as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 02/08/2021 04:04pm
A bill for an act
relating to public safety; establishing a program to provide payments to firefighters
with cancer or heart disease, counseling for firefighters, and firefighter training;
appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter
299A.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
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(a) The definitions in this subdivision apply to this section.
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(b) "Firefighter" means a volunteer, paid on-call, part-time, or career firefighter serving
a general population within the boundaries of the state.
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(c) "Minnesota Firefighter Initiative" means a collaborative that is established by major
fire service organizations in Minnesota, is a nonprofit organization, and is tax exempt under
section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
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The commissioner of public safety shall award a grant
to the Minnesota Firefighter Initiative to administer a hometown heroes assistance program
for Minnesota firefighters. The Minnesota Firefighter Initiative shall use the grant funds:
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(1) to provide a onetime critical illness monetary support payment to each firefighter
who is diagnosed with cancer or heart disease and who applies for the payment. Monetary
support shall be provided according to the requirements in subdivision 3;
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(2) to develop a counseling program customized to address emotional trauma experienced
by firefighters and to offer all firefighters in the state up to five counseling sessions per year
under the customized program, provided by trained counselors;
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(3) to offer firefighters with additional needs counseling services in addition to the five
counseling sessions offered to all firefighters;
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(4) to develop, annually update, and annually provide to all firefighters in the state at
least two hours of training on cancer, heart disease, and emotional trauma as causes of illness
and death for firefighters; steps and best practices for firefighters to limit the occupational
risks of cancer, heart disease, and emotional trauma; and ways for firefighters to address
occupation-related emotional trauma and promote emotional wellness. The training shall
be presented by firefighters who attend an additional course to prepare them to serve as
trainers; and
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(5) for administrative and overhead costs of the Minnesota Firefighter Initiative associated
with conducting the activities in clauses (1) to (4).
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(a) The Minnesota Firefighter
Initiative shall establish and administer a critical illness monetary support program which
shall provide a onetime support payment of up to $30,000 to each firefighter diagnosed with
cancer or heart disease. A firefighter may apply for monetary support from the program, in
a form specified by the Minnesota Firefighter Initiative, if the firefighter has a current
diagnosis of cancer or heart disease or was diagnosed with cancer or heart disease in the
year preceding the firefighter's application. A firefighter's application for monetary support
must include a certification from the firefighter's health care provider of the firefighter's
diagnosis with cancer or heart disease. The Minnesota Firefighter Initiative shall establish
criteria to guide disbursement of monetary support payments under this program, and shall
scale the amount of monetary support provided to each firefighter according to the severity
of the firefighter's diagnosis.
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(b) The commissioner of public safety may access the accounts of the critical illness
monetary support program and may conduct periodic audits of the program to ensure that
payments are being made in compliance with this section and disbursement criteria
established by the Minnesota Firefighter Initiative.
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The commissioner may accept contributions
from nonstate sources to supplement state appropriations for the hometown heroes assistance
program. Contributions received under this subdivision are appropriated to the commissioner
for the grant to the Minnesota Firefighter Initiative for purposes of this section.
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$....... in fiscal year 2022 and $....... in fiscal year 2023 are appropriated from the general
fund to the commissioner of public safety for a grant for the hometown heroes assistance
program under Minnesota Statutes, section 299A.477.
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