Minnesota Legislature
SF 1688
as introduced - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026) Posted on 02/21/2025 10:14am
Current Version - as introduced
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A bill for an act
relating to health; establishing ambulance service grant programs and a rural
emergency medical services uncompensated care pool payment program;
establishing a monthly emergency medical services telecommunications fee and
a prepaid wireless emergency medical services fee; authorizing transfers of money;
appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 144E.001, by
adding subdivisions; 403.161, subdivisions 1, 3, 5, 6, 7; 403.162, subdivisions 1,
2, 5; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 144E; repealing
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144E.275, subdivision 1.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144E.001, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:
new text begin Subd. 8c. new text end
new text begin Medical response unit. new text end
new text begin
"Medical response unit" means an organized service
recognized by a local political subdivision with a primary responsibility to respond to
medical emergencies to provide initial medical care before the arrival of a licensed ambulance
service. Medical response units may also provide CEMT services as permitted under section
144E.275, subdivision 7.
new text end
Sec. 2.
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144E.001, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:
new text begin Subd. 12a. new text end
new text begin Specialized medical response unit. new text end
new text begin
"Specialized medical response unit"
means an organized service recognized by a director-approved authority other than a local
political subdivision that responds to medical emergencies as needed or as required by local
procedure or protocol.
new text end
Sec. 3.
new text begin
[144E.54] AMBULANCE SERVICE COST OF READINESS GRANT
PROGRAM.
new text end
new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end
new text begin Definitions. new text end
new text begin
(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
new text end
new text begin
(b) "Capital expense" means an expense incurred by a licensed ambulance service for
the purchase, improvement, or maintenance of long-term assets to improve the efficiency
or capacity of the ambulance service, with an expected useful life of longer than five years.
new text end
new text begin
(c) "Operational expense" means an expense incurred by a licensed ambulance service
related to personnel, supplies and equipment, fuel, vehicle maintenance, travel, education,
fundraising, or services needed to provide clinical care.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 2. new text end
new text begin Grant program established. new text end
new text begin
The director must establish and administer an
ambulance service cost of readiness grant program to help ambulance services cover the
capital and operational expenses of maintaining the ambulance service. Licensed ambulance
services, excluding ambulance services holding a specialized license, are eligible for grants
under this section.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 3. new text end
new text begin Application. new text end
new text begin
An ambulance service seeking a grant under this section must
apply to the director in a form and manner established by the director.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 4. new text end
new text begin Criteria for awarding grants. new text end
new text begin
When awarding grants under this section, the
director must consider:
new text end
new text begin
(1) the historical demand for ambulance transports by the ambulance service;
new text end
new text begin
(2) the ambulance service's financial condition, including the extent of the ambulance
service's compliance with requirements for financial cost reporting to the office;
new text end
new text begin
(3) the population density of the ambulance service's primary service area;
new text end
new text begin
(4) the square mileage of the ambulance service's primary service area;
new text end
new text begin
(5) ambulance transport times for emergency transports and interfacility transports; and
new text end
new text begin
(6) the number of emergency responses provided by a neighboring ambulance service
according to a mutual aid agreement.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 5. new text end
new text begin Uses of grant money. new text end
new text begin
An ambulance service must use grant money awarded
under this section to cover operational expenses and capital expenses of maintaining the
ambulance service.
new text end
Sec. 4.
new text begin
[144E.55] EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES IMPROVEMENT,
MODERNIZATION, AND SUSTAINABILITY GRANT PROGRAM.
new text end
new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end
new text begin Definition. new text end
new text begin
For purposes of this subdivision, "political subdivision" means
a county, a statutory or home rule charter city, or a township organized to provide town
government.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 2. new text end
new text begin Grant program established. new text end
new text begin
The director must establish and administer an
emergency medical services improvement, modernization, and sustainability grant program
to improve, modernize, and ensure the sustainability of the emergency medical services
system at the local, regional, and statewide levels. Political subdivisions are eligible for
grants under this section.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 3. new text end
new text begin Application. new text end
new text begin
A political subdivision seeking a grant under this section must
apply to the director in a form and manner established by the director.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 4. new text end
new text begin Criteria when awarding grants. new text end
new text begin
(a) When awarding grants under this section,
the director must consider:
new text end
new text begin
(1) the level of collaboration between the political subdivision and licensed ambulance
services and medical response units providing services in the jurisdiction of the political
subdivision;
new text end
new text begin
(2) how the proposed uses of the grant money would increase the capacity of the local
emergency medical services system to respond to emergency calls in a more timely manner;
new text end
new text begin
(3) how the proposed uses of the grant money would improve the long-term sustainability
of the emergency medical services system; and
new text end
new text begin
(4) how the political subdivision plans to evaluate its uses of the grant money using
defined performance measures.
