HF 375

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 01/24/2019 02:16pm

A bill for an act
relating to health; requiring the commissioner of employment and economic
development to establish and administer an opioid technology grant program;
appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter
116J.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [116J.998] OPIOID TECHNOLOGY GRANT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of employment and economic
development, in consultation with the commissioner of human services, shall establish and
oversee administration of a grant program to support the development of technology-based
approaches to address opioid abuse and addiction.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Advisory committee. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner shall establish an opioid technology
advisory committee. The committee shall:
new text end

new text begin (1) assist the commissioner in selecting a vendor to administer the opioid technology
grant program;
new text end

new text begin (2) assist the vendor in developing criteria for vendor eligibility, grant application
requirements, and criteria and procedures for scoring applications and awarding grants; and
new text end

new text begin (3) provide recommendations to the vendor related to grant awards.
new text end

new text begin (b) The advisory committee shall be comprised of individuals representing:
new text end

new text begin (1) the Minnesota High Tech Association, Medical Alley Association, Minnesota Cup,
and other similar organizations;
new text end

new text begin (2) health care professionals treating opioid abuse and addiction; and
new text end

new text begin (3) organizations working with persons who abuse or are addicted to opioids, or are
at-risk of or have experienced opioid overdoses.
new text end

new text begin (c) The advisory committee is governed by section 15.059, except that members shall
not receive per diems.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Vendor contract. new text end

new text begin The commissioner, after consultation with the advisory
committee, shall contract with a vendor to administer the grant program. The contract must
require the vendor, after consultation with the advisory committee, to develop criteria for
applicants and grant applications, accept and score grant applications, and submit
recommendations for grant awards to the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Applicant and proposal criteria. new text end

new text begin (a) Applicants must be registered to do
business in Minnesota. Applicants must not be affiliated with, or related to, a member of
the advisory committee, as determined by the commissioner. Applicants not located in
Minnesota must work in partnership with a Minnesota-based entity.
new text end

new text begin (b) Grant applications must propose approaches related to the prevention of opioid abuse
and addiction, the treatment of opioid abuse and addiction, and overdose avoidance and
overdose response. A grant proposal must have a technology component, which may include
the use of sensors, diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, and health information technology, and
may include software but only if used in conjunction with the technology component. The
following proposals that do not have a significant technology component are not eligible
for a grant: predictive analytics to inform public policy, education and public awareness
programs, professional training programs, and programs for the direct delivery of social or
clinical services.
new text end

new text begin (c) Applicants must be working on the proposed technology-based approach at the time
of application submittal, have proof of concept, and have compelling data to support the
effectiveness of the approach. Applicants must also provide a detailed plan to develop the
technology so that it is ready for broad deployment and implementation in the United States.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Grant awards. new text end

new text begin (a) The vendor, in consultation with the advisory committee,
shall recommend to the commissioner at least ten applicants to receive grant awards and
also recommend grant amounts. Grant amounts must be at least $10,000 and may not exceed
$500,000 per applicant.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner, after considering the recommendations of the vendor, shall award
grants to applicants. The commissioner is not required to accept the recommendations of
the vendor. However, if the commissioner chooses not to accept a vendor recommendation,
the commissioner shall provide the vendor and advisory committee with a statement justifying
that decision.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; OPIOID TECHNOLOGY GRANT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin $5,250,000 is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, to the commissioner
of employment and economic development to establish and administer the grant program
authorized under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.998. The commissioner may use up to
$250,000 of this amount to contract with a vendor and for other administrative costs.
new text end