| 1 | 1 | | 1.1 A bill for an act |
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| 2 | 2 | | 1.2 relating to public safety; clarifying the scope of the hometown heroes assistance |
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| 3 | 3 | | 1.3 program; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 299A.477, subdivision 2. |
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| 4 | 4 | | 1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: |
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| 5 | 5 | | 1.5 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 299A.477, subdivision 2, is amended to read: |
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| 6 | 6 | | 1.6 Subd. 2.Program established.The commissioner of public safety shall award a grant |
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| 7 | 7 | | 1.7to the Minnesota Firefighter Initiative to administer a hometown heroes assistance program |
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| 8 | 8 | | 1.8for Minnesota firefighters. The Minnesota Firefighter Initiative shall use the grant funds: |
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| 9 | 9 | | 1.9 (1) to establish and fund critical illness coverage that provides monetary support payments |
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| 10 | 10 | | 1.10to each firefighter who is diagnosed with a critical illness on or after August 1, 2021, and |
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| 11 | 11 | | 1.11who applies for the payment. Monetary support shall be provided according to the |
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| 12 | 12 | | 1.12requirements in subdivision 3; |
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| 13 | 13 | | 1.13 (2) to develop a psychotherapy program customized to address emotional trauma |
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| 14 | 14 | | 1.14experienced by firefighters, which includes providing peer-to-peer support, and to offer all |
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| 15 | 15 | | 1.15firefighters in the state up to five psychotherapy sessions per year under the customized |
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| 16 | 16 | | 1.16program, provided by mental health professionals; |
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| 17 | 17 | | 1.17 (3) to coordinate additional psychotherapy sessions to firefighters who need them; |
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| 18 | 18 | | 1.18 (4) to develop, annually update, and annually provide make available to all firefighters |
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| 19 | 19 | | 1.19in the state at least two hours of training on critical illnesses, such as cancer and heart disease, |
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| 20 | 20 | | 1.20and emotional trauma as causes of illness and death for firefighters; steps and best practices |
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| 21 | 21 | | 1.21for firefighters to limit the occupational risks of cancer, heart disease, and emotional trauma; |
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| 22 | 22 | | 1.22provide evidence-based suicide prevention strategies; and ways for firefighters to address |
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| 23 | 23 | | 1Section 1. |
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| 24 | 24 | | REVISOR KRB/VJ 25-0294701/29/25 |
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| 25 | 25 | | State of Minnesota |
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| 26 | 26 | | This Document can be made available |
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| 27 | 27 | | in alternative formats upon request |
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| 28 | 28 | | HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
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| 29 | 29 | | H. F. No. 1163 |
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| 30 | 30 | | NINETY-FOURTH SESSION 2.1occupation-related emotional trauma and promote emotional wellness. The training shall |
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| 31 | 31 | | 2.2be presented by firefighters who attend an additional course to prepare them to serve as |
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| 32 | 32 | | 2.3trainers; and |
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| 33 | 33 | | 2.4 (5) for administrative and overhead costs of the Minnesota Firefighter Initiative associated |
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| 34 | 34 | | 2.5with conducting the activities in clauses (1) to (4). |
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| 35 | 35 | | 2.6 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment. |
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| 36 | 36 | | 2Section 1. |
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| 37 | 37 | | REVISOR KRB/VJ 25-0294701/29/25 |
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