| 1 | 1 | | 1.1 A bill for an act |
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| 2 | 2 | | 1.2 relating to veterans; expanding the definition of the term veteran; establishing an |
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| 3 | 3 | | 1.3 advisory task force; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 197.447. |
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| 4 | 4 | | 1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: |
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| 5 | 5 | | 1.5 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 197.447, is amended to read: |
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| 6 | 6 | | 1.6 197.447 VETERAN, DEFINED. |
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| 7 | 7 | | 1.7 The word "veteran" as used in Minnesota Statutes, except in sections 136F.28, 196.21, |
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| 8 | 8 | | 1.8and 243.251, means: |
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| 9 | 9 | | 1.9 (1) a citizen of the United States or a resident alien who has been separated under |
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| 10 | 10 | | 1.10honorable conditions from any branch of the armed forces of the United States after having |
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| 11 | 11 | | 1.11served on active duty for 181 consecutive days or by reason of disability incurred while |
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| 12 | 12 | | 1.12serving on active duty, or who has met the minimum active duty requirement as defined by |
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| 13 | 13 | | 1.13Code of Federal Regulations, title 38, section 3.12a, or who has active military service |
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| 14 | 14 | | 1.14certified under section 401, Public Law 95-202. The active military service must be certified |
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| 15 | 15 | | 1.15by the United States secretary of defense as active military service and a discharge under |
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| 16 | 16 | | 1.16honorable conditions must be issued by the secretary; or |
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| 17 | 17 | | 1.17 (2) a person who resides in this state and who: |
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| 18 | 18 | | 1.18 (i) was naturalized as provided in section 2(1) of the federal Hmong Veterans' |
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| 19 | 19 | | 1.19Naturalization Act of 2000, Public Law 106-207; or |
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| 20 | 20 | | 1.20 (ii) is a person who the commissioner of veterans affairs determines served honorably |
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| 21 | 21 | | 1.21with a special guerrilla unit or with irregular forces that operated from a base in Laos in |
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| 22 | 22 | | 1.22support of the armed forces of the United States at any time during the period beginning |
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| 23 | 23 | | 1Section 1. |
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| 24 | 24 | | 25-02339 as introduced01/16/25 REVISOR BD/ES |
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| 25 | 25 | | SENATE |
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| 26 | 26 | | STATE OF MINNESOTA |
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| 27 | 27 | | S.F. No. 568NINETY-FOURTH SESSION |
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| 28 | 28 | | (SENATE AUTHORS: HAWJ) |
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| 29 | 29 | | OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE |
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| 30 | 30 | | Introduction and first reading01/23/2025 |
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| 31 | 31 | | 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 |
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| 32 | 32 | | 2.2alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States. |
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| 33 | 33 | | 2.3 Sec. 2. ADVISORY TASK FORCE ESTABLISHED. |
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| 34 | 34 | | 2.4 The commissioner of veterans affairs must establish an advisory task force of no more |
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| 35 | 35 | | 2.5than seven individuals who are knowledgeable about the Secret War of Laos, including |
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| 36 | 36 | | 2.6veterans of secret guerilla units or irregular forces that operated from a base in Laos in |
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| 37 | 37 | | 2.7support of the armed forces of the United States, academics, and community members. The |
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| 38 | 38 | | 2.8task force must advise the commissioner as to which criteria should be used to determine |
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| 39 | 39 | | 2.9if an individual qualifies as a veteran under Minnesota Statutes, section 197.447, clause (2). |
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| 40 | 40 | | 2Sec. 2. |
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| 41 | 41 | | 25-02339 as introduced01/16/25 REVISOR BD/ES |
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