MN SF4476

$20,000,000 appropriated in fiscal year 2020 from the general fund to the commissioner of health as a one-time appropriation for COVID-19 testing research and development grants.

Grant recipients must be Minnesota-based clinical research institutions that serve as national referral centers providing patient care, medical research, and medical education.

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

Grantees must provide priority processing for Minnesota providers, free testing for all tribal nations within Minnesota, and support statewide serologic testing access.

Grantees receiving additional non-state funding must notify the commissioner and repay any excess funds above actual research and implementation costs up to the amount of the state grant.