1. (Connecting veterans to jobs) These model provisions direct the agencies responsible for economic development and labor to prioritize veteran outreach and assistance.

• Sample language:
  • The state [DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OR APPLICABLE STATE AGENCY HEREINAFTER “department”] shall prioritize applications and assistance requests from small businesses owned or controlled by veterans in appropriate programs administered by the department, including small business lending, microloans, and programs to connect businesses with state contracts. 
  • The state [DEPARTMENT OF LABOR OR APPLICABLE STATE AGENCY] shall promote strategies and services for connecting transitioning service members and veterans to local, regional, state, and federal employment resources including skills and workforce assessments,  internship and apprenticeship programs, and job opportunities through a publicly accessible website.
• Examples include: Virginia, South Carolina, Alaska, Illinois

2. (Attainment of college degrees, certificates, and licenses) These provisions ensure state licensing boards and higher education institutions recognize veterans’ military training and experience.

• Sample language:
  • The state [DEPARTMENT OF STATE OR APPLICABLE STATE AGENCY HEREINAFTER “department”] shall direct all licensing boards to review their regulations for opportunities to increase the recognition and applicability of military training and experience to achieving in-state licensing and acceptance to apprenticeship programs. If, upon review, the department determines that legislative action is necessary to fully effectuate this section, a report explaining that need shall be submitted to the relevant oversight committees of the legislature.
  • The state [DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OR APPLICABLE STATE AGENCY] shall do all of the following:
    • Ensure that each state owned institution of higher education shall waive out-of-state fees for any veteran who physically resides in this state while enrolled in the institution. Tuition and fees charged to a veteran who qualifies for the out-of-state fee waiver under this subsection may not exceed the tuition and fees charged to a resident student. The waiver is applicable for 110 percent of the required credit hours of the degree or certificate program for which the student is enrolled.
    • Review all regulations regarding the award of college credit for military training and experience for opportunities to increase those rewards and encourage veterans to pursue higher education and certifications, including directing all state owned or affiliated institutions of higher education to:
      • Accept all credits obtained by veterans for completed courses that meet the standards of the American Council on Education without additional fee; 
      • Increase flexibility in course registration to reflect returning veterans’ needs;
      • Offer an early course registration period for students who are veterans;
      • Ensure a student who is called to active duty in the armed forces of the United States after having attended regularly for 13 or more weeks or having completed 85% of the term’s work through acceleration is given full credit for each course where a grade of C or better has been earned;
      • Refund students called to active duty who do not meet attendance requirements sufficient to earn a grade all tuition and fees;
      • Ensure a student immediately returning from active duty may register after normal registration periods end, without late fees or other penalties.
• Examples include: Florida, Connecticut

3. (Increase veterans’ healthcare choices) These policy provisions ensure all veterans have the healthcare coverage and treatment they are eligible for based on their service.

• Sample language:
  • A Veteran Health Navigator Service is hereby established in the state [DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OR APPLICABLE STATE AGENCY HEREINAFTER “department”] which shall: 
    • Identify, train and deploy veteran health navigators with direct knowledge of the veteran communities they serve;
    • Identify all federal and other health benefits, coverage, and services available to veterans and their families;
    • Coordinate with relevant state agencies, healthcare providers, and health insurance programs to help veterans and their beneficiaries apply for coverage under such programs, including helping veterans overcome barriers within the healthcare system to ensure enrollment in health plans and effective delivery and coordination of health services;
    • Leverage existing resources and structures where veterans and their families are likely to be found;
    • Ensure the needs of veterans and their families are incorporated in all efforts to expand opportunities for affordable, quality healthcare;
    • Ensure mental health coverage, services and treatment is included as a full focus, including identifying all mental health benefits, coverage, and services available to veterans and their families, including for post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression, and suicide prevention.
    • Examine all existing programs designed to increase affordable quality healthcare, to evaluate whether the needs of veterans and their families;
    • Utilize emerging technologies to better connect veterans to resources and streamline applications;
    • Produce an annual report of findings, recommendations and any additional legislative or budgetary requests necessary to effectuate duties under this Act; and shall deliver that report to the relevant committees of the Legislature and Governor and post it to the department’s publicly accessible website.
• Examples include: Illinois, Minnesota

4. (Prevent veteran suicide and increase veterans’ mental health services) These provisions ensure veterans and their families have mental health treatment, including for post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, suicide, and suicidal ideation.

