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Helping employers of the deployed

Published (3/14/2008)
By Lee Ann Schutz
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When military reservists or National Guard members are deployed, it’s not only an adjustment for their families, but also the businesses where they work.

Two bills approved by the House Veterans Affairs Division March 7 would help ease the situation.

Rep. Bob Dettmer (R-Forest Lake) sponsors HF3427, which would create a revolving loan fund for qualifying businesses to receive a onetime $20,000 loan, if they have suffered economic losses because of an essential employee being deployed, even if that employee is the sole proprietor.

The bill would also expand the displaced workers program to include veterans who are honorably discharged and are earning less than they should be paid, based on their qualifications and skills they developed while serving in the military. The bill now awaits action in the House Finance Committee

“When we look at returning veterans we really need to look at three areas: the veteran, their family and their employer. These initiatives are designed to reduce barriers for the returning veterans and help them be successful and the employers,” said Col. Eric Ahlness, Minnesota National Guard director of government relations.

Rep. Kathy Tingelstad (R-Andover) sponsors HF3686 that would give a reservist-owned business some measure of protection from civil court proceedings for a minimum of 60 days, while the person is deployed.

Donald Kerr, principal planner for the Department of Military Affairs, said previous legislation protects rights of individual deployed soldiers and their families from civil action, “however we failed to protect wholly-owned businesses of those services members.” He cited an example of a person who had to back out of some contracts because of being deployed to Iraq, and found his business was not protected.

The bill was referred to the House Public Safety and Civil Justice Committee.

Sen. Amy Koch (R-Buffalo) sponsors SF3055, the Senate companion to Dettmer’s bill, which awaits action by the Senate State and Local Government Operations and Oversight Committee. The Senate companion to Tingelstad’s bill is SF3743, sponsored by Sen. Leo Foley (R-New Ulm). It awaits action by the Senate Judiciary Committee

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