Commissioner of veterans affairs permission to close veterans homes under certain circumstances

A bill for an act

relating to veterans; allowing the commissioner of veterans affairs to temporarily

close veterans homes under certain circumstances; amending Minnesota Statutes

2024, section 198.01.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 198.01, is amended to read:

198.01 VETERANS HOME; ELIGIBILITY OF VETERANS.

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(a)
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The Minnesota veterans homes shall provide nursing care and related health and

social services for veterans and their spouses who meet eligibility and admission requirements

of the Minnesota veterans homes. The commissioner may not
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permanently
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close a veterans

home unless closure of the home is specifically authorized or required by a law enacted
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by

the legislature
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after July 1, 2015. The word "veteran" as used in this section has the meaning

provided in section
197.447
.

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(b) The commissioner may temporarily close a veterans home in compliance with Centers

for Medicare and Medicaid Services requirements upon receiving an involuntary termination

notice. The commissioner must not temporarily close a veterans home until the veterans

home has transferred, relocated, or discharged every resident according to section 144A.161,

subdivision 6, in a safe and orderly manner to the most appropriate setting for the resident.

Before temporarily closing a veterans home, the commissioner must provide notice of a

closure under this paragraph to the governor and the chairs and ranking minority members

of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over veterans affairs.

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