| 1 | 1 | | 1.1 A bill for an act |
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| 2 | 2 | | 1.2 relating to veterans; removing state veterans cemetery burial fee for spouses and |
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| 3 | 3 | | 1.3 dependents of eligible veterans; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections |
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| 4 | 4 | | 1.4 190.19, subdivision 2a; 197.236, subdivision 9. |
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| 5 | 5 | | 1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: |
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| 6 | 6 | | 1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 190.19, subdivision 2a, is amended to read: |
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| 7 | 7 | | 1.7 Subd. 2a.Uses; veterans.(a) Money appropriated to the Department of Veterans Affairs |
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| 8 | 8 | | 1.8from the Minnesota "Support Our Troops" account may be used for: |
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| 9 | 9 | | 1.9 (1) grants to veterans service organizations; |
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| 10 | 10 | | 1.10 (2) outreach to underserved veterans; |
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| 11 | 11 | | 1.11 (3) providing services and programs for veterans and their families; |
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| 12 | 12 | | 1.12 (4) transfers to the driver and vehicle services operating account for Gold Star license |
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| 13 | 13 | | 1.13plates under section 168.1253; |
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| 14 | 14 | | 1.14 (5) grants of up to $100,000 to any organization approved by the commissioner of |
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| 15 | 15 | | 1.15veterans affairs for the purpose of supporting and improving the lives of veterans and their |
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| 16 | 16 | | 1.16families; |
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| 17 | 17 | | 1.17 (6) grants to an eligible foundation; and |
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| 18 | 18 | | 1.18 (7) the agency's uncompensated burial costs for eligible dependents to whom the |
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| 19 | 19 | | 1.19commissioner grants a no-fee or reduced-fee burial in the state's veteran cemeteries pursuant |
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| 20 | 20 | | 1.20to section 197.236, subdivision 9, paragraph (b). |
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| 21 | 21 | | 1Section 1. |
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| 22 | 22 | | 25-00678 as introduced11/21/24 REVISOR BD/LN |
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| 23 | 23 | | SENATE |
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| 24 | 24 | | STATE OF MINNESOTA |
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| 25 | 25 | | S.F. No. 489NINETY-FOURTH SESSION |
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| 26 | 26 | | (SENATE AUTHORS: GREEN, Howe and Gruenhagen) |
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| 27 | 27 | | OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE |
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| 28 | 28 | | Introduction and first reading01/23/2025 |
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| 29 | 29 | | Referred to Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development 2.1 (b) For purposes of this subdivision, "eligible foundation" includes any organization |
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| 30 | 30 | | 2.2that: |
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| 31 | 31 | | 2.3 (1) is a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code; and |
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| 32 | 32 | | 2.4 (2) is a nonprofit corporation under chapter 317A and the organization's articles of |
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| 33 | 33 | | 2.5incorporation specify that a purpose of the organization includes: (i) providing assistance |
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| 34 | 34 | | 2.6to veterans and their families; or (ii) enhancing the lives of veterans and their families. |
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| 35 | 35 | | 2.7 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 197.236, subdivision 9, is amended to read: |
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| 36 | 36 | | 2.8 Subd. 9.Burial fees prohibited.(a) The commissioner of veterans affairs shall establish |
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| 37 | 37 | | 2.9a fee schedule, which may be adjusted from time to time, for the interment of eligible spouses |
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| 38 | 38 | | 2.10and dependent children. The fees shall cover as nearly as practicable the actual costs of |
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| 39 | 39 | | 2.11interment, excluding the value of the plot. |
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| 40 | 40 | | 2.12 (b) Upon application, the commissioner may waive or reduce the burial fee for an indigent |
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| 41 | 41 | | 2.13eligible person. The commissioner shall develop a policy, eligibility standards, and |
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| 42 | 42 | | 2.14application form for requests to waive or reduce the burial fee to indigent eligible applicants. |
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| 43 | 43 | | 2.15 (c) No plot or interment fees may be charged for the burial of service members who die |
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| 44 | 44 | | 2.16on active duty or eligible veterans, as defined in United States Code, title 38, section 101, |
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| 45 | 45 | | 2.17paragraph (2) eligible persons under subdivision 8. |
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| 46 | 46 | | 2Sec. 2. |
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| 47 | 47 | | 25-00678 as introduced11/21/24 REVISOR BD/LN |
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