SF4771

Purpose

This bill would provide a one-time funding recognition to support the Helping Paws program. It directs a grant to Helping Paws Inc. to help breed, train, and place service dogs or facility dogs with people who have physical disabilities, as well as with veterans and first responders living with service-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and with professionals working in courthouse, educational, and mental health settings. The funding is an honorarium in memory of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman.

Main provisions and intended outcomes

• A grant from the state would be provided to Helping Paws Inc. to breed, train, and place service dogs or facility dogs.
• Eligible recipients include:
  • Individuals with physical disabilities
  • Veterans
  • First responders with service-related PTSD
  • Professionals in courthouse, educational, and mental health settings
• This funding is a onetime appropriation intended to support the Helping Paws program and its mission.

Funding and administration

• General Fund: $200,000 is appropriated in fiscal year 2027 to the commissioner of health for the grant.
• Private donations: The commissioner of health may accept private donations to supplement the state money.
• Deposit and use of donations: All private donations must be deposited into a dedicated account in the Special Revenue Fund and appropriated for the purposes of this section.
• Account expiration: The dedicated account expires on July 1, 2028.

Impact on existing law

• This bill establishes a new one-time appropriation and creates a dedicated funding account for donations, handled by the commissioner of health.
• It does not appear to enact broader changes to existing health or disability service laws beyond establishing this specific funding mechanism and honorarium.

Relevant terms - Helping Paws Inc. - service dogs - facility dogs - grant - breed, train, place - individuals with physical disabilities - veterans - first responders - service-related PTSD - courthouse settings - educational settings - mental health settings - general fund - fiscal year 2027 - one-time appropriation - honorarium - Melissa Hortman - private donations - dedicated account - special revenue fund - expiration date July 1, 2028