new text end
new text begin
(b) The director must award 50 percent of the grant money to political subdivisions
mainly located within one or more of the metropolitan counties listed in section 473.121,
subdivision 4, or mainly located within the city of Duluth, Mankato, Moorhead, Rochester,
or St. Cloud.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 5. new text end
new text begin Uses of grant money. new text end
new text begin
(a) A political subdivision must use grant money awarded
under this section:
new text end
new text begin
(1) for activities to improve, modernize, or sustain emergency medical services provided
in the jurisdiction of the political subdivision; or
new text end
new text begin
(2) to provide subgrants to one or more licensed ambulance services, medical response
units registered with the director under section 144E.275, or education programs approved
by the director under section 144E.285. Ambulance services not licensed under this chapter,
medical response units not registered with the director under section 144E.275, and education
programs not approved under section 144E.285 are not eligible for a subgrant.
new text end
new text begin
(b) A political subdivision may condition to the receipt of a subgrant on the subgrant
recipient's compliance with mutually agreed-upon performance measures.
new text end
Sec. 5.
new text begin
[144E.56] RURAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
UNCOMPENSATED CARE POOL PAYMENT PROGRAM.
new text end
new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end
new text begin Definitions. new text end
new text begin
(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
new text end
new text begin
(b) "Eligible ambulance service" means a licensed ambulance service that primarily
provides ambulance services outside the metropolitan counties listed in section 473.121,
subdivision 4.
new text end
new text begin
(c) "Public safety answering point" has the meaning given in section 403.02, subdivision
19.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 2. new text end
new text begin Payment program established. new text end
new text begin
The director must establish and administer a
rural emergency medical services uncompensated care pool payment program. Eligible
ambulance services are eligible for payments under this section.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 3. new text end
new text begin Excluded responses. new text end
new text begin
In calculating payments under this section, the director
must exclude EMS responses by specialized life support, as described in section 144E.101,
subdivision 9.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 4. new text end
new text begin Application. new text end
new text begin
(a) An eligible ambulance service seeking payment under this
section must apply to the director by March 31 of the year in which the grant is sought, in
a form and manner established by the director. In the application, the eligible ambulance
service must specify the number of the eligible ambulance service's EMS responses that
meet the criteria in subdivision 5.
new text end
new text begin
(b) When an eligible ambulance service, an eligible ambulance service's parent company,
a subsidiary of an eligible ambulance service, or a subsidiary of an eligible ambulance
service's parent company collectively hold multiple licenses, the director must treat all such
related ambulance services as a single eligible ambulance service.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 5. new text end
new text begin Eligible EMS responses. new text end
new text begin
In order for an EMS response to be an eligible EMS
response for purposes of subdivision 6, the EMS response must meet the following criteria:
new text end
new text begin
(1) the EMS response was initiated by a request for emergency medical services initially
received by a public safety answering point;
new text end
new text begin
(2) an ambulance responded to the scene;
new text end
new text begin
(3) the ambulance was not canceled while en route to the scene;
new text end
new text begin
(4) the ambulance did not transport an individual from the scene to a hospital emergency
department;
new text end
new text begin
(5) the eligible ambulance service did not receive any payment for the EMS response
from any source; and
new text end
new text begin
(6) the EMS response was initiated during the calendar year immediately preceding the
eligible ambulance service's application.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 6. new text end
new text begin Calculations. new text end
new text begin
(a) The director must calculate payments as provided in paragraphs
(b) and (c) for eligible ambulance services that submit an application under subdivision 4.
new text end
new text begin
(b) The director must award points for eligible EMS responses as follows:
new text end
new text begin
(1) for eligible EMS responses one to 25, an eligible ambulance service is awarded ten
points per response;
new text end
new text begin
(2) for eligible EMS responses 26 to 50, an eligible ambulance service is awarded five
points per response;
new text end
new text begin
(3) for eligible EMS responses 51 to 100, an eligible ambulance service is awarded three
points per response;
new text end
new text begin
(4) for eligible EMS responses 101 to 200, an eligible ambulance service is awarded
one point per response; and
new text end
new text begin
(5) for eligible EMS responses exceeding 200, an eligible ambulance service is awarded
zero points.
new text end
new text begin
(c) The director must total the number of all points awarded under paragraph (b) and
divide that number by the amount appropriated for purposes of this section to determine a
per-point amount. The director must calculate the payment for each eligible ambulance
service by multiplying the eligible ambulance service's number of awarded points by the
established per-point amount.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 7. new text end
new text begin Payments. new text end
new text begin
The director must certify the payment amount for each eligible
ambulance service and must make the full payment to each eligible ambulance service by
May 30 of the year in which the application was submitted.
new text end
Sec. 6.
new text begin
[144E.57] EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES TELECOMMUNICATIONS
FEE.
