1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to veterans; expanding the definition of the term veteran; establishing an
1.3 advisory task force; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 197.447.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 197.447, is amended to read:
1.6 197.447 VETERAN, DEFINED.
1.7 The word "veteran" as used in Minnesota Statutes, except in sections 136F.28, 196.21,
1.8and 243.251, means:
1.9 (1) a citizen of the United States or a resident alien who has been separated under
1.10honorable conditions from any branch of the armed forces of the United States after having
1.11served on active duty for 181 consecutive days or by reason of disability incurred while
1.12serving on active duty, or who has met the minimum active duty requirement as defined by
1.13Code of Federal Regulations, title 38, section 3.12a, or who has active military service
1.14certified under section 401, Public Law 95-202. The active military service must be certified
1.15by the United States secretary of defense as active military service and a discharge under
1.16honorable conditions must be issued by the secretary; or
1.17 (2) a person who resides in this state and who:
1.18 (i) was naturalized as provided in section 2(1) of the federal Hmong Veterans'
1.19Naturalization Act of 2000, Public Law 106-207; or
1.20 (ii) is a person who the commissioner of veterans affairs determines served honorably
1.21with a special guerrilla unit or with irregular forces that operated from a base in Laos in
1.22support of the armed forces of the United States at any time during the period beginning
1Section 1.
25-02339 as introduced01/16/25 REVISOR BD/ES
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 568NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: HAWJ)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading01/23/2025
Referred to Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development 2.1February 28, 1961, and ending May 14, 1975, and is a citizen of the United States or an
2.2alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States.
2.3 Sec. 2. ADVISORY TASK FORCE ESTABLISHED.
2.4 The commissioner of veterans affairs must establish an advisory task force of no more
2.5than seven individuals who are knowledgeable about the Secret War of Laos, including
2.6veterans of secret guerilla units or irregular forces that operated from a base in Laos in
2.7support of the armed forces of the United States, academics, and community members. The
2.8task force must advise the commissioner as to which criteria should be used to determine
2.9if an individual qualifies as a veteran under Minnesota Statutes, section 197.447, clause (2).
2Sec. 2.
25-02339 as introduced01/16/25 REVISOR BD/ES