December 3, 2004

1:00 pm - Comfort Suites Bismarck, North Dakota

Meeting called to order by Chairman Rudy Jenson. Pledge of Allegiance, followed by moment of silence for POW/MIAs and troops serving overseas.

Roll Call

• Members PRESENT:

  Daryl Beard	Rudy Jenson	Paul Smathres
  Carl Bloomquist	Dean Overby	Dave Vandergon
  Larry Dakken	Lyle Schuchard	Bob Volk
  Orletta Kilen

• 
  
• Members ABSENT:

  Wally Buckingham

  Rick Ryan

  Gary Skarphol

• 
  
• Guest:

  Senator Dick Dever, District 32, Bismarck

Motion by Smathers to accept the minutes of October 15 & 16, 2004, second by Dakken. Motion passed unanimously.

Guest Speakers:

Jerry Meske, DOL Veterans Employment & Training Service [HANDOUTS]– Veterans Benefit Seminar is scheduled for January 19, 2005 in Fargo. There may be one in May 2005 in Bismarck. This seminar is for returning troops and will offer information and services to help them adjust to civilian life.

MG Haugen, Adjutant General, and Col Dave Thiele, JAG, ND National Guard . [HANDOUT]– Update on overseas troops. Information on bonus - $5 million will be requested and the applicant must be a North Dakota resident to receive the bonus. The Guard is trying to match Minnesota’s tuition assistance to stay competitive with recruitment. A constitutional amendment is being submitted regarding the definition of active militia. The Cemetery Fund is running at about a million and a half, needs to be at three million to be self-sufficient. The Air Force has put out bids to study the air space initiative and the accompanying ground piece. Should this initiative becomes reality, this would help retain the air bases in Minot and Grand Forks.

Tim Nolz, Job Service North Dakota. [HANDOUT] – Update on usage of postwar trust fund monies given to Job Service.

Eric Monson, NOVUS [HANDOUT] – Strategic/Operational Plan 2005. Include Tribal Service Officers in discussion under Goal 4. Include human services and county social services in discussion under Goal 1. The plan will help set policies, inform policyholders on department plans, track and monitor operations plan.

Veterans Home Update – Neil Asper, Administrator [HANDOUTS]

• Complaint by former resident investigated; any complaint filed against the Home is handled by the Department of Health. The Home received a letter stating the complaint issues were not substantiated.
• Outline for the Handbook on Basic Care discussed
• Audit Recommendations update
• H.R. 3936 – important piece of legislation for the veterans home

Governing Board – Daryl Beard, Chairman

• Interim legislative committee has tasked the Veterans Home to do a study on adding a dementia unit to the Home.
• Audit Recommendations Update
• Request legislation for Veterans Home. Distribution of HB 1027 & HB 1028 from the 2003 session, both failed.

Motion by Smathers to support the resubmission of HB 1027, second by Kilen. Discussion. Motion and second withdrawn.

Motion by Smathers to combine HB 1027 & HB 1028 from the prior legislative session into one bill and support that bill in the upcoming session, second by Dakken. Motion passes 9 yeas – Beard, Bloomquist, Jenson, Kilen, Overby, Schuchard, Smathers, Vandergon, Volk; 1 nay - Dakken, 3 absent – Buckingham, Ryan, Skarphol. [MOTION #1]

Discussion on doing a study on the long term care needs of veterans but not limit it to a dementia unit.

Motion by Dakken that the committee solicit proposals for a long term needs study of the veterans of North Dakota, second by Smathers. Motion passed unanimously.

Motion by Smathers to excuse Neal for Saturday’s meeting due to prior commitments, second by Volk. Motion passed, 1 nay.

Distribution of proposed legislation for the 2005 Session.

Motion by Smathers to recess meeting until 8:30 Saturday morning, second by Volk. Motion passed unanimously.

Meeting recessed until 8:30am Saturday at the Comfort Suites.