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 Abijah's on the Backside to provide equine-experiential mental health therapy to first
1.11responders suffering from job-related trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder. This is a
1.12onetime appropriation.
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.
25-02463 as introduced01/23/25 REVISOR SS/EN
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 901NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: PRATT, Howe and Seeberger)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading02/03/2025
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) Abijah's on the Backside must report to the commissioner of employment and
2.6economic development and the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative
2.7committees with jurisdiction over employment and economic development policy and
2.8finance on the equine-experiential mental health therapy provided to first responders under
2.9this section. The report must include an overview of the program's budget, a detailed
2.10explanation of program expenditures, the number of first responders served by the program,
2.11and a list and explanation of the services provided to and benefits received by program
2.12participants. An initial report is due by January 15, 2026, and a final report is due by January
2.1315, 2028.
2Section 1.
25-02463 as introduced01/23/25 REVISOR SS/EN