An expansion of the Minneapolis veterans home and a beefed-up state GI Bill were two big veterans issues that made it through the recent state legislative session.

The Minneapolis Veterans Home will receive $18.9 million from the bonding bill as the state's share of a project to improve a residential building on the grounds.

The Legislature also expanded eligibility for the Minnesota GI Bill to include all veterans who served honorably (eligibility had been limited to post-9/11 veterans) and to all surviving spouses or children of veterans who either died as a result of military service or who have total permanent service-connected disability.

County veteran service officers, the front line for veterans who seek help, have $2 million to increase outreach to veterans on issues such as homelessness and reintegration of combat veterans into society. The Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans also received $500,000 to work on veteran homelessness.

Often the only thing a veteran asks for from service is a military honor guard funeral. In the past, that funding had been in jeopardy. There's now $400,000 allocated to pay for honor guards. There's also funding for a new veterans cemetery in southeastern Minnesota. The cemetery will provide burial space for nearly 40,000 veterans beginning in 2015.

On the employment front, legislators changed the law that allows a person to be disqualified for public employment or a state-issued professional license if the position directly relates to a crime for which the person has been convicted. That person has to show "sufficient evidence of rehabilitation." The change means that rehabilitation can include an honorable discharge from the U.S. armed forces following a conviction.

Lastly, a plaque honoring the state's American Indian veterans was authorized on the State Capitol grounds. It will go on a plaza that now includes memorials to other groups such as Civil War veterans, chaplains, women veterans and Mexican-American veterans.

Mark Brunswick • 612-673-4434