1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to military veterans; clarifying duties of commissioner of veterans affairs;
1.3 	amending Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 196.05, subdivision 1.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 196.05, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.6 		Subdivision 1.General duties. The commissioner shall:
1.7 	(1) act as the agent of a resident of the state having a claim against the United States for 
1.8 	benefits arising out of or by reason of service in the armed forces and prosecute the claim 
1.9 	without charge;
1.10 	(2) act as custodian of veterans' bonus records;
1.11 	(3) administer the laws relating to the providing of bronze flag holders at veterans' graves 
1.12 	for memorial purposes;
1.13 	(4) administer the laws relating to recreational or rest camps for veterans so far as 
1.14 	applicable to state agencies;
1.15 	(5) administer the state soldiers' assistance fund and veterans' relief fund and other funds 
1.16 	appropriated for the payment of bonuses or other benefits to veterans or for the rehabilitation 
1.17 	of veterans;
1.18 	(6) cooperate with national, state, county, municipal, and private social agencies in 
1.19 	securing to veterans and their dependents the benefits provided by national, state, and county 
1.20 	laws, municipal ordinances, or public and private social agencies;
2.1 	(7) provide necessary assistance where other adequate aid is not available to the dependent 
2.2 	family of a veteran while the veteran is hospitalized and after the veteran is released for as 
2.3 	long a period as is necessary as determined by the commissioner;
2.4 	(8) cooperate with United States governmental agencies providing compensation, 
2.5 	pensions, insurance, or other benefits provided by federal law, by supplementing the benefits 
2.6 	prescribed therein, when conditions in an individual case make it necessary;
2.7 	(9) assist dependent family members of military personnel who are called from reserve 
2.8 	status to extended federal active duty during a time of war or national emergency through 
2.9 	the state soldiers' assistance fund provided by section 197.03;
2.10 	(10) exercise other powers as may be authorized and necessary to carry out the provisions 
2.11 	of this chapter and chapter chapters 197, consistent with that chapter and 198;
2.12 	(11) provide information, referral, and counseling services to those veterans who may 
2.13 	have suffered adverse health conditions as a result of possible exposure to chemical agents; 
2.14 	and
2.15 	(12) in coordination with the Minnesota Association of County Veterans Service Officers, 
2.16 	develop a written disclosure statement for use by private providers of veterans benefits 
2.17 	services as required under section 197.6091. At a minimum, the written disclosure statement 
2.18 	shall include a signature line, contact information for the department, and a statement that 
2.19 	veterans benefits services are offered at no cost by federally chartered veterans service 
2.20 	organizations and by county veterans service officers.