Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Minnesota Senate Bill SF1688 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1.1 A bill for an act
2	2	1.2 relating to health; establishing ambulance service grant programs and a rural
3	3	1.3 emergency medical services uncompensated care pool payment program;
4	4	1.4 establishing a monthly emergency medical services telecommunications fee and
5	5	1.5 a prepaid wireless emergency medical services fee; authorizing transfers of money;
6	6	1.6 appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 144E.001, by
7	7	1.7 adding subdivisions; 403.161, subdivisions 1, 3, 5, 6, 7; 403.162, subdivisions 1,
8	8	1.8 2, 5; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 144E; repealing
9	9	1.9 Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144E.275, subdivision 1.
10	10	1.10BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
11	11	1.11 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144E.001, is amended by adding a subdivision
12	12	1.12to read:
13	13	1.13 Subd. 8c.Medical response unit."Medical response unit" means an organized service
14	14	1.14recognized by a local political subdivision with a primary responsibility to respond to
15	15	1.15medical emergencies to provide initial medical care before the arrival of a licensed ambulance
16	16	1.16service. Medical response units may also provide CEMT services as permitted under section
17	17	1.17144E.275, subdivision 7.
18	18	1.18 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144E.001, is amended by adding a subdivision
19	19	1.19to read:
20	20	1.20 Subd. 12a.Specialized medical response unit."Specialized medical response unit"
21	21	1.21means an organized service recognized by a director-approved authority other than a local
22	22	1.22political subdivision that responds to medical emergencies as needed or as required by local
23	23	1.23procedure or protocol.
24	24	1Sec. 2.
25	25	25-02481 as introduced01/31/25 REVISOR AGW/ES
26	26	SENATE
27	27	STATE OF MINNESOTA
28	28	S.F. No. 1688NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
29	29	(SENATE AUTHORS: SEEBERGER)
30	30	OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
31	31	Introduction and first reading02/20/2025
32	32	Referred to Health and Human Services 2.1 Sec. 3. [144E.54] AMBULANCE SERVICE COST OF READINESS GRANT
33	33	2.2PROGRAM.
34	34	2.3 Subdivision 1.Definitions.(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
35	35	2.4the meanings given.
36	36	2.5 (b) "Capital expense" means an expense incurred by a licensed ambulance service for
37	37	2.6the purchase, improvement, or maintenance of long-term assets to improve the efficiency
38	38	2.7or capacity of the ambulance service, with an expected useful life of longer than five years.
39	39	2.8 (c) "Operational expense" means an expense incurred by a licensed ambulance service
40	40	2.9related to personnel, supplies and equipment, fuel, vehicle maintenance, travel, education,
41	41	2.10fundraising, or services needed to provide clinical care.
42	42	2.11 Subd. 2.Grant program established.The director must establish and administer an
43	43	2.12ambulance service cost of readiness grant program to help ambulance services cover the
44	44	2.13capital and operational expenses of maintaining the ambulance service. Licensed ambulance
45	45	2.14services, excluding ambulance services holding a specialized license, are eligible for grants
46	46	2.15under this section.
47	47	2.16 Subd. 3.Application.An ambulance service seeking a grant under this section must
48	48	2.17apply to the director in a form and manner established by the director.
49	49	2.18 Subd. 4.Criteria for awarding grants.When awarding grants under this section, the
50	50	2.19director must consider:
51	51	2.20 (1) the historical demand for ambulance transports by the ambulance service;
52	52	2.21 (2) the ambulance service's financial condition, including the extent of the ambulance
53	53	2.22service's compliance with requirements for financial cost reporting to the office;
54	54	2.23 (3) the population density of the ambulance service's primary service area;
55	55	2.24 (4) the square mileage of the ambulance service's primary service area;
56	56	2.25 (5) ambulance transport times for emergency transports and interfacility transports; and
57	57	2.26 (6) the number of emergency responses provided by a neighboring ambulance service
58	58	2.27according to a mutual aid agreement.
59	59	2.28 Subd. 5.Uses of grant money.An ambulance service must use grant money awarded
60	60	2.29under this section to cover operational expenses and capital expenses of maintaining the
61	61	2.30ambulance service.
62	62	2Sec. 3.
63	63	25-02481 as introduced01/31/25 REVISOR AGW/ES 3.1 Sec. 4. [144E.55] EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES IMPROVEMENT ,
64	64	3.2MODERNIZATION, AND SUSTAINABILITY GRANT PROGRAM.
65	65	3.3 Subdivision 1.Definition.For purposes of this subdivision, "political subdivision" means
66	66	3.4a county, a statutory or home rule charter city, or a township organized to provide town
67	67	3.5government.
