1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to workers' health; directing the University of Minnesota to study 
1.3 	workers' health including lung health; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. APPROPRIATION; UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA WORKERS' 
1.6 	HEALTH STUDY.
 1.7 	(a) $4,900,000 in fiscal year 2008 is appropriated from the workers' compensation 
1.8 	special fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 176.129, to the Board of Regents of the 
1.9 	University of Minnesota for the purposes of this section. Notwithstanding Minnesota 
1.10 	Statutes, section 176.129, subdivision 6, the appropriation must be used for a study of 
1.11 	workers' health. The study must include a comprehensive science and evidence-based 
1.12 	study of workers' lung health. The university, as the lead agency, must develop, conduct 
1.13 	and coordinate the study in partnership with the Department of Health, the Department 
1.14 	of Natural Resources, the Pollution Control Agency, business and industry, local health 
1.15 	providers and organizations, other affected groups, and other state, federal, and local 
1.16 	agencies. This is a onetime appropriation that does not cancel and is available until 
1.17 	expended.
1.18 	(b) At a minimum, the study funded under this section must include industry-specific 
1.19 	worker mortality and morbidity studies, clinical disease studies, exposure assessments, 
1.20 	case-control screening of current and former workers, and environmental studies that 
1.21 	assess health impacts on workers and communities. The university must begin the studies 
1.22 	in 2008 and complete them no later than 2013. The university, in conjunction with 
1.23 	its partners in the workers' health study, must report annually to the committees of the 
1.24 	legislature with responsibility for health and workers' safety until the study is completed. 
2.1 	Each annual report must present the preliminary findings of the workers' health studies 
2.2 	and recommendations based on those findings. 

2.3 	Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 2.4 	Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment.