1.1                                          A bill for an act
1.2       relating to veterans; providing for assistance to certain members of the National
1.3       Guard and other veterans in obtaining health screening and health services
1.4       relating to depleted uranium exposure; proposing coding for new law in
1.5       Minnesota Statutes, chapter 192.
1.6       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7           Section 1. [192.506] DEPLETED URANIUM TESTING.
1.8           Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) The definitions in this subdivision apply to this
1.9       section.
1.10      (b) "Eligible member" means a member of the Minnesota National Guard who
1.11      served in the Persian Gulf War theater, as defined in United States Code, title 38, section
1.12      101, or in an area designated as a combat zone by the President of the United States
1.13      during Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom, or in any other military
1.14      assignment in which there was a high likelihood that the person was exposed to depleted
1.15      uranium from exploded munitions containing depleted uranium.
1.16      (c) "Veteran" has the meaning given in section 197.447.
1.17      (d) "Military physician" means a physician who is under contract with the United
1.18      States Department of Defense to provide physician services to members of the armed
1.19      forces.
1.20      (e) "Depleted uranium" means uranium containing less uranium-235 than the
1.21      naturally occurring distribution of uranium isotopes.
1.22      (f) "Medically qualified screening test" means:
1.23      (1) a best practice health screening test for exposure to depleted uranium using a
1.24      bioassay procedure involving sensitive methods capable of detecting depleted uranium at
1.25      low levels and the use of equipment with the capacity to discriminate between different
2.1       radioisotopes in naturally occurring levels of uranium and the characteristic ratio and
2.2       marker for depleted uranium; or
2.3       (2) a closely comparable test that is equally capable or more capable of detecting
2.4       depleted uranium at low levels in the body.
2.5           Subd. 2.  Assistance for depleted uranium exposure.  The adjutant general and
2.6       the commissioner of veterans affairs shall help an eligible member or veteran obtain
2.7       federal government treatment services, including a medically qualified screening test, if
2.8       the member or veteran:
2.9       (1) has been assigned a risk level I, II, or III for depleted uranium exposure by the
2.10      member's or veteran's branch of service;
2.11      (2) is referred by a military physician; or
2.12      (3) has reason to believe that the member or veteran was exposed to depleted
2.13      uranium during military service.
2.14         Subd. 3. Funding. No state funds may be spent to provide testing under this section.
2.15      EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.

2.16         Sec. 2. REPORT ON SCOPE AND ADEQUACY OF TRAINING.
2.17      By October 1, 2006, the adjutant general shall submit a report to the chairs and
2.18      designated staff persons of the committees of the Minnesota Senate and Minnesota House
2.19      of Representatives having cognizance of matters relating to the military and veterans
2.20      regarding the scope and adequacy of training received by members of the Minnesota
2.21      National Guard on determining whether their service as eligible members is likely to
2.22      entail, or to have entailed, exposure to depleted uranium.
2.23      The report must include an assessment of the feasibility and state cost, if any, of
2.24      adding predeployment training concerning potential exposure to depleted uranium and
2.25      other toxic chemical substances and the precautions recommended under combat and
2.26      noncombat conditions while in a combat zone.
2.27      EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.