Veterans benefits services disclosure requirements modification

A bill for an act

relating to military veterans; modifying veterans benefits services disclosure

requirements; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 197.6091, subdivision

1; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 197.6091, subdivisions 2, 5.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 197.6091, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Definitions.

(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have

the meanings given.

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(b)(1) "Advertising" or "advertisement" means any of the following:

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(i) any written or printed communication made for the purpose of soliciting business for

veterans benefits appeal services, including but not limited to a brochure, letter, pamphlet,

newspaper, telephone listing, periodical, or other writing;

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(ii) any directory listing caused or permitted by a person and made available by that

person indicating that veterans benefits appeal services are being offered; or

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(iii) any radio, television, computer network, or similar airwave or electronic transmission

that solicits business for or promotes a person offering veterans benefits appeal services.

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(2) "Advertising" or "advertisement" does not include any of the following:

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(i) any printing or writing used on buildings, uniforms, or badges, where the purpose of

the writing is for identification; or

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(ii) any printing or writing in a memorandum or other communication used in the ordinary

course of business where the sole purpose of the writing is other than soliciting business

for veterans benefits appeal services.

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(c) "Veterans benefits appeal services" means services that a veteran might reasonably

require in order to appeal a denial of federal or state veterans benefits, including but not

limited to denials of disability, limited income, home loan, insurance, education and training,

burial and memorial, and dependent and survivor benefits.

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(d)
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(b)
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"Veterans benefits services" means services that a veteran or a family member

of a veteran might reasonably use in order to obtain federal, state, or county veterans benefits.

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(e)
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(c)
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"Written disclosure statement" means the written disclosure statement developed

by the commissioner of veterans affairs pursuant to section
196.05, subdivision 1
.

Sec. 2.
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REPEALER.
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Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 197.6091, subdivisions 2 and 5,

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are repealed.

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APPENDIX

Repealed Minnesota Statutes: 26-07514

197.6091 VETERANS BENEFITS SERVICES; DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS.

Subd. 2.

Advertising disclosure requirements.

A person advertising veterans benefits appeal services must conspicuously disclose in the advertisement, in similar type size or voice-over, that veterans benefits appeal services are also offered at no cost by county veterans service officers under sections
197.603
and
197.604
.

Subd. 5.

Nonapplicability.

This section does not apply to the owner or personnel of any medium in which an advertisement appears or through which an advertisement is disseminated.