SF4975

Purpose

• To expand who is eligible to live in Minnesota state veterans homes by recognizing former officers of the Public Health Service (PHS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as veterans for eligibility and admission purposes.

Main provisions

• Minnesota veterans homes must continue to provide nursing care and related health and social services for veterans and their spouses who meet eligibility and admission requirements.
• The definition of “veteran” is broadened to include:
  • a person who qualifies as a veteran under section 197.447;
  • a person who served on active duty as a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service and was separated under honorable conditions after either:
  • 181 consecutive days of active duty or due to a disability incurred while serving on active duty, or
  • who has met the minimum active duty requirement in CFR Title 38, section 3.12a;
  • a person who served on active duty as a commissioned officer of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and was separated under honorable conditions after either:
  • 181 consecutive days of active duty or due to a disability incurred while serving on active duty, or
  • who has met the minimum active duty requirement in CFR Title 38, section 3.12a.
• The bill preserves existing eligibility rules for veterans’ spouses who meet the admission requirements.
• The commissioner may not close a veterans home unless closure is specifically authorized or required by a law enacted after July 1, 2015.

Significant changes to existing law

• Adds Public Health Service and NOAA commissioned officers as eligible veterans for state veterans homes, using the active-duty and discharge criteria listed above.
• Keeps current protections that veterans homes provide necessary care and that closures require a post-2015 law to authorize them.

Practical impact

• Potentially increases the pool of people who qualify to live in Minnesota’s state veterans homes, especially those who served in PHS or NOAA as commissioned officers, given they meet the active-duty or disability criteria.
• Maintains ongoing support and care standards for eligible veterans and their spouses, while keeping existing safeguards around home closures.

Relevant Terms - Minnesota veterans homes - eligibility and admission requirements - veteran - spouse - Public Health Service (PHS) - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - commissioned officer - active duty - 181 consecutive days - disability incurred - CFR Title 38 § 3.12a - section 197.447 - United States Code Title 38 - nursing care - health and social services - commissioner - closure of a veterans home