MN HF2236

Establishes a grant program administered by the Minnesota Commissioner of Health to award community-based organizations serving ethnic communities and Black and people of color communities for public health outreach on skin-lightening products and chemical exposures.

Priority for grant awards given to organizations that have historically provided services to ethnic communities on skin-lightening and chemical exposure issues for the past four years.

Grant recipients must conduct culturally specific and community-based public awareness and education activities focused on health dangers of mercury and hydroquinone in skin-lightening products, mercury exposure routes, health effects including permanent central nervous system and kidney damage, and dangers during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Grant funds must support product testing to identify mercury and hydroquinone content, development of train-the-trainer curricula for community leaders and health workers, self-esteem building for young people using or at-risk of using skin-lightening products, and capacity building for community organizations.

Appropriates an unspecified amount from the general fund in fiscal year 2024 to the Commissioner of Health for the skin-lightening products public awareness and education grant program.