Bill Text: MN SF2439 | 2011-2012 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: State veterans cemetery eligibility expansion for deceased allied Hmong-American or Lao-American veterans
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-03-14 - Referred to State Government Innovation and Veterans [SF2439 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2011-SF2439-Introduced.html
1.2relating to veterans; expanding eligibility for burial in the Minnesota State
1.3Veterans Cemetery to include deceased allied Hmong-American or Lao-American
1.4veterans of the American Secret War in Laos;amending Minnesota Statutes
1.52010, section 197.236, subdivision 8.
1.6BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.7 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 197.236, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
1.8 Subd. 8. Eligibility. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), Minnesota state
1.9veterans cemeteries must be operated solely for the burial of service members who die
1.10on active duty, eligible veterans, and their spouses and dependent children, as defined in
1.11United States Code, title 38, section 101, paragraph (2).
1.12(b) To the extent permitted by United States law or federal regulation, eligibility for
1.13burial in any Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery shall also include any deceased person
1.14determined by the Minnesota commissioner of veterans affairs, or the commissioner's
1.15designee, to be an allied Hmong-American or Lao-American veteran, or the spouse or
1.16dependent of an allied Hmong-American or Lao-American veteran, of the American
1.17Secret War in Laos.
1.18(c) The commissioner is authorized to designate responsibility for confirming an
1.19applicant's status as an allied Hmong-American or Lao-American veteran of the American
1.20Secret War in Laos to the chairperson of the Special Guerilla Unit Veterans & Families
1.21Development of USA, Inc. The form SGU-DD214, signed by the current or former
1.22chairperson of the association and issued to an applicant shall confirm the applicant's
1.23status as an allied Hmong-American or Lao-American veteran of the American Secret
1.24War in Laos.
1.25(d) For purposes of this subdivision:
2.1(1) "allied Hmong-American or Lao-American veteran" means a person who is
2.2an American citizen of Hmong or Lao ethnicity who was recruited, trained, directed,
2.3supported, and paid by the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) or other
2.4military, paramilitary or nonmilitary department, agency, or unit of the United States
2.5government at any time during the period of the Vietnam War, as an allied soldier or other
2.6paramilitary agent assigned as a member of the CIA's Hmong Special Guerilla Unit for the
2.7purpose of assisting the United States armed forces in any combat role or combat support
2.8role during the Vietnam War, as verified in any reasonable manner as evidenced by a
2.9written policy by the Minnesota commissioner of veterans affairs or the commissioner's
2.10designee; and
2.11(2) "period of the Vietnam War" means July 1, 1961, to April 30, 1975.
2.12EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2012.
2.13 Sec. 2. PURPOSE STATEMENT.
2.14The purpose of section 1 is to recognize and honor this state and nation's allied
2.15Hmong-American and Lao-American veterans of America's Secret War in Laos, in which
2.16these Hmong-American and Lao-American veterans fought so valiantly and sacrificed
2.17so greatly on behalf of members of the United States armed forces who themselves were
2.18simultaneously engaged in this nation's war in Vietnam, by sharing with them the honor
2.19and solace of the special eternal resting place in Minnesota's State Veterans Cemetery.
2.20EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2012.
1.3Veterans Cemetery to include deceased allied Hmong-American or Lao-American
1.4veterans of the American Secret War in Laos;amending Minnesota Statutes
1.52010, section 197.236, subdivision 8.
1.6BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.7 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 197.236, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
1.8 Subd. 8. Eligibility. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), Minnesota state
1.9veterans cemeteries must be operated solely for the burial of service members who die
1.10on active duty, eligible veterans, and their spouses and dependent children, as defined in
1.11United States Code, title 38, section 101, paragraph (2).
1.12(b) To the extent permitted by United States law or federal regulation, eligibility for
1.13burial in any Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery shall also include any deceased person
1.14determined by the Minnesota commissioner of veterans affairs, or the commissioner's
1.15designee, to be an allied Hmong-American or Lao-American veteran, or the spouse or
1.16dependent of an allied Hmong-American or Lao-American veteran, of the American
1.17Secret War in Laos.
1.18(c) The commissioner is authorized to designate responsibility for confirming an
1.19applicant's status as an allied Hmong-American or Lao-American veteran of the American
1.20Secret War in Laos to the chairperson of the Special Guerilla Unit Veterans & Families
1.21Development of USA, Inc. The form SGU-DD214, signed by the current or former
1.22chairperson of the association and issued to an applicant shall confirm the applicant's
1.23status as an allied Hmong-American or Lao-American veteran of the American Secret
1.24War in Laos.
1.25(d) For purposes of this subdivision:
2.1(1) "allied Hmong-American or Lao-American veteran" means a person who is
2.2an American citizen of Hmong or Lao ethnicity who was recruited, trained, directed,
2.3supported, and paid by the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) or other
2.4military, paramilitary or nonmilitary department, agency, or unit of the United States
2.5government at any time during the period of the Vietnam War, as an allied soldier or other
2.6paramilitary agent assigned as a member of the CIA's Hmong Special Guerilla Unit for the
2.7purpose of assisting the United States armed forces in any combat role or combat support
2.8role during the Vietnam War, as verified in any reasonable manner as evidenced by a
2.9written policy by the Minnesota commissioner of veterans affairs or the commissioner's
2.10designee; and
2.11(2) "period of the Vietnam War" means July 1, 1961, to April 30, 1975.
2.12EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2012.
2.13 Sec. 2. PURPOSE STATEMENT.
2.14The purpose of section 1 is to recognize and honor this state and nation's allied
2.15Hmong-American and Lao-American veterans of America's Secret War in Laos, in which
2.16these Hmong-American and Lao-American veterans fought so valiantly and sacrificed
2.17so greatly on behalf of members of the United States armed forces who themselves were
2.18simultaneously engaged in this nation's war in Vietnam, by sharing with them the honor
2.19and solace of the special eternal resting place in Minnesota's State Veterans Cemetery.
2.20EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2012.
