Backers of the North Dakota Veterans Home are asking lawmakers to approve building a new 150-bed facility, saying the present structure near Lisbon is outdated and needs costly remodeling.

Lawmakers introduced a bill last week to set aside $6.48 million as the state's share of a new, 121-bed home for $18.5 million. Planners expect a federal grant program to supply the rest of the money.

Brad Maasjo, of Fargo, a member of the Veterans Home's governing board, asked the Senate Human Services Committee on Monday to support a $21 million, 150-bed project, which would boost the state's share of the expense to $7.3 million. The existing home would be demolished.

The present home is licensed for 149 beds, including 111 beds for basic care and 38 beds for veterans who need skilled nursing care. The committee agreed Monday to support the 150-bed project.

"When we see our demographic projections going up, we can't imagine why we would want to lose beds," Maasjo said. "There are going to be more (veterans) who are going to be returning with more complicated injuries that are going to be entering into our care system at a younger age, and remaining … for a longer period of time."

Remodeling the present home to meet existing building codes and access rules would be more expensive than constructing a new one, said Mark Johnson, the Veterans Home's administrator.

The present home does not meet disability access standards and does not have enough private rooms, Johnson said. It now has 127 residents, because some of its double rooms are being used as single rooms to avoid putting residents with mental health problems in the same room, he said.

"I know in the past the Legislature has said, 'Why can't we fill our building up?' But we can't, because when you start putting someone that has a paranoid disorder with someone that has an anxiety disorder … we then end up with major issues," Johnson said.

Sen. Larry Robinson, D-Valley City, said the Veterans Home was well-run and well maintained, with "a dedicated staff and tremendous support from the community."

"With that being said, the physical structure itself has a multitude of shortcomings," Robinson said. "Very small bathrooms, very narrow hallways, and … this terrible, terrible ventilation system."

The Senate Appropriations Committee will consider the legislation later, followed by a Senate floor vote. Gov. John Hoeven is supporting the project.

The Veterans Home is on 92 acres of rolling, forested land in south Lisbon, just east of the Sheyenne River. Its main four-story building was completed in 1950. A four-story addition was built in 1980, and a two-story addition in 1990.

The North Dakota Constitution requires that the Veterans Home be located in Lisbon, a Ransom County community of about 2,300 people in southeastern North Dakota.

The bill is SB2418.