HF 3331

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 04/28/2022 05:03pm

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; establishing a grant program to reimburse education
expenses for peace officers; appropriating money.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin PEACE OFFICER EDUCATION REIMBURSEMENT.
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new text begin (a) $2,500,000 in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the general fund to the Board of
Peace Officer Standards and Training to provide education reimbursement grants to eligible
peace officers. Of this amount, up to 3.5 percent is for administration and monitoring of the
program.
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new text begin (b) An eligible peace officer is a person who:
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new text begin (1) is a peace officer as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 626.84, subdivision 1,
paragraph (c);
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new text begin (2) began employment as a peace officer on or after July 1, 2021;
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new text begin (3) has been continuously employed as a peace officer for at least 12 months;
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new text begin (4) has not been found to be in violation of the standards of conduct set forth in Minnesota
Rules, part 6700.1600; and
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new text begin (5) paid tuition or other fees to a postsecondary school to participate in a professional
peace officer education program as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 626.84, subdivision
1, paragraph (g).
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new text begin (c) An eligible peace officer may receive reimbursement equal to the amount paid in
tuition or other fees to a postsecondary school to participate in a professional peace officer
education program or $5,000, whichever is less. An eligible peace officer may not receive
reimbursement for any amount paid by a third party or reimbursed by any other entity, or
any amount of a loan that was forgiven or is eligible to be forgiven from money borrowed
from a financial institution or other entity.
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new text begin (d) The Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training shall establish the requirements
for an application for reimbursement of education expenses. At a minimum, the application
must include:
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new text begin (1) the name, date of birth, and peace officer license number of the applicant;
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new text begin (2) the postsecondary school to which tuition or other fees were paid and the amount
paid;
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new text begin (3) the date of completion of a professional peace officer education program;
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new text begin (4) the date on which the person began employment as a peace officer;
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new text begin (5) certification by a chief law enforcement officer that the person is employed as a
peace officer at the time of application and has been employed as a peace officer for at least
the previous 12 months; and
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new text begin (6) a statement signed by the applicant, under penalty of perjury as provided in Minnesota
Statutes, section 609.48, attesting that the applicant paid the tuition or fees being claimed;
the amount paid was not reimbursed by any other entity or through any other program; and
the applicant is not claiming reimbursement for any amount of a loan that was forgiven or
is eligible to be forgiven from money borrowed from a financial institution or other entity.
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new text begin (e) The Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training shall prepare and make forms
available on its website for use by applicants and chief law enforcement officers.
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