SAINT PAUL, MN – The Minnesota Senate approved a bill on Monday to provide emergency funding for combatting the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Minnesota. The bill, authored by Senator Jerry Relph (R-St. Cloud), passed with unanimous support.
“The health and safety of Minnesotans is our first priority,” said Senator Paul Anderson (R-Plymouth). “The emergence of the coronavirus in Minnesota has resulted in a strong bipartisan approach to guarantee funding for adequate testing and treatment. We have taken an important step with passing this funding to further prepare should the virus continue to spread. I am grateful to the public health and medical professionals who are working tirelessly to combat COVID-19.”
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 need arises.
The legislation now heads to Governor Walz for his signature.
Senator Paul Anderson (R-Plymouth) represents Senate District 44, which includes the cities of Plymouth, Minnetonka, and Woodland. He is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Higher Education Finance and Policy and serves on the Taxes and E-12 Education Committees.