Emergency responders standardized identification task force establishment and appropriation

A bill for an act

relating to public safety; establishing a task force on standardized identification

for emergency responders; requiring a report; appropriating money.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.
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TASK FORCE ON STANDARDIZED IDENTIFICATION FOR

EMERGENCY RESPONDERS.
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Subdivision 1.

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Establishment.

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The Task Force on Standardized Identification for

Emergency Responders is established to develop a plan to create a standard form of

identification for use by emergency responders in the state and to make policy and funding

recommendations to the legislature.

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Subd. 2.

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Membership.

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(a) The task force consists of the following members:

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(1) the commissioner of public safety, or a designee;

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(2) the chief of the Minnesota State Patrol, or a designee;

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(3) the state fire marshal, or a designee;

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(4) the superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, or a designee;

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(5) the director of Driver and Vehicle Services, or a designee;

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(6) the director of the Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training, or a designee;

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(7) the director of the Minnesota Office of Emergency Medical Services, or a designee;

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(8) the chair of the Metropolitan Airports Commission, or a designee;

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(9) a representative from the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, appointed by the

president of the association's board of directors;

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(10) a representative from the Minnesota Sheriffs' Association, appointed by the president

of the association's board of directors;

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(11) a representative from the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, appointed

by the president of the association's board of directors;

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(12) a representative from the Minnesota State Fire Chiefs Association, appointed by

the president of the association's board of directors;

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(13) a representative from the Minnesota Professional Fire Fighters Association, appointed

by the president of the association's board of directors; and

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(14) a representative from the Minnesota State Fire Department Association, appointed

by the president of the association's board of directors.

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(b) Appointments must be made no later than July 15, 2026.

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(c) Members must serve without compensation.

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(d) Members of the task force serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority or until

the task force expires. Vacancies must be filled by the appointing authority consistent with

the qualifications of the vacating member required by this subdivision.

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Subd. 3.

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Officers; meetings.

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(a) The commissioner of public safety or the commissioner's

designee must convene the first meeting of the task force by August 1, 2026.

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(b) At the first meeting, the members of the task force must elect a chair and may elect

other officers as the members deem necessary.

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(c) The task force must meet monthly or as determined by the chair. The task force must

meet frequently enough to accomplish the tasks identified in this section.

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(d) Meetings of the task force are subject to Minnesota Statutes, chapter 13D.

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Subd. 4.

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Duties.

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(a) The task force must design a standardized identification for

emergency responders in the state and prepare a plan to implement mandatory use of a

standardized identification by emergency responders and their employers.

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(b) The design for the standardized identification must include:

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(1) a photograph of the emergency responder;

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(2) the name of the emergency responder;

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(3) a physical description of the emergency responder;

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(4) a clear indication of whether the emergency responder is a peace officer, firefighter,

emergency medical services provider, or other type of emergency responder; and

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(5) information about the emergency responder's certifications and areas of expertise or

a scannable code that provides access to that information.

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(c) The task force may require that other information be included on the standardized

identification, including but not limited to the name of an employer and a license number.

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(d) The task force may recommend that the standardized identification be in the form

of a physical card, an electronic document, or both.

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(e) The task force must consider whether the state should issue the standardized

identification or establish standards and requirements for identification issued by local units

of government and other employers.

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(f) At a minimum, the plan to implement mandatory use of a standardized identification

by emergency responders must:

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(1) identify a schedule for issuing identification to current and future emergency

responders;

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(2) make recommendations regarding application procedures, including developing a

procedure to verify the identity of a recipient;

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(3) identify data that must be shared in order to create a standardized identification and

propose any legislative changes necessary to allow such information to be shared;

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(4) make recommendations regarding renewal of a standardized identification;

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(5) make recommendations regarding updating information for emergency responders;

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(6) make recommendations for policies and procedures to address situations when a

person's license or other authorization is suspended, revoked, or canceled; and

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(7) make recommendations regarding the collection, destruction, deletion, or other

invalidation of a standardized identification when a person no longer works as an emergency

responder.

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Subd. 5.

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Report.

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By January 15, 2027, the task force must submit a report to the chairs

and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over public

safety on the work of the task force including any recommendations for legislation or

funding.

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Subd. 6.

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Expiration.

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The task force expires the day after submitting the report required

under subdivision 5.

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Sec. 2.
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TASK FORCE ON STANDARDIZED IDENTIFICATION FOR

EMERGENCY RESPONDERS; APPROPRIATION.
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$....... in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of

public safety to implement the Task Force on Standardized Identification for Emergency

Responders.

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