SF4140

Purpose

• Establishes the Task Force on Standardized Identification for Emergency Responders to develop a plan for a standard form of identification for emergency responders in Minnesota and to make policy and funding recommendations to the legislature.

Main Provisions

• Task Force creation and mandate
  • Create a plan to implement a standardized identification (ID) for emergency responders.
  • Make policy and funding recommendations to the legislature.
• Membership and appointments
  • Members include key public safety agency leaders (e.g., commissioner of public safety, state patrol chief, state fire marshal, BCA superintendent, DVS director, POST board director, EMS director, Metropolitan Airports Commission chair) plus representatives from several public safety associations (police, sheriff, peace officers, fire chiefs, professional firefighters, and state fire department associations).
  • Appointments from associated boards must be made by July 15, 2026.
  • Members serve without pay and serve at the pleasure of their appointing authority or until the task force ends; vacancies filled per qualifications.
• Meetings and operations
  • First meeting required by August 1, 2026; they elect a chair and may elect other officers.
  • Must meet monthly (or more often as needed) to complete tasks.
  • Meetings are subject to Minnesota Statutes chapter 13D (public meeting and data practices rules).
• Design and implementation of standardized ID
  • Task force must design the standardized ID and prepare a plan to implement mandatory use by emergency responders and their employers.
  • ID components must include:
  • Photograph
  • Name
  • Physical description
  • Clear indication of role (peace officer, firefighter, EMS provider, or other emergency responder)
  • Information about certifications and areas of expertise, or a scannable code that provides access to that information
  • May require additional information (e.g., employer name, license number).
  • May specify the ID as a physical card, an electronic document, or both.
  • Must consider whether the state should issue IDs or set standards for IDs issued by local government units and other employers.
  • The plan must include:
  • Schedule for issuing IDs to current and future responders
  • Procedures to verify recipient identity
  • Data to be shared to create the ID and any necessary legislative changes to allow sharing
  • Renewal and updating of information
  • Policies for suspension, revocation, or cancellation of licenses/authorizations
  • Procedures for collecting, destroying, deleting, or invalidating IDs when a person no longer works as an emergency responder
• Reporting
  • By January 15, 2027, the task force must submit a report with recommendations for legislation or funding to the relevant legislative committees and members.
• Expiration
  • The task force expires the day after it submits the required report.

Financial Impact

• Sec. 2 appropriation: In fiscal year 2026, an appropriation from the general fund to the commissioner of public safety to implement the Task Force on Standardized Identification for Emergency Responders.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Creates a new, standing multi-agency task force focused on developing a standardized ID for emergency responders.
• Establishes a mandatory-use framework and implementation plan for emergency responder identification, with potential state or local issuance models.
• Introduces requirements for ID content (photos, descriptions, roles, certifications), data sharing needs (including a scannable code), and verification procedures.
• Requires a formal legislative/funding plan and a formal report to lawmakers, followed by a potential funding/ policy update.
• Embeds open-meeting/data-practice considerations for task force operations under existing Minnesota law.

Relevant Terms - Task Force on Standardized Identification for Emergency Responders - standardized identification / standardized ID - emergency responders - photograph - physical description - peace officer - firefighter - emergency medical services provider - certifications - areas of expertise - scannable code - authorization / license - employer - data to be shared - verification procedures - physical card - electronic document - issuance schedule - renewal - updating information - suspension / revocation / cancellation - collection, destruction, deletion, invalidation - state-issued vs local-issued identification - Minnesota Statutes chapter 13D - appropriation / general fund - Minnesota public safety agencies (e.g., commissioner of public safety, State Patrol, State Fire Marshal, BCA, DVS, POST) - related public safety associations (police, sheriffs, peace officers, fire chiefs, professional firefighters, fire department associations) - chairs and ranking minority members of legislative committees with jurisdiction over public safety