Section 197.585 Higher Education Veterans Assistance Program

MINNESOTA STATUTES AND CODES

Section 197.585 Higher Education Veterans Assistance Program

197.585 HIGHER EDUCATION VETERANS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

Subdivision 1.Assistance provided.

The commissioner of veterans affairs shall provide central liaison staff and campus veterans assistance officers to serve the needs of students who are veterans at higher education institutions in Minnesota. Methods of assistance may include, but are not limited to, work-study positions for veterans, and providing information and assistance regarding the availability of state, federal, local, and private resources.

Subd. 2.Steering committee.

The commissioner of veterans affairs shall chair a higher education veterans assistance program steering committee composed of:

(1) the adjutant general or the adjutant general's designee;

(2) a representative of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, designated by the chancellor;

(3) a representative of the University of Minnesota, appointed by the president of the university;

(4) a representative of private colleges and universities in Minnesota, appointed by the governor;

(5) a representative of the Office of Higher Education, appointed by the executive director;

(6) a representative of county veterans service offices, appointed by the commissioner of veterans affairs; and

(7) a representative of the Department of Employment and Economic Development, appointed by the commissioner of that department.

The steering committee shall advise the commissioner of veterans affairs regarding the allocation of appropriations for the purposes of this section and shall develop a long-range plan to serve the needs of students at higher education institutions in Minnesota who are veterans.

Subd. 3.Office space provided.

Each campus of the University of Minnesota and each institution within the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system shall provide adequate space for a veterans assistance office to be administered by the commissioner of veterans affairs, and each private college and university in Minnesota is encouraged to provide adequate space for a veterans assistance office to be administered by the commissioner of veterans affairs. The veterans assistance office must provide information and assistance to veterans who are students or family members of students at the school regarding the availability of state, federal, local, and private resources.

Subd. 4.Report.

Beginning January 15, 2007, and each year thereafter, the steering committee established in subdivision 2 shall report to the chairs of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over veterans affairs policy and finance and higher education policy and finance regarding the implementation and effectiveness of the program established in this section.

Subd. 5.Expiration.

This section expires at the end of the first fiscal year in which the number of veterans enrolled in Minnesota public institutions of higher education is fewer than 4,000, but no later than June 30, 2012.