MN HF1419

Commissioner of health shall develop a grant program to increase public awareness and education on health dangers of mercury-containing skin lightening creams manufactured abroad and sold illegally online or in stores.

Grants awarded through request for proposal process to community-based organizations serving ethnic communities, local public health entities, and nonprofits providing health care to minorities, with priority to organizations historically serving at-risk ethnic communities without prior state grant access.

Grantees must conduct culturally specific, community-based awareness activities covering mercury exposure routes, signs and symptoms of poisoning, health effects including permanent central nervous system and kidney damage, dangers during pregnancy and breastfeeding, product identification, and proper disposal.

Grant applications must include project description, objectives, work plan, timeline, and target community; commissioner shall allocate 50 percent of funds to community-based and nonprofit organizations and 50 percent to local public health entities.

Appropriates unspecified amounts from general fund for fiscal years 2022 and 2023 to commissioner of health for the program.