new text end
new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end
new text begin Account established. new text end
new text begin
An emergency medical services special revenue
account is established as a dedicated account in the special revenue fund. The emergency
medical services special revenue account must consist of:
new text end
new text begin
(1) money from an emergency medical services telecommunications fee established
under subdivision 2;
new text end
new text begin
(2) money from a prepaid wireless emergency medical services fee established under
section 403.161; and
new text end
new text begin
(3) transfers of state money into the account.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 2. new text end
new text begin Emergency medical services telecommunications fee. new text end
new text begin
(a) Each subscriber
of a wireless voice service must pay a monthly emergency medical services
telecommunications fee in the amount of ... cents for each customer access line for activities
to support the emergency medical services system in the state. The amount of the emergency
medical services telecommunications fee must be the same for all subscribers.
new text end
new text begin
(b) Each wireless voice telecommunication service provider must collect the emergency
medical services telecommunications fee and transfer the amounts collected to the
commissioner of public safety in the manner provided in section 403.11, subdivision 1,
paragraph (d). The commissioner of public safety must deposit the money collected from
the emergency medical services telecommunications fee in the emergency medical services
special revenue account established under subdivision 1.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 3. new text end
new text begin
Emergency medical services fee for prepaid wireless telecommunications
services.
new text end
new text begin
The emergency medical services telecommunications fee established under
subdivision 2 does not apply to prepaid wireless telecommunications services. Prepaid
wireless telecommunications services are subject to the prepaid wireless emergency medical
services fee established under section 403.161, subdivision 1, paragraph (d). The collection,
remittance, and deposit of prepaid wireless emergency medical services fees are governed
by sections 403.161 and 403.162.
new text end
Sec. 7.
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 403.161, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1.
Fees imposed.
(a) A prepaid wireless E911 fee of 80 cents per retail
transaction is imposed on prepaid wireless telecommunications service until the fee is
adjusted as an amount per retail transaction under subdivision 7.
(b) A prepaid wireless telecommunications access Minnesota fee, in the amount of the
monthly charge provided for in section 237.52, subdivision 2, is imposed on each retail
transaction for prepaid wireless telecommunications service until the fee is adjusted as an
amount per retail transaction under subdivision 7.
(c) A prepaid wireless 988 fee, in the amount of the monthly charge provided for in
section 145.561, subdivision 4, paragraph (b), is imposed on each retail transaction for
prepaid wireless telecommunications service until the fee is adjusted as an amount per retail
transaction under subdivision 7.
new text begin
(d) A prepaid wireless emergency medical services fee, in the amount of the monthly
charge provided for in section 144E.57, subdivision 2, is imposed on each retail transaction
for prepaid wireless telecommunications service until the fee is adjusted as an amount per
retail transaction under subdivision 7.
new text end
Sec. 8.
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 403.161, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3.
Fee collected.
The prepaid wireless E911, telecommunications access Minnesota,
deleted text begin anddeleted text end 988new text begin , and emergency medical servicesnew text end fees must be collected by the seller from the
consumer for each retail transaction occurring in this state. The amount of each fee must
be combined into one amount, which must be separately stated on an invoice, receipt, or
other similar document that is provided to the consumer by the seller.
Sec. 9.
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 403.161, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
Subd. 5.
Remittance.
The prepaid wireless E911, telecommunications access Minnesota,
deleted text begin anddeleted text end 988new text begin , and emergency medical servicesnew text end fees are the liability of the consumer and not of
the seller or of any provider, except that the seller is liable to remit all fees as provided in
section 403.162.
Sec. 10.
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 403.161, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
Subd. 6.
Exclusion for calculating other charges.
The combined amount of the prepaid
wireless E911, telecommunications access Minnesota, deleted text begin anddeleted text end 988new text begin , and emergency medical
servicesnew text end fees collected by a seller from a consumer must not be included in the base for
measuring any tax, fee, surcharge, or other charge that is imposed by this state, any political
subdivision of this state, or any intergovernmental agency.
Sec. 11.
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 403.161, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
Subd. 7.
Fee changes.
(a) The prepaid wireless E911, telecommunications access
Minnesota, deleted text begin anddeleted text end 988new text begin , and emergency medical servicesnew text end fees must be proportionately increased
or reduced upon any change to the fee imposed under section 403.11, subdivision 1,
paragraph (c)deleted text begin ,deleted text end new text begin ;new text end the fee imposed under section 237.52, subdivision 2deleted text begin , ordeleted text end new text begin ;new text end the fee imposed
under section 145.561, subdivision 4deleted text begin , deleted text end new text begin ; or the fee imposed under section 144E.57, subdivision
2, new text end as applicable.
(b) The department shall post notice of any fee changes on its website at least 30 days
in advance of the effective date of the fee changes. It is the responsibility of sellers to monitor
the department's website for notice of fee changes.
