Section 196.01 — Created.
196.01 CREATED. There is hereby created and established a Department of Veterans Affairs, hereinafter referred to as the department. History: 1943 c 420 s 1
Section 196.02 — Commissioner Of Veterans Affairs.
196.02 COMMISSIONER OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. Subdivision 1. Appointment; qualifications. The department shall be under the supervision and control of a commissioner of veterans affairs who shall be appointed by the governor under the provisions of section 15.06. No person shall be eligible to receive appointment as commissioner unless that person has the following qualifications: (1) […]
Section 196.021 — Deputy Commissioners; Duties.
196.021 DEPUTY COMMISSIONERS; DUTIES. Subdivision 1. Appointment. The commissioner shall appoint a deputy commissioner for veteran services and a deputy commissioner for veteran health care. Both deputy commissioners serve in the unclassified service at the pleasure of the commissioner. Both deputies must be residents of Minnesota, citizens of the United States, and veterans as defined […]
Section 196.03 — Officers And Employees.
196.03 OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES. All officers and employees of the department shall be appointed by the commissioner and they shall perform such duties as may be assigned to them by the commissioner. History: 1943 c 420 s 3; 1988 c 699 s 2; 2008 c 297 art 2 s 10
Section 196.04 — Rules.
196.04 RULES. Subdivision 1. Promulgation. The commissioner shall adopt reasonable and proper rules to govern the procedure of the divisions of the department and to regulate and provide for the nature and extent of the proofs and evidence and the method of taking and furnishing the same, in order to establish the right to benefits […]
Section 196.05 — Duties Of Commissioner.
196.05 DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER. Subdivision 1. General duties. The commissioner shall: (1) act as the agent of a resident of the state having a claim against the United States for benefits arising out of or by reason of service in the armed forces and prosecute the claim without charge; (2) act as custodian of veterans’ […]
Section 196.052 — Gift Acceptance And Investment.
196.052 GIFT ACCEPTANCE AND INVESTMENT. On the behalf of the state, the commissioner may accept any gift, grant, bequest, or devise made for the purposes of this chapter and chapter 197. The commissioner must administer the funds as directed by the donor. All funds must be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the […]
Section 196.053 — Acceptance Of Federal Funds.
196.053 ACCEPTANCE OF FEDERAL FUNDS. The commissioner is authorized to apply for and accept federal funding for purposes of this chapter. History: 2011 c 117 s 4
Section 196.054 — Use Of Facilities Or Services By Outside Agencies.
196.054 USE OF FACILITIES OR SERVICES BY OUTSIDE AGENCIES. Subdivision 1. Commissioner’s authority. The commissioner of veterans affairs may allow public or private social service, educational, or rehabilitation agencies or organizations and their clients to use the facilities, staff, and other resources of the department and may require the participating agencies or organizations to pay […]
Section 196.06 — Annual Report.
196.06 ANNUAL REPORT. Subdivision 1. To governor. The commissioner shall make an annual written report to the governor giving: (a) an account of all money received and disbursed; (b) a description of the work done; (c) administrative improvements; (d) activities of the department; (e) the number of veterans who have, during the past year, received […]
Section 196.07 — Technical Staff.
196.07 TECHNICAL STAFF. The commissioner’s technical staff shall have the same qualifications as enumerated for the commissioner in section 196.02. History: 1943 c 420 s 7
Section 196.08 — Files And Records Confidential.
196.08 FILES AND RECORDS CONFIDENTIAL. (a) The contents of, and all files, records, reports, papers, and documents pertaining to, any claim for the benefits of Laws 1943, chapter 420, whether pending or adjudicated, shall be deemed confidential and privileged and no disclosure thereof shall be made, without the consent in writing of the claimant who […]
Section 196.081 — Veterans Stable Housing Initiative; Data.
196.081 VETERANS STABLE HOUSING INITIATIVE; DATA. (a) The commissioner may establish a veterans stable housing initiative. If the commissioner establishes a veterans stable housing initiative under this section, the commissioner must provide resources and support to assist veterans experiencing homelessness in obtaining or maintaining stable housing. (b) Data on individuals maintained by the commissioner in […]
Section 196.18 — Uncompensated And Voluntary Services; Expenses.
196.18 UNCOMPENSATED AND VOLUNTARY SERVICES; EXPENSES. To assist in the discharge of the functions of the department, the commissioner of veterans affairs may accept uncompensated and voluntary services and enter into written agreements with private or public agencies or persons for uncompensated and voluntary services as may be practical. Persons rendering voluntary uncompensated services may […]
Section 196.19 — Environmental Hazards Information And Assistance Act; Citation.
196.19 ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE ACT; CITATION. Sections 196.19 to 196.26 may be cited as the “Environmental Hazards Information and Assistance Act.” History: 1982 c 513 s 1; 2000 c 390 s 3
Section 196.21 — Definitions.
196.21 DEFINITIONS. Subdivision 1. Scope. For the purposes of sections 196.19 to 196.26 the following terms have the meanings given them. Subd. 2. Veteran. “Veteran” means a person who is a resident of this state and who served in the armed forces of the United States of America. Subd. 3. Chemical agents. “Chemical agents” means […]
Section 196.22 — Powers And Duties Of Commissioner.
196.22 POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER. Subdivision 1. Environmental hazards information and assistance program. The commissioner shall establish and maintain an environmental hazards information and assistance program. The commissioner shall: (1) provide information regarding epidemiological, genetic, and other scientific studies proposed, underway, or completed that pertain to adverse health conditions which may be associated with […]
Section 196.23 — Environmental Hazards Information And Assistance Section.
196.23 ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE SECTION. Subdivision 1. Establishment of section. The commissioner shall establish an environmental hazards information and assistance section in the Department of Veterans Affairs. The section shall be headed by a director. The commissioner shall provide the director with office space, administrative services, and clerical support. Subd. 2. Position of […]
Section 196.24 — Duties Of Commissioner Of Health.
196.24 DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. Subdivision 1. Information to health professionals. The commissioner of health shall provide medical information to health professionals in this state regarding the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of acute and chronic symptoms which may be associated with exposure to chemical agents. Subd. 2. Genetic information and counseling. The commissioner of […]
Section 196.25 — Confidentiality.
196.25 CONFIDENTIALITY. The identity of a veteran about whom information has been received under sections 196.19 to 196.26 is classified as private data pursuant to section 13.02, subdivision 12, and may not be disclosed unless the veteran consents to the disclosure. Summary data, as defined in section 13.02, subdivision 19, derived from information received under […]