HF3502

Purpose

• Provide a financial appropriation to support services for American Indian veterans in Minnesota. The bill would appropriate $150,000 in fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the commissioner of veterans affairs for a grant to the National American Indian Veterans (NAIV), a congressionally chartered organization, to deliver targeted services to Minnesota residents who are American Indian veterans.

Main Provisions

• Authorized recipient and use of funds:
  • Grant to NAIV to deliver the following services to Minnesota-resident American Indian veterans: 1) peer support outreach and benefits engagement 2) staffing at Minnesota Native American Veteran Stand Down events 3) culturally informed mental health services 4) cultural resilience retreats 5) veteran transition and reentry support
• Scope of recipients:
  • Services are limited to American Indian veterans who reside in Minnesota.
• Nature of funding:
  • The funds are provided as a grant to NAIV and must be used to support the listed services.

Funding and Financial Implications

• Funding amount and source:
  • $150,000 from the general fund in fiscal year 2027.
• Administrative use:
  • The grant may include allocations used for grant administration, as specified in the reporting requirements.

Reporting and Accountability

• Reporting deadline and recipients:
  • By January 15, 2027, NAIV must report to the commissioner of veterans affairs and to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over veterans.
• What must be reported:
  • How the grant money was used, including any portion used for grant administration.
• Filing requirement:
  • The report must be filed with the Legislative Reference Library in compliance with Minnesota Statutes section 3.195.

Significance and Potential Impact

• Policy purpose:
  • Establishes targeted funding to support American Indian veterans in Minnesota through culturally informed, community-based services.
• Legislative effect:
  • Creates a one-year appropriation tied to specific programmatic activities and adds reporting requirements to improve accountability and transparency.

Relevant Terms - appropriation - general fund - grant - National American Indian Veterans (NAIV) - Minnesota Native American Veteran Stand Down - peer support outreach - benefits engagement - culturally informed mental health services - cultural resilience retreats - veteran transition and reentry support - commissioner of veterans affairs - Minnesota residents (American Indian veterans) - reporting - January 15, 2027 - Legislative Reference Library - Minnesota Statutes section 3.195 - fiscal year 2027 - stand down events - grant administration