Senator Relph’s emergency coronavirus funding bill signed into law

Today, the bill to provide emergency funding for combatting COVID-19 in Minnesota was signed into law. The legislation, authored by Senator Jerry Relph (R-St. Cloud), passed the legislature yesterday by a unanimous vote.

“The legislature and the governor’s office came together in a bipartisan effort to make sure we are prepared to respond to a novel coronavirus outbreak in Minnesota. This emergency funding will make sure medical professionals and public health workers have the tools they need for slowing the spread of the virus, providing timely testing and making sure infected patients receive prompt treatment. I think we can all agree that the health and safety of Minnesotans comes first,” said Senator Relph, the bill’s chief author. “As it stands today, public health officials declare we may be standing on the edge of a worldwide pandemic. With two confirmed cases already in Minnesota, the funding comes at exactly the right time.”

Senate File 3813 appropriates $20.899 million to the Public Health Response Emergency Account. In the event the funds go unused or are reimbursed by the federal government, the money will automatically transfer back to the general fund. The emergency funds will allow the Minnesota Department of Health, in collaboration with state and federal officials, to support disease investigation, monitor potential cluster outbreaks, provide information to the public, coordinate statewide response activities, and conduct laboratory analysis. Top legislators, the administration, and public health officials remain in frequent contact.

Public health officials have announced two confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Minnesota. While no large-scale travel bans are in place, officials have announced temporary flight restrictions at Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport. State and local officials are also working with state epidemiological officials on contingency plans that could be implemented if the needed arises.

In addition to prevention efforts at the Capitol, Minnesotans are encouraged to monitor developments and daily guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control to see the deliberate steps they can take to protect their health and others in others in public.

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Senator Jerry Relph represents St. Cloud, Waite Park, and St. Augusta in the Minnesota Senate. He serves as vice chair of the Senate Family Care and Aging Committee.