HF 4215

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/04/2024 04:38pm

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; appropriating money to fund a grant to train and make
therapy dogs available to law enforcement officers who are suffering from
job-related trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder; requiring a report.

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

Section 1. new text begin LAW ENFORCEMENT THERAPY DOG GRANT PROGRAM;
APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin (a) $....... in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of public safety to issue grants to nonprofit organizations that train and place therapy dogs
in state and local law enforcement agencies located in Minnesota to aid in treating peace
officers suffering from job-related trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder and to assist
in responding to calls involving persons in crisis. The commissioner shall determine which
law enforcement agencies receive therapy dogs trained with grant funds. Interested law
enforcement agencies must submit an application to the commissioner, on a form prepared
by the commissioner, requesting placement of a therapy dog. The commissioner must give
preference to applicants that demonstrate that the agency's peace officers suffer a high rate
of job-related trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder or are exposed regularly to high-stress
incidents that are known to cause job-related trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder. This
is a onetime appropriation.
new text end

new text begin (b) Each grant recipient must report to the commissioner of public safety and the chairs
and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate committees
overseeing public safety policy and finance on how the grant was expended. The report
must include an overview of the grant recipient's budget, a detailed explanation of how
grant funds were expended, the number of dogs trained with grant funds, the names of the
agencies that received therapy dogs, the number of peace officers served by dogs trained
with grant funds, and a list and explanation of the benefits received by peace officers who
were served by dogs trained with grant funds. An initial report is due by January 15, 2025,
and a final report is due by January 15, 2026.
new text end