MN HF4579

Establishes a contact tracing, case investigation, and follow-up services program administered by the Commissioner of Health to control COVID-19 spread, with partnerships with local health departments, community health boards, and tribal health departments.

Authorizes use of funds for contact tracing operations, staff hiring and training, essential services (housing, food, medications) for isolated or quarantined persons, community education, interpreter services, personal protective equipment, and grants to local entities.

Prohibits employers from preventing furloughed or unpaid leave healthcare workers from performing contact tracing work for the program during periods of two or more days, and prohibits employer retaliation against participating employees.

Requires the Commissioner to report to legislative health committees on the 15th and last day of each month regarding expenditures, staffing levels by category, and program progress.

Appropriates $300,000,000 from the coronavirus relief federal fund for fiscal year 2020, including allocations for short-term staffing ($3M), tribal nations ($4M), local health departments ($30M), public information campaign ($5M), information technology ($30M), and temporary employees and volunteers ($228M); program expires February 1, 2021.