1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to workers' health; directing the University of Minnesota to study 
1.3 	workers' health including lung health; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. APPROPRIATION; UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA WORKERS' 
1.6 	HEALTH STUDY.
 1.7 	(a) $4,900,000 in fiscal year 2008 is appropriated from the workers' compensation 
1.8 	special fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 176.129, to the Board of Regents 
1.9 	of the University of Minnesota for the purposes of this section. Notwithstanding 
1.10 	Minnesota Statutes, section 176.129, subdivision 6, the appropriation must be used for 
1.11 	a comprehensive science and evidence-based study of workers' lung health of workers 
1.12 	associated with the taconite industry. The university, as the lead agency, must develop, 
1.13 	conduct and coordinate the study in partnership with the Department of Health, the 
1.14 	Department of Natural Resources, the Pollution Control Agency, business and industry, 
1.15 	local health providers and organizations, other affected groups, and other state, federal, 
1.16 	and local agencies. This is a onetime appropriation that does not cancel and is available 
1.17 	until expended.
1.18 	(b) At a minimum, the study funded under this section must include industry-specific 
1.19 	worker mortality and morbidity studies, clinical disease studies, exposure assessments, 
1.20 	case-control screening of current and former workers, and environmental studies that 
1.21 	assess health impacts on workers and communities. The university must begin the 
1.22 	studies in 2008 and complete them no later than December 31, 2013. The university, in 
1.23 	conjunction with its partners in the workers' health study, must report annually to the 
1.24 	committees of the legislature with responsibility for health and workers' safety until the 
2.1 	study is completed. Each annual report must present the preliminary findings of the 
2.2 	workers' health studies and recommendations based on those findings. 

2.3 	Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 2.4 	Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment.