1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to veterans; appropriating money to the commissioner of veterans affairs
1.3 for a veteran mentorship program for Black youth.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. VETERAN MENTORSHIP PROGRAM FOR BLACK YOUTH.
1.6 The commissioner of veterans affairs must award a grant to an organization to develop,
1.7operate, and administer a veteran mentorship program to prevent youth violence through
1.8employing veterans who will mentor Black youth and assisting Black youth in exploring
1.9career opportunities in the armed forces.
1.10 Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
1.11 $5,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
1.12of veterans affairs for grants to an organization that will develop, operate, and administer
1.13a veteran mentorship program for Black youth. Of the amount appropriated, $1,000,000 is
1.14for expenses for youth engagement activities, $1,500,000 is for salaries for employing
1.15veterans to mentor youth through the program, $2,000,000 is for community outreach and
1.16education for Black youth, and $500,000 is to administer and operate the program. This is
1.17a onetime appropriation.
1Sec. 2.
25-02954 as introduced02/10/25 REVISOR BD/KR
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 1616NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: HOFFMAN and Oumou Verbeten)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading02/20/2025
Referred to Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development