HF 4821

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/11/2024 02:16pm

A bill for an act
relating to health; establishing an advisory task force to assess the impacts of
climate change on mental health; appropriating money; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 144.9981.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 144.9981, is amended to read:

144.9981 CLIMATE RESILIENCY.

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Climate resiliency program. new text end

The commissioner of health shall implement
a climate resiliency program to:

(1) increase awareness of climate change;

(2) track the public health impacts of climate change and extreme weather events;

(3) provide technical assistance and tools that support climate resiliency to local public
health departments, Tribal health departments, soil and water conservation districts, and
other local governmental and nongovernmental organizations; and

(4) coordinate with the commissioners of the Pollution Control Agency, natural resources,
and agriculture and other state agencies in climate resiliency related planning and
implementation.

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Climate and Mental Health Advisory Task Force. new text end

new text begin (a) As part of the climate
resiliency program, the commissioner of health must establish and appoint a Climate and
Mental Health Advisory Task Force.
new text end

new text begin (b) The Climate and Mental Health Advisory Task Force shall consist of 16 members
as follows:
new text end

new text begin (1) two members of the senate, one appointed by the majority leader and one appointed
by the minority leader;
new text end

new text begin (2) two members of the house of representatives, one appointed by the speaker of the
house and one appointed by the minority leader; and
new text end

new text begin (3) 12 members appointed by the commissioner of health which must include two
individuals who are from, or an executive of an organization advocating for, each of the
following:
new text end

new text begin (i) a community at risk during extreme weather events, including but not limited to
extreme heat, caused by climate change;
new text end

new text begin (ii) a community dependent on stable weather conditions for the community members'
livelihood, including but not limited to emerging farmers;
new text end

new text begin (iii) a community dependent on healthy ecosystems for the community members' diets
and cultural identities, including but not limited to Indigenous people;
new text end

new text begin (iv) a community dependent on healthy ecosystems to maintain the community members'
mental well-being;
new text end

new text begin (v) a community exposed to increased air and water pollutants as the result of climate
change; and
new text end

new text begin (vi) a community comprised of youth and elders that have experienced negative mental
health effects as the result of climate change.
new text end

new text begin (b) The advisory task force must meet on a regular basis to perform the following duties:
new text end

new text begin (1) identify the effects of climate change and related extreme weather events on mental
health in Minnesota;
new text end

new text begin (2) analyze the current and likely future severity of the effects identified in clause (1):
new text end

new text begin (i) in the aggregate across all Minnesota residents; and
new text end

new text begin (ii) as disaggregated across gender, race, ethnicity, occupation, geography, income, and
any other factor which the task force identifies as being significantly affected by any climate
change and related extreme weather events;
new text end

new text begin (3) identify those Minnesota communities currently experiencing the most negative
effects of climate change on mental health and those Minnesota communities likely to
experience the most negative effects in the future;
new text end

new text begin (4) assess strategies to mitigate the effects identified in clause (1), particularly with
respect to those communities identified in clause (3);
new text end

new text begin (5) obtain public comment on the task force's activities and findings;
new text end

new text begin (6) report the task force's findings and analyses under clauses (1) to (5) to the
commissioner of health; and
new text end

new text begin (7) make recommendations to the commissioner of health for implementing measures
to best mitigate the effects of climate change and related extreme weather events on mental
health in Minnesota. The recommendations must include but are not limited to a targeted
implementation schedule for the strategies assessed in clause (4) which the task force
recommends implementing. The implementation schedule must describe measurable goals,
actions, locations, timelines, estimated costs, methods of evaluation, and identification of
roles and responsible government units.
new text end

new text begin (c) Section 15.059, subdivision 6, governs the terms, expenses, and removal of members
of the advisory task force. Notwithstanding section 15.059, the advisory task force shall
continue until it is terminated by the commissioner of health.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... is appropriated in fiscal year 2025 from the general fund to the commissioner of
health for the advisory task force described in Minnesota Statutes, section 144.9981, and
the implementation of strategies identified by the task force in its recommendations to the
commissioner. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2030.
new text end