HF3695

Purpose

This bill creates a Task Force on Standardized Identification for Emergency Responders. Its goal is to develop a plan for a standard form of identification that emergency responders in Minnesota would use, and to make policy and funding recommendations to the legislature to support that work.

Main Provisions

• Establishment and goals

  • Creates the Task Force on Standardized Identification for Emergency Responders.
  • The task force must design a standardized identification for emergency responders and prepare a plan to implement mandatory use by emergency responders and their employers.

• Membership and appointments

  • The task force includes key public safety and emergency services agencies (for example, the commissioner of public safety, State Patrol, fire marshal, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Driver and Vehicle Services, POST, EMS), the Metropolitan Airports Commission, and representatives from multiple law enforcement and fire service associations, plus one EMS employee-organization representative.
  • Appointments must be made by July 15, 2026.
  • Members serve without pay and remain on the task force until it ends or they are replaced.
  • Members serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority.

• Meetings and leadership

  • The first meeting must occur by August 1, 2026.
  • The task force elects a chair (and possibly other officers) at its first meeting and then meets monthly or as decided by the chair.
  • Meetings follow applicable state public meeting laws.

• Duties and design requirements

  • Design a standardized identification that includes:
  • a photograph,
  • the person’s name,
  • a physical description,
  • an indication of role (peace officer, firefighter, EMS provider, or other emergency responder),
  • information about certifications and areas of expertise or a scannable code to access that information.
  • The design may also include additional information such as the employer name and license number.
  • The ID may be a physical card, an electronic document, or both.
  • The task force will consider whether the state should issue the ID or set standards so local governments and employers issue it.
  • The plan must address:
  • a schedule for issuing IDs to current and future emergency responders,
  • verification procedures to confirm a recipient’s identity,
  • what data must be shared to create the ID and any needed legislative changes to permit sharing,
  • renewal procedures and updating information,
  • policies for handling suspensions, revocations, or cancellations of licenses or authorizations,
  • how to invalidate the ID when a person no longer works as an emergency responder.

• Reporting

  • By January 15, 2027, the task force must submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over public safety, detailing its work and containing any legislative or funding recommendations.

• Expiration

  • The task force expires the day after it submits its report.

• Funding

  • An appropriation is provided in fiscal year 2026 from the general fund to the commissioner of public safety to implement the task force’s work.

Significant Changes to Existing Law (Impacts)

• Establishes a formal multi-agency task force to create a standardized identification system for emergency responders, including detailed content, issuance options, data-sharing considerations, and implementation policies.
• Creates a concrete process and timeline for developing the standard ID, including how it could be issued (state vs local) and how verification and data sharing would work.
• Introduces a mandatory-use plan structure, tying adoption of the ID to policy and funding considerations that would affect emergency responders and their employers.

Practical Implications

• If adopted, emergency responders would be identified using a standardized ID, potentially with a photo, role indicator, certifications, and a data-access code.
• The plan emphasizes both security (verification procedures, data-sharing rules) and practicality (whether the state or local entities issue IDs, renewal and updating).
• The implementation would require funding in the next fiscal year and a formal reporting process to lawmakers.

Relevant Terms

• standardized identification for emergency responders
• emergency responders
• photograph
• name
• physical description
• peace officer
• firefighter
• emergency medical services provider
• scannable code
• certifications
• areas of expertise
• employer
• license number
• verification
• data sharing
• issuance
• local units of government
• state issuance
• authorization
• suspension
• revocation
• cancellation
• invalidation
• plan
• guidance
• funding
• appropriation
• task force
• public safety

Relevant Terms - standardized identification for emergency responders - emergency responders - photograph - name - physical description - peace officer - firefighter - emergency medical services provider - scannable code - certifications - data sharing - verification - issuance - local units of government - state issuance - renewal - employer - license number - suspension - revocation - cancellation - plan - funding - appropriation - task force