68	68	3.6 Subd. 2.Grant program established.The director must establish and administer an
69	69	3.7emergency medical services improvement, modernization, and sustainability grant program
70	70	3.8to improve, modernize, and ensure the sustainability of the emergency medical services
71	71	3.9system at the local, regional, and statewide levels. Political subdivisions are eligible for
72	72	3.10grants under this section.
73	73	3.11 Subd. 3.Application.A political subdivision seeking a grant under this section must
74	74	3.12apply to the director in a form and manner established by the director.
75	75	3.13 Subd. 4.Criteria when awarding grants.(a) When awarding grants under this section,
76	76	3.14the director must consider:
77	77	3.15 (1) the level of collaboration between the political subdivision and licensed ambulance
78	78	3.16services and medical response units providing services in the jurisdiction of the political
79	79	3.17subdivision;
80	80	3.18 (2) how the proposed uses of the grant money would increase the capacity of the local
81	81	3.19emergency medical services system to respond to emergency calls in a more timely manner;
82	82	3.20 (3) how the proposed uses of the grant money would improve the long-term sustainability
83	83	3.21of the emergency medical services system; and
84	84	3.22 (4) how the political subdivision plans to evaluate its uses of the grant money using
85	85	3.23defined performance measures.
86	86	3.24 (b) The director must award 50 percent of the grant money to political subdivisions
87	87	3.25mainly located within one or more of the metropolitan counties listed in section 473.121,
88	88	3.26subdivision 4, or mainly located within the city of Duluth, Mankato, Moorhead, Rochester,
89	89	3.27or St. Cloud.
90	90	3.28 Subd. 5.Uses of grant money.(a) A political subdivision must use grant money awarded
91	91	3.29under this section:
92	92	3.30 (1) for activities to improve, modernize, or sustain emergency medical services provided
93	93	3.31in the jurisdiction of the political subdivision; or
94	94	3Sec. 4.
95	95	25-02481 as introduced01/31/25 REVISOR AGW/ES 4.1 (2) to provide subgrants to one or more licensed ambulance services, medical response
96	96	4.2units registered with the director under section 144E.275, or education programs approved
97	97	4.3by the director under section 144E.285. Ambulance services not licensed under this chapter,
98	98	4.4medical response units not registered with the director under section 144E.275, and education
99	99	4.5programs not approved under section 144E.285 are not eligible for a subgrant.
100	100	4.6 (b) A political subdivision may condition to the receipt of a subgrant on the subgrant
101	101	4.7recipient's compliance with mutually agreed-upon performance measures.
102	102	4.8 Sec. 5. [144E.56] RURAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
103	103	4.9UNCOMPENSA TED CARE POOL PAYMENT PROGRAM.
104	104	4.10 Subdivision 1.Definitions.(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
105	105	4.11the meanings given.
106	106	4.12 (b) "Eligible ambulance service" means a licensed ambulance service that primarily
107	107	4.13provides ambulance services outside the metropolitan counties listed in section 473.121,
108	108	4.14subdivision 4.
109	109	4.15 (c) "Public safety answering point" has the meaning given in section 403.02, subdivision
110	110	4.1619.
111	111	4.17 Subd. 2.Payment program established.The director must establish and administer a
112	112	4.18rural emergency medical services uncompensated care pool payment program. Eligible
113	113	4.19ambulance services are eligible for payments under this section.
114	114	4.20 Subd. 3.Excluded responses.In calculating payments under this section, the director
115	115	4.21must exclude EMS responses by specialized life support, as described in section 144E.101,
116	116	4.22subdivision 9.
117	117	4.23 Subd. 4.Application.(a) An eligible ambulance service seeking payment under this
118	118	4.24section must apply to the director by March 31 of the year in which the grant is sought, in
119	119	4.25a form and manner established by the director. In the application, the eligible ambulance
120	120	4.26service must specify the number of the eligible ambulance service's EMS responses that
121	121	4.27meet the criteria in subdivision 5.
122	122	4.28 (b) When an eligible ambulance service, an eligible ambulance service's parent company,
123	123	4.29a subsidiary of an eligible ambulance service, or a subsidiary of an eligible ambulance
124	124	4.30service's parent company collectively hold multiple licenses, the director must treat all such
125	125	4.31related ambulance services as a single eligible ambulance service.
126	126	4Sec. 5.