• Sample language:
  • The state [DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AND VETERANS AFAIRS OR APPLICABLE STATE AGENCY HEREINAFTER “department”] in coordination with local, state, and federal government agencies, and in consultation with nonprofits and service providers of veteran mental health, shall develop and implement a strategy to reduce barriers to mental health services and treatment for veterans and their families by:
    • Identifying structural and logistical barriers to treatment and taking steps to resolve those barriers as able by regulation and 
    • Report annually to the relevant committees of the Legislature, Governor and on the department’s publicly available website the additional legislative or budgetary steps that would resolve barriers identified that have not been resolved by the steps taken;
    • Enhance and strengthen suicide prevention programs in keeping with proven best practices and research, including by:
      • Identifying and applying for federal and private grants focused on veteran suicide prevention;
      • Providing technical assistance to communities to develop and review strategic plans to reduce veteran suicide.
    • Create a centralized provider database, identifying by region mental health providers with expertise and ability to assist veterans and their families, including to highlight providers with training or experience in the prevention and treatment of veteran suicide;
    • Develop a continuing education course for mental health providers in [STATE] to obtain expertise in veteran suicide assessment, prevention, treatment and risk management and make that program available for free to providers in regions of the state identified in above as lacking sufficient trained providers;
    • From existing or appropriated resources, identify evidence-based best practices to increase awareness of any veteran suicide prevention hot line and other crisis resources with proven effectiveness to reduce veteran suicide.
• Examples include: Wisconsin

5. (End veteran homelessness) These policy provisions set and achieve a goal of ending veteran homelessness in three years

• Sample Language: 
  • In coordination with local, state, and federal government agencies and nonprofits, and in consultation with states and cities that have achieved an end to veteran homelessness in accordance with the above criteria, the state [DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING OR APPLICABLE STATE AGENCY] shall develop and implement a strategy to meet that goal within three years, including through:
    • Coordinated community outreach and a common assessment tool;
    • A community-wide comprehensive, by-name list of veterans experiencing homelessness, prioritized based on vulnerability;
    • Data-sharing among all relevant providers, DEPARTMENTS, and Veterans Affairs Medical Centers;
    • Increased coordination and streamlined processes for appropriate housing placements;
    • Connecting veterans experiencing homelessness to health, mental health, employment and training resources through the services described in this Act;
    • A commitment to Housing First principles; and
    • Identification of and application for funding, as needed from private, foundation, and other partners.
• Examples include: Texas, Wisconsin

6. (Data Privacy and Aggregation): This provision ensures that states limit the data they collect to information that is necessary to administer these programs.

• Sample language: Sample language: [STATE] has a compelling interest in protecting privacy and personal information. In administering this Act, state and local agencies, businesses, and any other entities, shall only request data necessary to administer this Act and retain it only as required to administer and achieve the purposes of the Act. Any personal information or data collected or obtained in the course of administering this Act shall be shared only in a manner that has been deidentified and aggregated to the greatest extent allowable while still in compliance with federal eligibility requirements and every allowable effort shall be made to revoke access to such data should programs be eliminated or should there be an ineligibility determination. Personal information or data collected or obtained in the course of administering this Act shall not be otherwise disclosed without the informed consent of the individual, a warrant signed by a [STATE] judge or federal judge, lawful court order administered within [STATE] or a lawful federal court order, or subpoena administered within [STATE] or federal subpoena, or unless otherwise required by federal or state statute. Personal information or data may be considered deidentified if it cannot reasonably be used to infer information about, or otherwise be linked to, a particular individual or household.