MN HF4617

Appropriates $20,000,000 in fiscal year 2020 from the general fund to the commissioner of health for a one-time grant to research, develop, and implement COVID-19 testing.

Eligible applicants must be Minnesota-based clinical research institutions serving as national referral centers with patient care, medical research, and medical education capabilities.

Grant funds must support eight types of SARS-CoV-2 testing including rapid response testing, droplet digital diagnostic testing, serologic antibody testing, viral antigen testing, immune response testing, point-of-care testing, tissue testing, and next-generation sequencing.

Grantees must agree to provide priority processing of tests from Minnesota providers, free testing and support to Minnesota tribal nations, and support for statewide access to serologic testing.

Grantees receiving nonstate funds for the same research must notify the commissioner, and if combined funding exceeds actual costs, must repay the excess amount to the general fund.