127	127	25-02481 as introduced01/31/25 REVISOR AGW/ES 5.1 Subd. 5.Eligible EMS responses.In order for an EMS response to be an eligible EMS
128	128	5.2response for purposes of subdivision 6, the EMS response must meet the following criteria:
129	129	5.3 (1) the EMS response was initiated by a request for emergency medical services initially
130	130	5.4received by a public safety answering point;
131	131	5.5 (2) an ambulance responded to the scene;
132	132	5.6 (3) the ambulance was not canceled while en route to the scene;
133	133	5.7 (4) the ambulance did not transport an individual from the scene to a hospital emergency
134	134	5.8department;
135	135	5.9 (5) the eligible ambulance service did not receive any payment for the EMS response
136	136	5.10from any source; and
137	137	5.11 (6) the EMS response was initiated during the calendar year immediately preceding the
138	138	5.12eligible ambulance service's application.
139	139	5.13 Subd. 6.Calculations.(a) The director must calculate payments as provided in paragraphs
140	140	5.14(b) and (c) for eligible ambulance services that submit an application under subdivision 4.
141	141	5.15 (b) The director must award points for eligible EMS responses as follows:
142	142	5.16 (1) for eligible EMS responses one to 25, an eligible ambulance service is awarded ten
143	143	5.17points per response;
144	144	5.18 (2) for eligible EMS responses 26 to 50, an eligible ambulance service is awarded five
145	145	5.19points per response;
146	146	5.20 (3) for eligible EMS responses 51 to 100, an eligible ambulance service is awarded three
147	147	5.21points per response;
148	148	5.22 (4) for eligible EMS responses 101 to 200, an eligible ambulance service is awarded
149	149	5.23one point per response; and
150	150	5.24 (5) for eligible EMS responses exceeding 200, an eligible ambulance service is awarded
151	151	5.25zero points.
152	152	5.26 (c) The director must total the number of all points awarded under paragraph (b) and
153	153	5.27divide that number by the amount appropriated for purposes of this section to determine a
154	154	5.28per-point amount. The director must calculate the payment for each eligible ambulance
155	155	5.29service by multiplying the eligible ambulance service's number of awarded points by the
156	156	5.30established per-point amount.
157	157	5Sec. 5.
158	158	25-02481 as introduced01/31/25 REVISOR AGW/ES 6.1 Subd. 7.Payments.The director must certify the payment amount for each eligible
159	159	6.2ambulance service and must make the full payment to each eligible ambulance service by
160	160	6.3May 30 of the year in which the application was submitted.
161	161	6.4 Sec. 6. [144E.57] EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES TELECOMMUNICA TIONS
162	162	6.5FEE.
163	163	6.6 Subdivision 1.Account established.An emergency medical services special revenue
164	164	6.7account is established as a dedicated account in the special revenue fund. The emergency
165	165	6.8medical services special revenue account must consist of:
166	166	6.9 (1) money from an emergency medical services telecommunications fee established
167	167	6.10under subdivision 2;
168	168	6.11 (2) money from a prepaid wireless emergency medical services fee established under
169	169	6.12section 403.161; and
170	170	6.13 (3) transfers of state money into the account.
171	171	6.14 Subd. 2.Emergency medical services telecommunications fee.(a) Each subscriber
172	172	6.15of a wireless voice service must pay a monthly emergency medical services
173	173	6.16telecommunications fee in the amount of ... cents for each customer access line for activities
174	174	6.17to support the emergency medical services system in the state. The amount of the emergency
175	175	6.18medical services telecommunications fee must be the same for all subscribers.
176	176	6.19 (b) Each wireless voice telecommunication service provider must collect the emergency
177	177	6.20medical services telecommunications fee and transfer the amounts collected to the
178	178	6.21commissioner of public safety in the manner provided in section 403.11, subdivision 1,
179	179	6.22paragraph (d). The commissioner of public safety must deposit the money collected from
180	180	6.23the emergency medical services telecommunications fee in the emergency medical services
181	181	6.24special revenue account established under subdivision 1.
182	182	6.25 Subd. 3.Emergency medical services fee for prepaid wireless telecommunications
183	183	6.26services.The emergency medical services telecommunications fee established under
184	184	6.27subdivision 2 does not apply to prepaid wireless telecommunications services. Prepaid
185	185	6.28wireless telecommunications services are subject to the prepaid wireless emergency medical
186	186	6.29services fee established under section 403.161, subdivision 1, paragraph (d). The collection,
187	187	6.30remittance, and deposit of prepaid wireless emergency medical services fees are governed
188	188	6.31by sections 403.161 and 403.162.
189	189	6Sec. 6.
