HF4492

Purpose

• Establishes the Commanders Task Force to advise the Minnesota Legislature, the governor, and the commissioner on matters related to veterans and veterans’ families, and to serve as a liaison between state government and veteran service organizations.

Main Provisions

• Establishment

  • Creates a new Commanders Task Force under Minnesota law to focus on veterans and their families.

• Membership

  • The task force must include the elected leaders from eight congressionally chartered veteran service organizations in Minnesota:
  • The American Legion
  • American Veterans
  • Disabled American Veterans
  • Jewish War Veterans
  • Marine Corps League
  • Military Order of the Purple Heart
  • Paralyzed Veterans of America
  • Veterans of Foreign Wars

• Organization

  • The task force will adopt standing rules and an order of business for regular meetings.
  • The task force must annually elect a chair and a vice-chair from among its current members.

• Duties

  • Advise the commissioner, the legislature, and the governor on matters relating to veterans, veterans’ families, and the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • Act as a liaison between state government and the member organizations that make up the task force.

• Compensation

  • Members are not entitled to compensation, per diem, reimbursement for child care expenses, or other state-funded expense reimbursement.

• Expiration

  • The task force is established to continue indefinitely and does not have an expiration date.

Significance / What it changes

• Creates a permanent advisory body focused on veterans issues and families, linked to major veterans organizations, with formal rules, leadership elections, and ongoing engagement with state government.
• Sets a clear stance on financing, prohibiting compensation or expense reimbursements from state funds for task force members.

Relevant Terms

• Commanders Task Force
• veterans
• veterans families
• Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs
• The American Legion
• American Veterans
• Disabled American Veterans
• Jewish War Veterans
• Marine Corps League
• Military Order of the Purple Heart
• Paralyzed Veterans of America
• Veterans of Foreign Wars
• liaison
• standing rules
• chair
• vice-chair
• per diem
• compensation
• state funds
• expiration date
• indefinitely