HF 397

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 02/01/2021 04:22pm

A bill for an act
relating to health; appropriating money for contracts to provide COVID-19
messages, information, and community engagement services to diverse communities
and populations in the state.

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

Section 1. APPROPRIATION; COVID-19 MESSAGES, INFORMATION, AND
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SERVICES.

(a) $6,000,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of health for contracts with media vendors, community-based organizations,
and tribal governments to provide culturally relevant, linguistically appropriate messages,
factual information, and community engagement services regarding COVID-19 to diverse
communities and populations in the state. These diverse communities and populations may
include people from communities of color; people who are American Indians; people who
are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer; recent immigrants; people with disabilities;
and people with limited English proficiency. An entity receiving a contract under this section
may provide messages, information, or community engagement services statewide or in
one or more specific geographic areas of the state.

(b) A media vendor receiving a contract under this section may provide messages and
factual information using online, social media, radio, television, and print formats, and must
provide messages and factual information about the safety and efficacy of COVID-19
vaccines and how to obtain COVID-19 vaccines, in addition to other messages and
information provided to diverse communities and populations.

(c) Community engagement services provided by a community-based organization or
tribal government receiving a contract under this section must include services that:

(1) work to increase a diverse community's or population's understanding of and
willingness to obtain COVID-19 vaccines;

(2) coordinate communications regarding COVID-19 vaccines between the state health
department, local public health departments, other entities, and the diverse community or
population being served; and

(3) help people from the diverse community or population being served to obtain
COVID-19 vaccines.

(d) This appropriation is a onetime appropriation.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective the day following final enactment.