HF 3569

1st Unofficial Engrossment - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008)

Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00 a.m.

1.1A bill for an act 1.2relating to workers' health; directing the University of Minnesota to study 1.3workers' health including lung health; appropriating money. 1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 1.5    Section 1. new text begin APPROPRIATION; UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA WORKERS' new text end 1.6 new text begin HEALTH STUDY. new text end 1.7     new text begin (a) $4,900,000 in fiscal year 2008 is appropriated from the general fund to the new text end 1.8 new text begin Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota for a comprehensive science and new text end 1.9 new text begin evidence-based study of workers' lung health. The university, as the lead agency, must new text end 1.10 new text begin develop, conduct and coordinate the study in partnership with the Department of Health, new text end 1.11 new text begin the Department of Natural Resources, the Pollution Control Agency, business and new text end 1.12 new text begin industry, local health providers and organizations, other affected groups, and other state, new text end 1.13 new text begin federal, and local agencies. This is a onetime appropriation that does not cancel and is new text end 1.14 new text begin available until expended. new text end 1.15 new text begin (b) At a minimum, the study funded under this section must include industry-specific new text end 1.16 new text begin worker mortality and morbidity studies, clinical disease studies, exposure assessments, new text end 1.17 new text begin case-control screening of current and former workers, and environmental studies that new text end 1.18 new text begin assess health impacts on workers and communities. The university must begin the new text end 1.19 new text begin studies in 2008 and complete them no later than December 31, 2013. The university, in new text end 1.20 new text begin conjunction with its partners in the workers' health study, must report annually to the new text end 1.21 new text begin committees of the legislature with responsibility for health and workers' safety until the new text end 1.22 new text begin study is completed. Each annual report must present the preliminary findings of the new text end 1.23 new text begin workers' health studies and recommendations based on those findings. new text end 2.1    Sec. 2. new text begin TRANSFER. new text end 2.2     new text begin By June 30, 2008, the commissioner of finance shall transfer $4,900,000 in assets of new text end 2.3 new text begin the workers' compensation assigned risk plan created under Minnesota Statutes, section new text end 2.4 new text begin 79.252, to the general fund. new text end 2.5    Sec. 3. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end 2.6     new text begin This act is effective the day following final enactment. new text end