1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to public safety; providing for the Minnesota clearance grant program; 
1.3 	increasing law enforcement agency solve rate of crimes involving nonfatal 
1.4 	shootings; appropriating money;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
1.5 	Statutes, chapter 299A.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. [299A.625] MINNESOTA CLEARANCE GRANT PROGRAM.
1.8 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. For purposes of this section "nonfatal shooting clearance 
1.9 	rate" means the rate at which a law enforcement agency cleared by arrest or cleared by 
1.10 	exceptional means a nonfatal shooting offense. For purposes of this definition:
1.11 	(1) "cleared by arrest" means that a law enforcement agency has arrested at least one 
1.12 	person as an offender, charged the person with the commission of an offense, and referred 
1.13 	the person to the court for prosecution; and
1.14 	(2) "cleared by exceptional means" means that a law enforcement agency has identified 
1.15 	at least one person as an offender; gathered enough evidence to support an arrest, make a 
1.16 	charge, and refer the person to the court for prosecution; identified the person's exact location 
1.17 	for the person to be taken into custody immediately; and encountered a circumstance outside 
1.18 	the control of the law enforcement agency that prohibits the agency from arresting, charging, 
1.19 	and referring the person for prosecution.
1.20 		Subd. 2.Program establishment; purpose. The commissioner of public safety must 
1.21 	establish the Minnesota clearance grant program to award grants to law enforcement agencies 
1.22 	to reduce violent crime by increasing the solve rate of crimes that involve the nonfatal 
1.23 	shooting of a firearm. The purpose of the program is to improve law enforcement strategies 
2.1 	and initiatives aimed at increasing nonfatal shooting clearance rates and engagement and 
2.2 	support for victims of violent crime. The program recognizes that nonfatal shooting offenses 
2.3 	often involve multiple jurisdictions and encourages interagency cooperative efforts to 
2.4 	maximize information sharing, resource sharing, and expertise.
2.5 		Subd. 3.Application; grant awards. (a) Applicants must submit an application in the 
2.6 	form and manner established by the commissioner. In awarding a grant, the commissioner 
2.7 	must give priority to a law enforcement agency:
2.8 	(1) with high rates of unsolved nonfatal shootings and inadequate staffing to investigate 
2.9 	these crimes;
2.10 	(2) that develops a plan to partner with other law enforcement agencies to maximize 
2.11 	interagency information sharing, resource sharing, and expertise;
2.12 	(3) that demonstrates a commitment to working with other government agencies to 
2.13 	improve clearance rates; and
2.14 	(4) that details a process for evaluating the effectiveness of both investigators and 
2.15 	investigative units, including but not limited to the development of specific goals and 
2.16 	performance metrics.
2.17 	(b) Distribution of state funds or technical assistance are by contractual arrangement 
2.18 	between the commissioner and each recipient law enforcement agency. Terms of the contract 
2.19 	are negotiable each year. The state auditor must periodically audit all law enforcement 
2.20 	agencies receiving state grants. Nothing in this section prohibits a law enforcement agency 
2.21 	from receiving federal or local grants if grants become available.
2.22 		Subd. 4.Use of grants. A law enforcement agency awarded a grant under this section 
2.23 	must use the grant award:
2.24 	(1) to improve investigatory resources, including but not limited to the hiring of personnel 
2.25 	assigned to investigate nonfatal shooting crimes or collect, process, and test forensic evidence;
2.26 	(2) for overtime for investigators and support staff;
2.27 	(3) to develop evidence-based policies, procedures, and training;
2.28 	(4) for technical assistance;
2.29 	(5) for law enforcement equipment or technology, including but not limited to 
2.30 	investigative, evidence-processing, or forensic-testing equipment or technology;
3.1 	(6) for information systems, with prioritization for projects that would improve data 
3.2 	integration and the ability to share information across and between law enforcement agencies, 
3.3 	prosecuting attorneys' offices, and crime laboratories;
3.4 	(7) for hiring and retention of victim-witness coordinators; and
3.5 	(8) to partner with hospital-based violence intervention programs.
3.6 		Subd. 5.Report. A law enforcement agency that receives a grant under this section must 
3.7 	submit annually to the commissioner a report on activities carried out to reduce violent 
3.8 	crime and improve nonfatal shooting clearance rates during the preceding fiscal year, 
3.9 	including but not limited to:
3.10 	(1) the number of investigations initiated, the number of nonfatal shootings cleared, the 
3.11 	demographics of victims and offenders, and the impact on the nonfatal shooting clearance 
3.12 	rates in the jurisdiction where investigations were initiated;
3.13 	(2) the number of personnel hired or assigned to investigate nonfatal shootings, 
3.14 	disaggregated between sworn law enforcement officers and civilian or unsworn professional 
3.15 	staff;
3.16 	(3) the number of personnel hired or assigned to collect, process, and test forensic 
3.17 	evidence;
3.18 	(4) the number of personnel hired or assigned to provide victim services;
3.19 	(5) the description of any training developed or implemented;
3.20 	(6) the description of any new technology purchased or acquired;
3.21 	(7) how grant-funded activities have impacted clearance rates; and
3.22 	(8) the record management system, or equivalent, used to collect case information and 
3.23 	the system's ability to integrate with the record management systems of other agencies, 
3.24 	prosecuting attorney offices, and crime laboratories.

3.25 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; MINNESOTA CLEARANCE GRANTS.
 3.26 	$3,500,000 in fiscal year 2027 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner 
3.27 	of public safety for the Minnesota clearance grant program under Minnesota Statutes, section 
3.28 	299A.625.