Minnesota Legislature
HF 2746
1st Engrossment - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 05/03/2022 09:38am
Bill Text Versions
| Engrossments | ||
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | Posted on 01/24/2022 | |
| 1st Engrossment | Posted on 03/03/2022 |
Current Version - 1st Engrossment
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A bill for an act
relating to public safety; clarifying eligibility for participation in the Hometown
Heroes Act; transferring money; amending Laws 2021, First Special Session
chapter 11, article 2, section 12.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 11, article 2, section 12, is amended
to read:
Sec. 12.
299A.477 HOMETOWN HEROES ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
Subdivision 1.
Definitions.
(a) The definitions in this subdivision apply to this section.
new text begin
(b) "Critical illness" means cardiac disease and cancer as well as other illnesses covered
by a policy of insurance issued by an insurer in compliance with chapter 60A.
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deleted text begin (b)deleted text end new text begin (c)new text end "Firefighter" means a volunteer, paid on-call, part-time, or career firefighter
serving a general population within the boundaries of the state.
deleted text begin (c)deleted text end new text begin (d)new text end "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.
Subd. 2.
Program established.
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:
(1) to deleted text begin provide a onetimedeleted text end new text begin establish and fundnew text end critical illness new text begin coverage that provides new text end monetary
support deleted text begin paymentdeleted text end new text begin paymentsnew text end to each firefighter who is diagnosed with deleted text begin cancer or heart diseasedeleted text end new text begin
a critical illness on or after August 1, 2021,new text end and who applies for the payment. Monetary
support shall be provided according to the requirements in subdivision 3;
(2) to develop a psychotherapy program customized to address emotional trauma
experienced by firefighters and to offer all firefighters in the state up to five psychotherapy
sessions per year under the customized program, provided by mental health professionals;
(3) to deleted text begin offerdeleted text end new text begin coordinatenew text end additional psychotherapy sessions to firefighters who need them;
(4) to develop, annually update, and annually provide to all firefighters in the state at
least two hours of training on new text begin critical illnesses, such as new text end cancerdeleted text begin ,deleted text end new text begin andnew text end 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;
provide evidence-based suicide prevention strategies; 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
(5) for administrative and overhead costs of the Minnesota Firefighter Initiative associated
with conducting the activities in clauses (1) to (4).
Subd. 3.
Critical illness monetary support program.
(a) The Minnesota Firefighter
Initiative shall establish and administer a critical illness monetary support program which
shall provide deleted text begin a onetimedeleted text end support deleted text begin paymentdeleted text end new text begin paymentsnew text end of up to $20,000 to each new text begin eligible
new text end firefighter deleted text begin 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 applicationdeleted text end .new text begin A firefighter who is
diagnosed with a critical illness on or after August 1, 2021, is eligible to apply for benefits
under the monetary support program and has 12 months from the diagnosis to submit an
application.new text end A firefighter's application for monetary support must include a certification
from the firefighter's health care provider of the firefighter's diagnosis deleted text begin with cancer or heart
diseasedeleted text end new text begin of an eligible critical illnessnew text end . 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.
(b) The commissioner of public safety may access the accounts of the critical illness
monetary support program deleted text begin and maydeleted text end new text begin tonew text end 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.
Subd. 4.
Money from nonstate sources.
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.
Sec. 2. new text begin FUND TRANSFER; HOMETOWN HEROES ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
new text end
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The commissioner of public safety shall transfer any amounts remaining in the
appropriation under Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 11, article 1, section 14,
subdivision 7, paragraph (k), from the Office of Justice Programs to the state fire marshal
for grants to the Minnesota Firefighter Initiative to fund the hometown heroes assistance
program under Minnesota Statutes, section 299A.477.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end
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This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end