HB 5235 Summary

• Creates the Michigan Veteran Outreach Initiative, a grant program providing reimbursement of fitness facility membership fees to eligible veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 50% or greater.

• Establishes the Michigan Veteran Outreach Fund as a separate fund administered by the Department of Treasury, with money available for grants on a competitive basis to eligible counties.

• Awards grants to one county in each of three population categories (less than 100,000; 100,000-200,000; more than 200,000) based on criteria including availability of qualified fitness facilities, local support, and capacity to operate the program.

• Limits reimbursements to $50 per month per eligible veteran and requires participating counties to use grant funds to reimburse qualified fitness facilities (YMCAs or nonprofit facilities) that track veteran attendance and comply with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.

• Program operates for 3 years from the effective date; requires participating veterans to have attended a facility at least 8 times in the final month of previous program participation to qualify for subsequent reimbursements.