1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to state government; establishing the Emmett Louis Till Victims Recovery
1.3 Program; appropriating money.
1.4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. EMMETT LOUIS TILL VICTIMS RECOVERY PROGRAM.
1.6 Subdivision 1.Short title. This section shall be known as the Emmett Louis Till Victims
1.7 Recovery Program.
1.8 Subd. 2.Program established; grants. (a) The commissioner of health shall establish
1.9 the Emmett Louis Till Victims Recovery Program to address the health and wellness needs
1.10 of victims who experienced trauma, including historical trauma, resulting from
1.11 government-sponsored activities, and to address the health and wellness needs of the families
1.12 and heirs of these victims.
1.13 (b) The commissioner, in consultation with family members of victims who experienced
1.14 trauma resulting from government-sponsored activities and with community-based
1.15 organizations that provide culturally appropriate services to victims experiencing trauma
1.16 and their families, shall award competitive grants to applicants for projects to provide the
1.17 following services to victims who experienced trauma resulting from government-sponsored
1.18 activities and their families and heirs:
1.19 (1) health and wellness services, which may include services and support to address
1.20 physical health, mental health, cultural needs, and spiritual or faith-based needs;
1.21 (2) remembrance and legacy preservation activities;
1.22 (3) cultural awareness services;
2.1 (4) spiritual and faith-based support; and
2.2 (5) community resources and services to promote healing for victims who experienced
2.3 trauma resulting from government-sponsored activities and their families and heirs.
2.4 (c) In awarding grants under this section, the commissioner must prioritize grant awards
2.5 to community-based organizations experienced in providing support and services to victims
2.6 and families who experienced trauma resulting from government-sponsored activities.
2.7 Subd. 3.Evaluation. Grant recipients must provide the commissioner with information
2.8 required by the commissioner to evaluate the grant program, in a time and manner specified
2.9 by the commissioner.
2.10 Subd. 4.Reports. The commissioner must submit a status report by January 15, 2023,
2.11 and an additional report by January 15, 2024, on the operation and results of the grant
2.12 program, to the extent available. These reports must be submitted to the chairs and ranking
2.13 minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over health care. The
2.14 report due January 15, 2023, must include information on grant program activities to date
2.15 and an assessment of the need to continue to offer services provided by grant recipients to
2.16 victims, families, and heirs who experienced trauma resulting from government-sponsored
2.17 activities. The report due January 15, 2024, must include a summary of the services offered
2.18 by grant recipients; an assessment of the need to continue to offer services provided by
2.19 grant recipients to victims, families, and heirs who experienced trauma resulting from
2.20 government-sponsored activities; and an evaluation of the grant program's goals and
2.21 outcomes.
2.22 Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; EMMETT LOUIS TILL VICTIMS RECOVERY
2.23 PROGRAM.
2.24 $500,000 in fiscal year 2024 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
2.25 of health for the Emmett Louis Till Victims Recovery Program. This is a onetime
2.26 appropriation and is available until June 30, 2025.