190	190	25-02481 as introduced01/31/25 REVISOR AGW/ES 7.1 Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 403.161, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
191	191	7.2 Subdivision 1.Fees imposed.(a) A prepaid wireless E911 fee of 80 cents per retail
192	192	7.3transaction is imposed on prepaid wireless telecommunications service until the fee is
193	193	7.4adjusted as an amount per retail transaction under subdivision 7.
194	194	7.5 (b) A prepaid wireless telecommunications access Minnesota fee, in the amount of the
195	195	7.6monthly charge provided for in section 237.52, subdivision 2, is imposed on each retail
196	196	7.7transaction for prepaid wireless telecommunications service until the fee is adjusted as an
197	197	7.8amount per retail transaction under subdivision 7.
198	198	7.9 (c) A prepaid wireless 988 fee, in the amount of the monthly charge provided for in
199	199	7.10section 145.561, subdivision 4, paragraph (b), is imposed on each retail transaction for
200	200	7.11prepaid wireless telecommunications service until the fee is adjusted as an amount per retail
201	201	7.12transaction under subdivision 7.
202	202	7.13 (d) A prepaid wireless emergency medical services fee, in the amount of the monthly
203	203	7.14charge provided for in section 144E.57, subdivision 2, is imposed on each retail transaction
204	204	7.15for prepaid wireless telecommunications service until the fee is adjusted as an amount per
205	205	7.16retail transaction under subdivision 7.
206	206	7.17 Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 403.161, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
207	207	7.18 Subd. 3.Fee collected.The prepaid wireless E911, telecommunications access Minnesota,
208	208	7.19and 988, and emergency medical services fees must be collected by the seller from the
209	209	7.20consumer for each retail transaction occurring in this state. The amount of each fee must
210	210	7.21be combined into one amount, which must be separately stated on an invoice, receipt, or
211	211	7.22other similar document that is provided to the consumer by the seller.
212	212	7.23 Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 403.161, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
213	213	7.24 Subd. 5.Remittance.The prepaid wireless E911, telecommunications access Minnesota,
214	214	7.25and 988, and emergency medical services fees are the liability of the consumer and not of
215	215	7.26the seller or of any provider, except that the seller is liable to remit all fees as provided in
216	216	7.27section 403.162.
217	217	7.28 Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 403.161, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
218	218	7.29 Subd. 6.Exclusion for calculating other charges.The combined amount of the prepaid
219	219	7.30wireless E911, telecommunications access Minnesota, and 988, and emergency medical
220	220	7.31services fees collected by a seller from a consumer must not be included in the base for
221	221	7Sec. 10.
222	222	25-02481 as introduced01/31/25 REVISOR AGW/ES 8.1measuring any tax, fee, surcharge, or other charge that is imposed by this state, any political
223	223	8.2subdivision of this state, or any intergovernmental agency.
224	224	8.3 Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 403.161, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
225	225	8.4 Subd. 7.Fee changes.(a) The prepaid wireless E911, telecommunications access
226	226	8.5Minnesota, and 988, and emergency medical services fees must be proportionately increased
227	227	8.6or reduced upon any change to the fee imposed under section 403.11, subdivision 1,
228	228	8.7paragraph (c),; the fee imposed under section 237.52, subdivision 2, or; the fee imposed
229	229	8.8under section 145.561, subdivision 4, ; or the fee imposed under section 144E.57, subdivision
230	230	8.92, as applicable.
231	231	8.10 (b) The department shall post notice of any fee changes on its website at least 30 days
232	232	8.11in advance of the effective date of the fee changes. It is the responsibility of sellers to monitor
233	233	8.12the department's website for notice of fee changes.
234	234	8.13 (c) Fee changes are effective 60 days after the first day of the first calendar month after
235	235	8.14the commissioner of public safety or the Public Utilities Commission, as applicable, changes
236	236	8.15the fee.
237	237	8.16 Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 403.162, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
238	238	8.17 Subdivision 1.Remittance.Prepaid wireless E911, telecommunications access
239	239	8.18Minnesota, and 988, and emergency medical services fees collected by sellers must be
240	240	8.19remitted to the commissioner of revenue at the times and in the manner provided by chapter
241	241	8.20297A with respect to the general sales and use tax. The commissioner of revenue shall
242	242	8.21establish registration and payment procedures that substantially coincide with the registration
243	243	8.22and payment procedures that apply in chapter 297A.
244	244	8.23 Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 403.162, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
245	245	8.24 Subd. 2.Seller's fee retention.A seller may deduct and retain three percent of prepaid
246	246	8.25wireless E911, telecommunications access Minnesota, and 988, and emergency medical
247	247	8.26services fees collected by the seller from consumers.
