HF 1103

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 02/06/2023 07:01pm

A bill for an act
relating to local government aid; establishing the local public safety aid program;
appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter
477A.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [477A.40] LOCAL PUBLIC SAFETY AID.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Purpose. new text end

new text begin The purpose of this section is to help local units of government
ensure that first responders are receiving mental health care.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the
meanings given:
new text end

new text begin (1) "firefighter" means a firefighter employed full-time by a fire department and licensed
by the Board of Firefighter Training and Education;
new text end

new text begin (2) "local unit of government" means a statutory or home rule charter city that employs
its own law enforcement agency, or a county;
new text end

new text begin (3) "peace officer" means a peace officer employed by a local unit of government's law
enforcement agency and licensed by the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and
Training; and
new text end

new text begin (4) "public safety count" means the total number of peace officers and firefighters
employed by a local unit of government.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Distribution. new text end

new text begin Each local unit of government shall receive an annual distribution
equal to the product of:
new text end

new text begin (1) the local unit of government's public safety count divided by the public safety count
of all local units of government; multiplied by
new text end

new text begin (2) the total amount appropriated to local public safety aid under this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Qualifying programs. new text end

new text begin For the purposes of this section, qualifying programs
must provide at least one hour of mental health services every six months for any peace
officers and firefighters employed by a local unit of government.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Use of proceeds. new text end

new text begin (a) Any funds distributed under this section must be spent on
qualifying programs that serve peace officers and firefighters employed by the local unit
of government.
new text end

new text begin (b) Any unspent funds must be returned to the commissioner of revenue by December
31 in the second year following the year the aid was received.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Administration. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of revenue must compute the amount
of aid payable to each city and county under this section. By August 1 of each year, the
commissioner must certify the amount to be paid to each county and city in the following
calendar year. The commissioner must pay the aid under this section annually at the times
provided in section 477A.015.
new text end

new text begin (b) Local units of government may choose not to spend all or a portion of the distribution
under this section. Any unspent funds returned to the commissioner of revenue must be
added to the overall distribution of aids certified under this section in the following year.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Appropriation. new text end

new text begin $9,000,000 is annually appropriated from the general fund to
the commissioner of revenue to make payments required under this section.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective beginning with aids payable in calendar
year 2024.
new text end