) to collaborate with other social service agencies, educational institutions, and other
1.12community organizations for the purposes of enhancing services offered to veterans;
1.13 (4) to reduce homelessness among veterans; and
1.14 (5) to enhance the operations of the county veterans service office.
1.15 (b) In addition to the grant amount in paragraph (a), each county is eligible to receive
1.16an additional annual grant under this paragraph. The amount of each additional annual grant
1.17must be determined by the commissioner and may not exceed:
1.18 (1) $0, if the county's veteran population is less than 1,000;
1.19 (2) $2,500, if the county's veteran population is 1,000 or more but less than 3,000;
1.20 (3) $5,000, if the county's veteran population is 3,000 or more but less than 5,000;
1Section 1.
25-03130 as introduced02/03/25 REVISOR BD/KR
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 1452NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: PUTNAM)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading02/17/2025
Referred to Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development 2.1 (4) $7,500, if the county's veteran population is 5,000 or more but less than 10,000;
2.2 (5) $10,000, if the county's veteran population is 10,000 or more but less than 20,000;
2.3 (6) $15,000, if the county's veteran population is 20,000 or more but less than 30,000;
2.4or
2.5 (7) $20,000, if the county's veteran population is 30,000 or more.
2.6 (c) The Minnesota Association of County Veterans Service Officers is eligible to receive
2.7an annual grant of $100,000 $160,000. The grant shall must be used for administrative costs
2.8of the association, certification of mandated county veterans service officer training and
2.9accreditation, and costs associated with reintegration services. Up to $60,000 of this amount
2.10may be used to train technical assistance coordinators and for technical assistance
2.11coordinators to travel to consult with Minnesota counties on specific areas of expertise upon
2.12request. The Minnesota Association of County Veterans Service Officers executive board
2.13must select technical assistance coordinators, who are either county veterans service officers
2.14or assistant county veterans service officers, to serve for a minimum of one year.
2.15 (d) The veteran population of each county shall be determined by the figure supplied
2.16by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, as adopted by the commissioner.
2.17 Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE GRANT PROGRAM.
2.18 $60,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $60,000 in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated from the
2.19general fund to the commissioner of veterans affairs for a grant to the Minnesota Association
2.20of County Veterans Service Officers under Minnesota Statutes, section 197.608, subdivision
2.216, paragraph (c). Of this amount, $20,000 is for a women veterans technical assistance
2.22coordinator, $20,000 is for a veteran suicide prevention technical assistance coordinator,
2.23and $20,000 is for a justice-involved veteran technical assistance coordinator. Any
2.24unencumbered balance in fiscal year 2026 does not cancel and is available in fiscal year
2.252027.
2Sec. 2.
25-03130 as introduced02/03/25 REVISOR BD/KR