(c) Fee changes are effective 60 days after the first day of the first calendar month after
the commissioner of public safety or the Public Utilities Commission, as applicable, changes
the fee.
Sec. 12.
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 403.162, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1.
Remittance.
Prepaid wireless E911, telecommunications access
Minnesota, deleted text begin anddeleted text end 988new text begin , and emergency medical servicesnew text end fees collected by sellers must be
remitted to the commissioner of revenue at the times and in the manner provided by chapter
297A with respect to the general sales and use tax. The commissioner of revenue shall
establish registration and payment procedures that substantially coincide with the registration
and payment procedures that apply in chapter 297A.
Sec. 13.
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 403.162, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2.
Seller's fee retention.
A seller may deduct and retain three percent of prepaid
wireless E911, telecommunications access Minnesota, deleted text begin anddeleted text end 988new text begin , and emergency medical
servicesnew text end fees collected by the seller from consumers.
Sec. 14.
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 403.162, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
Subd. 5.
Fees deposited.
(a) The commissioner of revenue shall, based on the relative
proportion of the prepaid wireless E911 fee, the prepaid wireless telecommunications access
Minnesota fee, deleted text begin anddeleted text end the prepaid wireless 988 feenew text begin , and the prepaid wireless emergency medical
services feenew text end imposed per retail transaction, divide the fees collected in corresponding
proportions. Within 30 days of receipt of the collected fees, the commissioner shall:
(1) deposit the proportion of the collected fees attributable to the prepaid wireless E911
fee in the 911 emergency telecommunications service account in the special revenue fund;
(2) deposit the proportion of collected fees attributable to the prepaid wireless
telecommunications access Minnesota fee in the telecommunications access fund established
in section 237.52, subdivision 1; deleted text begin and
deleted text end
(3) deposit the proportion of the collected fees attributable to the prepaid wireless 988
fee in the 988 special revenue account established in section 145.561, subdivision 3deleted text begin .deleted text end new text begin ; and
new text end
new text begin
(4) deposit the proportion of the collected fees attributable to the prepaid wireless
emergency medical services fee in the emergency medical services special revenue account
established in section 144E.57, subdivision 1.
new text end
(b) The commissioner of revenue may deduct and deposit in a special revenue account
an amount not to exceed two percent of collected fees. Money in the account is annually
appropriated to the commissioner of revenue to reimburse its direct costs of administering
the collection and remittance of prepaid wireless E911 fees, prepaid wireless
telecommunications access Minnesota fees, deleted text begin anddeleted text end prepaid wireless 988 feesnew text begin , and prepaid
wireless emergency medical services feesnew text end .
Sec. 15. new text begin TRANSFERS.
new text end
new text begin
(a) On July 1, 2025, the commissioner of management and budget must transfer
$80,000,000 from the general fund to the emergency medical services special revenue
account in the special revenue fund. This is a onetime transfer.
new text end
new text begin
(b) On June 30, 2027, and each June 30 thereafter, the commissioner of management
and budget must transfer $....... from the emergency medical services special revenue account
in the special revenue fund to the general fund. This transfer shall expire upon a total of
$80,000,000 being transferred from the emergency medical services special revenue account
to the general fund.
new text end
Sec. 16. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS.
new text end
new text begin
(a) $16,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $16,000,000 in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated
from the emergency medical services special revenue account in the special revenue fund
to the Office of Emergency Medical Services for the ambulance service cost of readiness
grant program under Minnesota Statutes, section 144E.54.
new text end
new text begin
(b) $60,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $60,000,000 in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated
from the emergency medical services special revenue account in the special revenue fund
to the Office of Emergency Medical Services for the emergency medical services
improvement, modernization, and sustainability grant program under Minnesota Statutes,
section 144E.55.
new text end
new text begin
(c) $4,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $4,000,000 in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated
from the emergency medical services special revenue account in the special revenue fund
to the Office of Emergency Medical Services for the rural emergency medical services
uncompensated care pool payment program under Minnesota Statutes, section 144E.56.
new text end
Sec. 17. new text begin REPEALER.
new text end
new text begin
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144E.275, subdivision 1,
new text end
new text begin
is repealed.
new text end
APPENDIX
Repealed Minnesota Statutes: 25-02481
144E.275 MEDICAL RESPONSE UNIT REGISTRATION.
Subdivision 1.
Definitions.
For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(a) "Medical response unit" means an organized service recognized by a local political subdivision whose primary responsibility is to respond to medical emergencies to provide initial medical care before the arrival of a licensed ambulance service. Medical response units may also provide CEMT services as permitted under subdivision 7.
(b) "Specialized medical response unit" means an organized service recognized by a director-approved authority other than a local political subdivision that responds to medical emergencies as needed or as required by local procedure or protocol.