1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to veterans; clarifying and amending certain Veterans Preference Act 
1.3 	provisions;amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 197.481, subdivisions 1, 
1.4 	2, 4.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 197.481, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Petition. A veteran, as defined by section 197.447, who has been 
1.8 	denied rights by the state or any political subdivision, municipality, or other public agency 
1.9 	of the state as authorized by the Veterans Preference Act under section 43A.11, 197.46, 
1.10 	197.48, or 197.455 may petition the commissioner of veterans affairs for an order directing 
1.11 	the agency to grant the veteran such relief the commissioner finds justified by said statutes. 
1.12 	The petition shall be submitted via United States mail and contain:
1.13 	(1) the name, address, telephone number, and ~~acknowledged~~notarized original 
1.14 	signature of the veteran;
1.15 	(2) the names, telephone numbers, and addresses of all agencies and persons that 
1.16 	will be directly affected if the petition is granted;
1.17 	(3) a concise statement of the facts giving rise to the veteran's rights and a concise 
1.18 	statement showing the manner in which rights were denied;
1.19 	(4) a statement of the relief requested~~.~~; and
1.20 	(5) a copy of the veteran's Form DD214 (Separation or Discharge from Active Duty).

1.21 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 197.481, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
1.22 		Subd. 2.Service. Upon receipt and authorization verification of a complete petition 
1.23 	herein, the commissioner shall serve a copy of same, by certified mail, on all agencies and 
2.1 	persons named therein and on such other agencies or persons as in the judgment of the 
2.2 	commissioner should in justice be parties to the proceeding. The veteran and all agencies 
2.3 	and persons served shall be parties to the proceeding.

2.4 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 197.481, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
2.5 		Subd. 4.Hearing. The commissioner shall hold a hearing on the petition of any 
2.6 	party within ~~20~~ 120 days of serving, or being served with the authorized and complete 
2.7 	petition. ~~The veteran may demand an opportunity to be heard at a time set by the~~ 
2.8 	~~commissioner. A party who fails to demand such hearing within 20 days shall be heard~~ 
2.9 	~~only by permission of the commissioner, except that if any party demands to be heard~~
2.10 	At the hearing, all parties shall have the right to be heard. A hearing hereunder shall be 
2.11 	conducted and orders issued in accord with sections 14.57 to 14.60 and 14.62, at the office 
2.12 	of the commissioner or at a place the commissioner designates. The commissioner shall 
2.13 	notify all parties, by certified mail, of the date, time, and place of the hearing.