1.1 A bill for an act 1.2 relating to economic development; appropriating money for a grant to provide 1.3 equine-experiential mental health therapy to first responders suffering from trauma 1.4 and post-traumatic stress disorder; requiring a report. 1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 1.6 Section 1. EQUINE-EXPERIENTIAL MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY FOR FIRST 1.7RESPONDERS; APPROPRIATION; REPORTING. 1.8 (a) $250,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $250,000 in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated from 1.9the general fund to the commissioner of employment and economic development for a grant 1.10to 7 Stars Ranch to provide equine-experiential mental health therapy to first responders 1.11suffering from job-related trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder. This is a onetime 1.12appropriation. 1.13 (b) For purposes of this section, a "first responder" is an active or retired: 1.14 (1) peace officer as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 626.84, subdivision 1, 1.15paragraph (c); 1.16 (2) full-time firefighter as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 299N.03, subdivision 1.175; 1.18 (3) volunteer firefighter as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 299N.03, subdivision 1.197; 1.20 (4) ambulance service personnel as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 144E.001, 1.21subdivision 3a; 1Section 1. 25-03997 as introduced02/17/25 REVISOR SS/KR SENATE STATE OF MINNESOTA S.F. No. 2761NINETY-FOURTH SESSION (SENATE AUTHORS: HAUSCHILD) OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE Introduction and first reading03/20/2025 Referred to Jobs and Economic Development 2.1 (5) 911 telecommunicator as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 403.02, subdivision 2.217c; or 2.3 (6) correctional officer as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 241.026, subdivision 2.41, paragraph (b). 2.5 (c) 7 Stars Ranch must report to the commissioner of employment and economic 2.6development and the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees 2.7with jurisdiction over employment and economic development policy and finance on the 2.8equine-experiential mental health therapy provided to first responders under this section. 2.9The report must include an overview of the program's budget, a detailed explanation of 2.10program expenditures, the number of first responders served by the program, and a list and 2.11explanation of the services provided to and benefits received by program participants. An 2.12initial report is due by January 15, 2026, and a final report is due by January 15, 2028. 2Section 1. 25-03997 as introduced02/17/25 REVISOR SS/KR