248	248	8.27 Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 403.162, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
249	249	8.28 Subd. 5.Fees deposited.(a) The commissioner of revenue shall, based on the relative
250	250	8.29proportion of the prepaid wireless E911 fee, the prepaid wireless telecommunications access
251	251	8.30Minnesota fee, and the prepaid wireless 988 fee, and the prepaid wireless emergency medical
252	252	8Sec. 14.
253	253	25-02481 as introduced01/31/25 REVISOR AGW/ES 9.1services fee imposed per retail transaction, divide the fees collected in corresponding
254	254	9.2proportions. Within 30 days of receipt of the collected fees, the commissioner shall:
255	255	9.3 (1) deposit the proportion of the collected fees attributable to the prepaid wireless E911
256	256	9.4fee in the 911 emergency telecommunications service account in the special revenue fund;
257	257	9.5 (2) deposit the proportion of collected fees attributable to the prepaid wireless
258	258	9.6telecommunications access Minnesota fee in the telecommunications access fund established
259	259	9.7in section 237.52, subdivision 1; and
260	260	9.8 (3) deposit the proportion of the collected fees attributable to the prepaid wireless 988
261	261	9.9fee in the 988 special revenue account established in section 145.561, subdivision 3.; and
262	262	9.10 (4) deposit the proportion of the collected fees attributable to the prepaid wireless
263	263	9.11emergency medical services fee in the emergency medical services special revenue account
264	264	9.12established in section 144E.57, subdivision 1.
265	265	9.13 (b) The commissioner of revenue may deduct and deposit in a special revenue account
266	266	9.14an amount not to exceed two percent of collected fees. Money in the account is annually
267	267	9.15appropriated to the commissioner of revenue to reimburse its direct costs of administering
268	268	9.16the collection and remittance of prepaid wireless E911 fees, prepaid wireless
269	269	9.17telecommunications access Minnesota fees, and prepaid wireless 988 fees, and prepaid
270	270	9.18wireless emergency medical services fees.
271	271	9.19 Sec. 15. TRANSFERS.
272	272	9.20 (a) On July 1, 2025, the commissioner of management and budget must transfer
273	273	9.21$80,000,000 from the general fund to the emergency medical services special revenue
274	274	9.22account in the special revenue fund. This is a onetime transfer.
275	275	9.23 (b) On June 30, 2027, and each June 30 thereafter, the commissioner of management
276	276	9.24and budget must transfer $....... from the emergency medical services special revenue account
277	277	9.25in the special revenue fund to the general fund. This transfer shall expire upon a total of
278	278	9.26$80,000,000 being transferred from the emergency medical services special revenue account
279	279	9.27to the general fund.
280	280	9.28 Sec. 16. APPROPRIATIONS.
281	281	9.29 (a) $16,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $16,000,000 in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated
282	282	9.30from the emergency medical services special revenue account in the special revenue fund
283	283	9.31to the Office of Emergency Medical Services for the ambulance service cost of readiness
284	284	9.32grant program under Minnesota Statutes, section 144E.54.
285	285	9Sec. 16.
286	286	25-02481 as introduced01/31/25 REVISOR AGW/ES 10.1 (b) $60,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $60,000,000 in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated
287	287	10.2from the emergency medical services special revenue account in the special revenue fund
288	288	10.3to the Office of Emergency Medical Services for the emergency medical services
289	289	10.4improvement, modernization, and sustainability grant program under Minnesota Statutes,
290	290	10.5section 144E.55.
291	291	10.6 (c) $4,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $4,000,000 in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated
292	292	10.7from the emergency medical services special revenue account in the special revenue fund
293	293	10.8to the Office of Emergency Medical Services for the rural emergency medical services
294	294	10.9uncompensated care pool payment program under Minnesota Statutes, section 144E.56.
295	295	10.10Sec. 17. REPEALER.
296	296	10.11 Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144E.275, subdivision 1, is repealed.
297	297	10Sec. 17.
298	298	25-02481 as introduced01/31/25 REVISOR AGW/ES 144E.275 MEDICAL RESPONSE UNIT REGISTRATION.
299	299	Subdivision 1.Definitions.For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
300	300	(a) "Medical response unit" means an organized service recognized by a local political subdivision
301	301	whose primary responsibility is to respond to medical emergencies to provide initial medical care
302	302	before the arrival of a licensed ambulance service. Medical response units may also provide CEMT
303	303	services as permitted under subdivision 7.
304	304	(b) "Specialized medical response unit" means an organized service recognized by a
305	305	director-approved authority other than a local political subdivision that responds to medical
306	306	emergencies as needed or as required by local procedure or protocol.
307	307	1R
308	308	APPENDIX
309	309	Repealed Minnesota Statutes: 25-02481