HF1845

1. Purpose
2. Expand who is considered a veteran under Minnesota law.

3. Create an advisory task force to help determine new eligibility criteria for veteran status.

4. Main Provisions

5. Redefinition of “veteran” in Minnesota Statutes section 197.447 to include two groups:

   • Group A: A U.S. citizen or resident alien who has separated from active duty in any branch under honorable conditions, after serving 181 consecutive days, or who left service due to a disability incurred while on active duty, or who meets a minimum active duty requirement defined by federal rules, with active service certified by the U.S. Secretary of Defense and an honorable discharge issued by the Secretary.
   • Group B: A person who resides in Minnesota and who either:
   • was naturalized under the Hmong Veterans Naturalization Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-207), or
   • served honorably with a special guerrilla unit or irregular forces that operated from a base in Laos in support of the U.S. armed forces between February 28, 1961 and May 14, 1975, and is a U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted permanent resident.

6. The active service for Group A must be certified by the U.S. Secretary of Defense as active military service, and the discharge must be honorable.

7. The bill specifically recognizes Laos-era veterans connected to the Secret War in Laos, including Hmong veterans, as eligible under state law.

8. Significant Changes to Existing Law

9. Broadens the definition of who counts as a veteran for purposes of Minnesota statutes to include:

   • Laos-based veterans who served in secret or irregular units supporting U.S. forces.
   • Hmong veterans who naturalized under the Hmong Veterans Naturalization Act.

10. Introduces a formal process to determine eligibility for these new categories through an advisory mechanism (see next section).

11. Advisory Task Force Details

12. The Commissioner of Veterans Affairs must establish an advisory task force of up to seven members.

13. The task force must include:

    • People with knowledge of the Secret War of Laos, including veterans of Laos-based secret guerrilla units or irregular forces.
    • Academics and community members.

14. Responsibilities:

    • Advise the Commissioner on which criteria should be used to determine whether an individual qualifies as a veteran under Minnesota Statutes section 197.447, clause 2.

15. Purpose of the task force is to help define and refine the eligibility criteria for the new, expanded veteran categories.

Relevant Terms - veteran (as expanded by the bill) - Minnesota Statutes section 197.447 - Secret War of Laos - Laos-based secret guerrilla units / irregular forces - Hmong Veterans Naturalization Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-207) - February 28, 1961 to May 14, 1975 (Laos period) - active duty / active military service - honorable discharge - Secretary of Defense (certification) - 181 consecutive days of service - Public Law 95-202 (context for active duty definitions) - citizen or lawful permanent resident - Advisory Task Force (up to seven members) - criteria for veteran status under clause 2 of section 197.447