1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to veterans; appropriating money for mental health services for veterans.
1.3 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.4 	Section 1. MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR VETERANS; 
1.5 	APPROPRIATION.
 1.6 		Subdivision 1.Appropriation. $500,000 in fiscal year 2017 is appropriated from 
1.7 	the general fund to the commissioner of veterans affairs for a grant to Lutheran Social 
1.8 	Service of Minnesota to provide mental health services to veterans through its Veterans 
1.9 	C.O.R.E. program. This is a onetime appropriation.
1.10 		Subd. 2.Report. By September 1, 2017, the commissioner of veterans affairs shall 
1.11 	report  on the use of this appropriation to the chairs of the committees and divisions in the 
1.12 	senate and the house of representatives with jurisdiction over veterans policy and the 
1.13 	budget of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The report shall summarize the number 
1.14 	of veterans served, the hours and types of service provided by Lutheran Social Service 
1.15 	of Minnesota, and an assessment of the effectiveness of the services provided based on 
1.16 	voluntary input from veterans who received services funded by this appropriation. The 
1.17 	report shall also describe needs among veterans for mental health services that are not 
1.18 	met in fiscal year 2017 by the Department of Veterans Affairs and a detailed plan for how 
1.19 	to meet veterans needs.

1.20 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2016.