Signed by Governor Tim Walz

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes various emergency provisions and local government flexibility during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlights:

• Requires meetings conducted by interactive televisions to have all votes conducted by roll call so each members’ vote on each issue can be identified and recorded (Article I, Sec. 1).

• Requires a document or writing added upon a document not executed in compliance with certain requirements, to be treated as if it had been executed in compliance with these requirements if the proponent of the document or writing establishes by clear and convincing evidence that the decedent intended the document or writing to constitute (Article I, Sec. 2):

• The decedent's will;

• A partial or complete revocation of the will;

• An addition to or an alteration of the will; or

• A partial or complete revival of the decedent's formerly revoked will or of a formerly revoked portion of the will.

• Specifies that this section applies to documents and writings executed on or after March 13, 2020 but before February 15, 2021 (Article I, Sec. 2).

• Increases the funds appropriated for administration and financial assistance to $8.76 million (Article I, Sec. 3).

• Increases the funds allocated to Second Harvest Heartland on behalf of Minnesota’s 6 Feeding America food banks to $2.95 million the first year (Article I, Sec. 3).

• Requires part of these allocated funds to be used to purchase and distribute protein products, which must be surplus products when practicable, including but not limited to pork, poultry, beef, dry legumes, cheese, and eggs to Minnesota's food shelves and other charitable organizations that are eligible to receive food from the food banks (Article I, Sec. 3).

• Authorizes any person who becomes a resident of the state of Minnesota and who possesses a valid noncommercial driver's license issued to the person under the laws of some other state or jurisdiction, or by military authorities of the United States, may operate a motor vehicle for more than 30 days for a commercial driver's license or 60 days for a noncommercial driver's license without being required to have a Minnesota driver's license (Article I, Sec. 4).

• Authorizes the extension of the expiration date of a medical examiner’s certificate or a medical waiver, except that it must not be extended past the date identified by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration in waivers of applicable federal regulations (Article I, Sec. 5).

• Authorizes the commissioner of public safety to issue a new commercial driver’s license to a qualifying applicant during the peacetime public health emergency period (Article I, Sec. 6).

• Authorizes the commissioner of transportation and the chair of the Metropolitan Council to use money allocated to the state by the Federal Transit Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, for (Article I, Sec. 10):

• Protection equipment for transit operators, including physical barriers, personal protective equipment, and cleaning materials;

• Safety training for operators who are in close contact with members of the public; and

• Frequent cleaning of transit vehicles.

• Authorizes medical assistance for uninsured individuals for the testing of COVID-19 (Article I, Sec. 11).

• Authorizes temporary authority to the commissioner of health beginning on the date that the governor declared a peacetime emergency, to (Article I, Sec. 13).

• Temporarily delay, waive, or modify certain provisions and applicable rules;

• Establish temporary alternative health care facilities; and

• Temporarily grant variances on an individual or blanket basis to rules within the commissioner's jurisdiction that do not affect the health or safety of persons in a licensed program.

• Authorizes the commissioner of human services to enroll temporary alternative health care facilities as medical assistance providers, and establish a payment rate for inpatient services provided by temporary alternative health care facilities (Article I, Sec. 14).

• Establishes rules and guidelines for health carriers to comply with concerning the coverage of telemedicine services (Article I, Sec. 15).

• Specifies that deadlines governing proceedings in district and appellate courts are suspended during the peacetime emergency (Article I, Sec. 16).

• Extends the time period for the Farmer-Lender Mediation Act due to the COVID-19 emergency (Article I, Sec. 19).

• Authorizes the commissioner to claim as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Maintenance of Effort (TANF/MOE) up to $6.7 million per year of working family credit expenditures in each fiscal year (Article III, Sec. 8).

• Appropriates $73 million to the Health Care Access Fund for the 2021fiscal year (Article IV, Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text