1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to military and veterans affairs; appropriating money for military affairs 
1.3 	and veterans affairs.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5	Section 1. MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS APPROPRIATIONS.
 	
1.6 	The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are appropriated to the 
1.7 	agencies and for the purposes specified in this act. The appropriations are from the general 
1.8 	fund, or another named fund, and are available for the fiscal years indicated for each 
1.9 	purpose. The figures "2016" and "2017" used in this act mean that the appropriations 
1.10 	listed under them are available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, or June 30, 2017, 
1.11 	respectively. "The first year" is fiscal year 2016. "The second year" is fiscal year 2017. 
1.12 	"The biennium" is fiscal years 2016 and 2017. 

1.13				APPROPRIATIONS
	
1.14				Available for the Year
	
1.15				Ending June 30
	
1.16					2016
		2017

1.17	Sec. 2. MILITARY AFFAIRS

1.18	Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation
 	$
	19,368,000
	$
	19,368,000
	
1.19 	The amounts that may be spent for each 
1.20 	purpose are specified in the following 
1.21 	subdivisions.

1.22	Subd. 2.Maintenance of Training Facilities
 		6,661,000
		6,661,000

1.23	Subd. 3.General Support
 		2,359,000
		2,359,000

2.1	Subd. 4.Enlistment Incentives
 		10,348,000
		10,348,000
	
2.2 	If appropriations for either year of the 
2.3 	biennium are insufficient, the appropriation 
2.4 	from the other year is available. The 
2.5 	appropriations for enlistment incentives are 
2.6 	available until June 30, 2019.

2.7	Sec. 3. VETERANS AFFAIRS

2.8	Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation
 	$
	62,753,000
	$
	62,753,000
	
2.9 	The amounts that may be spent for each 
2.10 	purpose are specified in the following 
2.11 	subdivisions.

2.12	Subd. 2.Veterans Programs and Services
 		16,240,000
		16,240,000
	
2.13 	Veterans Service Organizations. $353,000 
2.14 	each year is for grants to the following 
2.15 	congressionally chartered veterans service 
2.16 	organizations, as designated by the 
2.17 	commissioner: Disabled American Veterans, 
2.18 	Military Order of the Purple Heart, the 
2.19 	American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, 
2.20 	Vietnam Veterans of America, AMVETS, 
2.21 	and Paralyzed Veterans of America. This 
2.22 	funding must be allocated in direct proportion 
2.23 	to the funding currently being provided by 
2.24 	the commissioner to these organizations.
2.25 	Minnesota Assistance Council for 
2.26 	Veterans. $750,000 each year is for a grant 
2.27 	to the Minnesota Assistance Council for 
2.28 	Veterans to provide assistance throughout 
2.29 	Minnesota to veterans and their families who 
2.30 	are homeless or in danger of homelessness, 
2.31 	including assistance with the following:
2.32 	(1) utilities;
2.33 	(2) employment; and
3.1 	(3) legal issues.
3.2 	The assistance authorized under this 
3.3 	paragraph must be made only to veterans who 
3.4 	have resided in Minnesota for 30 days prior 
3.5 	to application for assistance and according 
3.6 	to other guidelines established by the 
3.7 	commissioner. In order to avoid duplication 
3.8 	of services, the commissioner must ensure 
3.9 	that this assistance is coordinated with all 
3.10 	other available programs for veterans.
3.11 	Honor Guards. $200,000 each year is for 
3.12 	compensation for honor guards at the funerals 
3.13 	of veterans under Minnesota Statutes, section 
3.14 	197.231.
3.15 	Minnesota GI Bill. $200,000 each year is 
3.16 	for the costs of administering the Minnesota 
3.17 	GI Bill postsecondary educational benefits 
3.18 	and on-the-job training and apprenticeship 
3.19 	program under Minnesota Statutes, section 
3.20 	197.791. Of this amount, $100,000 is for 
3.21 	transfer to the Office of Higher Education.
3.22 	Gold Star Program. $100,000 each year 
3.23 	is for administering the Gold Star Program 
3.24 	for surviving family members of deceased 
3.25 	veterans.
3.26 	County Veterans Service Office.
3.27 	$1,100,000 each year is for funding the 
3.28 	County Veterans Service Office grant 
3.29 	program under Minnesota Statutes, section 
3.30 	197.608.

3.31	Subd. 3.Veterans Homes
 		46,513,000
		46,513,000
	
3.32 	Veterans Homes Special Revenue Account.
3.33 	The general fund appropriations made to the 
3.34 	department may be transferred to a veterans 
4.1 	homes special revenue account in the special 
4.2 	revenue fund in the same manner as other 
4.3 	receipts are deposited according to Minnesota 
4.4 	Statutes, section 198.34, and are appropriated 
4.5 	to the department for the operation of 
4.6 	veterans homes facilities and programs.