1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to public safety; appropriating money to fund a grant to provide equine 
1.3 	therapy to first responders suffering from trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder; 
1.4 	requiring a report.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. EQUINE THERAPY FOR FIRST RESPONDERS; APPROPRIATION; 
1.7 	REPORTING.
 1.8 	(a) $250,000 in fiscal year 2024 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner 
1.9 	of public safety for the Office of Justice Programs to issue a grant to Abijahs on the Backside 
1.10 	to provide equine experiential mental health therapy to first responders suffering from 
1.11 	job-related trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder.
1.12 	(b) For purposes of this section, a "first responder" is a peace officer as defined in 
1.13 	Minnesota Statutes, section 626.84, subdivision 1, paragraph (c); a full-time firefighter as 
1.14 	defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 299N.03, subdivision 5; or a volunteer firefighter as 
1.15 	defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 299N.03, subdivision 7.
1.16 	(c) Abijahs on the Backside must report to the commissioner of public safety and the 
1.17 	chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate committees 
1.18 	overseeing public safety policy and finance on the equine experiential mental health therapy 
1.19 	provided to first responders under this section. The report must include an overview of the 
1.20 	program's budget, a detailed explanation of program expenditures, the number of first 
1.21 	responders served by the program, and a list and explanation of the services provided to 
1.22 	and benefits received by program participants. An initial report is due by January 15, 2024, 
1.23 	and a final report is due by January 15, 2025.