Purpose

• Create a funded program to place smart monitored public access safety cabinets with automated external defibrillator (AED) units on Minnesota school grounds. The goal is to improve emergency readiness and save lives in school settings by providing rapid access to AEDs, bleeding control supplies, and naloxone.

Main Provisions

• Funding and scope

  • A one-time appropriation from the general fund to the Department of Education for a grant program.
  • Total amount: 6.5 million dollars to purchase and install up to 1,400 smart monitored public access safety cabinets, at about 4,500 dollars per cabinet.
  • Each cabinet includes an AED unit, a quick rescue/bleeding control kit, naloxone, four years of smart monitoring and maintenance, and related accessories provided by specific vendors.
  • The AEDs must meet public access AED requirements under Minnesota law (public access standards).

• Administration and eligibility

  • The Minnesota State High School League (MSHL) administers the grant program in partnership with the Department of Education.
  • Eligible recipients: school districts, charter schools, and Tribal contract schools.
  • Applicants must meet conditions for each installed unit:
  • Cabinets must be outdoors or in a fully publicly accessible indoor location.
  • The land-owning local, state, or federal agency must approve the installation site.
  • The grant recipient must operate and maintain each AED unit for four years from installation without additional state or local funding.
  • Installations must withstand typical weather and temperatures to ensure reliable operation.
  • Recipients must comply with the public access AED requirements in MN Stat. 403.51.
  • The grant recipient is responsible for ongoing maintenance and operation in accordance with these requirements.

• Funding administration and fundraising

  • An annual amount of 50,000 dollars is available each year for the four-year period to the MSHL to administer the grant program.
  • The MSHL must work with school districts, charter schools, and Tribal contract schools to seek sponsorships and additional funds or in-kind contributions (public or private).

• Timeline and reporting

  • By October 1, 2026: MSHL must begin accepting applications and determine per-district allocations.
  • By October 1, 2027: MSHL must report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative education committees on grants awarded, money allocated to each recipient district, and the number of cabinets installed (report per statutory reporting requirement 3.195).
  • The appropriation is a onetime funding package and remains available until June 30, 2030.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Establishes a new, one-time grant program to place up to 1,400 public access AED cabinets in school settings, funded by a specific general fund appropriation and administered by the Minnesota State High School League in coordination with the Department of Education.
• Expands requirements for AED deployment in schools by mandating four-year maintenance, outdoor or publicly accessible placement, and adherence to 403.51 public access AED standards.
• Introduces a formal grant administration and reporting process, including annual administration funds and a future-delivered evaluation/report to legislative leadership.

Impact and Practical Effects

• Increases availability of AEDs and related life-saving gear (bleeding control and naloxone) in schools.
• Creates a standardized, monitored system for AEDs with ongoing maintenance for four years.
• Requires collaboration between a state education agency and a non-state education body (MSHL) to distribute funds and oversee installations.
• Establishes public accessibility and site-approval requirements to ensure quick access during emergencies.

Relevant Terms - smart monitored public access safety cabinets - automated external defibrillator (AED) - public access AED requirements - Minnesota Statutes section 403.51 - Minnesota State High School League (MSHL) - Department of Education - grant program - four years of monitoring and maintenance - outdoor or publicly accessible indoor placement - naloxone - bleeding control kit (American Heart Association kit) - 911 integration - eligibility: school districts, charter schools, Tribal contract schools - sponsorships and in-kind contributions - reporting: legislative committees, 3.195 - one-time appropriation, available until June 30, 2030 - procurement: up to 1,400 cabinets at $4,500 per unit