Minnesota Administrative Rules

CHAPTER 7522, PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER; SOFT BODY ARMOR REIMBURSEMENT

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

7522.0100 APPLICABILITY.

This chapter applies to the department's vest reimbursement program under Minnesota Statutes, section 299A.38, and establishes the process for public safety officers and agencies to apply for and receive reimbursement for purchased vests.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 299A.38; L 2023 c 52 art 5 s 77

History:

49 SR 496

Published Electronically:

December 5, 2024

7522.0200 DEFINITIONS.

Subpart 1.

Scope and applicability.

For purposes of this chapter, the terms used have the meanings given in this part and Minnesota Statutes, section 299A.38, subdivision 1.

Subp. 2.

Applicant.

"Applicant" includes a public safety officer and a public safety agency.

Subp. 3.

Department.

"Department" means the Department of Public Safety.

Subp. 4.

Fire department identification number.

"Fire department identification number" means the identification number assigned by the Minnesota State Fire Marshal to firefighter departments and listed in the National Fire Department Registry.

Subp. 5.

Proof of active status.

"Proof of active status" means a letter from a public safety officer's agency attesting that the officer is a firefighter for the agency.

Subp. 6.

Public safety agency or agency.

"Public safety agency" or "agency" means a governmental unit that employs a public safety officer.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 299A.38; L 2023 c 52 art 5 s 77

History:

49 SR 496

Published Electronically:

December 5, 2024

7522.0300 APPLICATION NOTICE AND APPLICATION PERIOD.

Subpart 1.

Application notice.

On or before July 1 each year, the commissioner must publish on the department's website a notice stating:

A.

the funding amount available for reimbursement for applications submitted during the application period;

B.

how much of the available funding is designated for applicants on the waiting list from the previous application period; and

C.

the application period under subpart 2.

Subp. 2.

Application period.

An application period runs from July 1 through June 30 for vests purchased within the previous 365 calendar days.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 299A.38; L 2023 c 52 art 5 s 77

History:

49 SR 496

Published Electronically:

December 5, 2024

7522.0400 APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.

Subpart 1.

Application form.

An applicant requesting reimbursement must apply on a form available on the department's website.

Subp. 2.

Public safety officer applications.

A public safety officer requesting reimbursement must provide the following:

A.

the officer's contact information;

B.

the employer's name;

C.

for a peace officer, the officer's license number issued by the Peace Officer Standards and Training Board;

D.

for a qualified emergency medical service provider, proof of certification under Minnesota Statutes, section 144E.28, and proof of employment by a Minnesota-licensed ambulance service;

E.

for a firefighter, proof of active status as a volunteer, paid on-call, part-time, or career firefighter and the agency's fire department identification number;

F.

an invoice and proof of purchase according to subpart 5; and

G.

any other information requested by the commissioner as needed to determine eligibility or to provide reimbursement under this chapter.

Subp. 3.

Agency applications.

An agency requesting reimbursement for an employee must provide the following:

A.

the agency's name;

B.

an employer contact name and contact information;

C.

for all reimbursement requests for the agency's employees:

(1)

the employee's first and last name;

(2)

for a peace officer, the officer's license number issued by the Peace Officer Standards and Training Board;

(3)

for a qualified emergency medical service provider, proof of certification under Minnesota Statutes, section 144E.28, and proof of employment by a Minnesota-licensed ambulance service;

(4)

for a firefighter, proof of active status as a volunteer, paid on-call, part-time, or career firefighter and the agency's fire department identification number; and

(5)

an invoice and proof of purchase according to subpart 5; and

D.

any other information requested by the commissioner as needed to determine eligibility or to provide reimbursement under this chapter.

Subp. 4.

Unavailable information.

If an applicant cannot provide the information required under this part, they must explain on the application why they cannot provide the information.

Subp. 5.

Invoice and proof of purchase required.

A.

With the application, an applicant must provide:

(1)

an invoice for each purchased vest that legibly displays:

(a)

the itemized cost of all items for which reimbursement is being requested; and

(b)

the purchase date of the items for which reimbursement is being requested; and

(2)

proof of purchase of the items for which reimbursement is being requested.

B.

A packing slip does not constitute proof of purchase.

Subp. 6.

Signature required.

An applicant must sign the application by hand or electronically.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 299A.38; L 2023 c 52 art 5 s 77

History:

49 SR 496

Published Electronically:

December 5, 2024

7522.0500 PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS AND AGENCIES; REIMBURSEMENT ELIGIBILITY.

Subpart 1.

Eligibility; generally.

In accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 299A.38, subdivision 3, reimbursement is limited to public safety officers, or an agency applying on behalf of public safety officers, who:

A.

do not own a vest meeting the requirements of part 7522.0600, subparts 1 and 2; or

B.

own a vest that is at least five years old.

Subp. 2.

Time limit to apply.

To be eligible for reimbursement, an applicant must apply for reimbursement within 365 calendar days of a vest's purchase.

Subp. 3.

Reimbursement limits.

A public safety officer, including an officer being reimbursed by the officer's agency, may be reimbursed only once every five years. This subpart applies even if a public safety officer is eligible for additional reimbursement because the officer works for more than one agency or as more than one public safety officer.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 299A.38; L 2023 c 52 art 5 s 77

History:

49 SR 496

Published Electronically:

December 5, 2024

7522.0600 VESTS; REIMBURSEMENT ELIGIBILITY.

Subpart 1.

Vest types eligible for reimbursement.

A.

Vest types that meet the requirements under Minnesota Statutes, section 299A.38, subdivision 3, are eligible for reimbursement. Eligible vests must:

(1)

meet or exceed the standard of the National Institute of Justice for the Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor in effect on the date of purchase; or

(2)

be included on the National Institute of Justice's 2024 Compliant Products List: Ballistic Resistant Body Armor in effect on the date of purchase.

B.

The National Institute of Justice's 2024 Compliant Products List: Ballistic Resistant Body Armor, and as subsequently amended, is incorporated by reference. The list is not subject to frequent change and is available on the department's website.

Subp. 2.

Items ineligible for reimbursement.

The following vest-related items are ineligible for reimbursement:

A.

tactical ballistic items;

B.

unauthorized carriers;

C.

vest alterations;

D.

shipping costs; and

E.

sales tax.

Subp. 3.

Federal grants.

Nothing in this chapter prohibits an applicant from applying to a federal grant program for vest reimbursement.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 299A.38; L 2023 c 52 art 5 s 77

History:

49 SR 496

Published Electronically:

December 5, 2024

7522.0700 REIMBURSEMENT AMOUNTS.

A vest is eligible for a reimbursement amount in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 299A.38, subdivisions 2 and 2a. The adjusted reimbursement amounts are available on the department's website.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 299A.38; L 2023 c 52 art 5 s 77

History:

49 SR 496

Published Electronically:

December 5, 2024

7522.0800 DETERMINING REIMBURSEMENT ELIGIBILITY.

Subpart 1.

Commissioner determination required.

Upon receiving an application, the commissioner must:

A.

determine the applicant's eligibility according to this chapter; and

B.

process the application according to subpart 2.

Subp. 2.

Reimbursement order.

A.

For each application period, applications must be prioritized and processed in the following order:

(1)

public safety officer applications on a waiting list from a previous application period;

(2)

agency applications on a waiting list from a previous application period; and

(3)

for the current application period:

(a)

public safety officer applications at the end of the calendar quarter in which they are received; and

(b)

agency applications at the end of the last calendar quarter, following all public safety officer applications received in the last quarter.

B.

The commissioner must not consider an application until it contains all the information needed for the commissioner to determine the applicant's eligibility.

C.

Subject to items A and B, applications must be reimbursed in the order that they are received.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 299A.38; L 2023 c 52 art 5 s 77

History:

49 SR 496

Published Electronically:

December 18, 2024

7522.0900 REIMBURSEMENT METHOD.

Reimbursement funds must be disbursed either electronically or by United States mail.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 299A.38; L 2023 c 52 art 5 s 77

History:

49 SR 496

Published Electronically:

December 5, 2024

7522.1000 FUNDING LIMITS; WAITING LIST.

Subpart 1.

Funding limit.

For each application period, the commissioner may not disburse more funding than what has been appropriated to the department to administer this chapter for the applicable fiscal year.

Subp. 2.

Public notice.

Upon disbursing all available appropriated amounts for the application period, the commissioner must publicly post on the department's website that the appropriation limit has been reached and that no more funds will be disbursed during the application period.

Subp. 3.

Waiting list.

A.

If there are more eligible applicants than available funding, the commissioner must place on a waiting list all eligible applicants that did not receive reimbursement during the application period for which the applicants applied. An applicant placed on the waiting list must be reimbursed during the next application period, subject to available funding, and according to part 7522.0800, subpart 2.

B.

The commissioner must notify an applicant that the applicant has been placed on the waiting list and will be reimbursed during a subsequent application period, subject to available funding, and according to part 7522.0800, subpart 2.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 299A.38; L 2023 c 52 art 5 s 77

History:

49 SR 496

Published Electronically:

December 18, 2024