SF 3996
1st Engrossment - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)
Posted on 03/19/2026 09:34 a.m.
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A bill for an act
relating to public safety; requiring schools to develop school safety policies;
establishing a School Safety Advisory Council; appropriating money to the
Minnesota School Safety Center to improve school safety; requiring a report;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 121A.035; proposing coding for new
law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 121A.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 121A.035, is amended to read:
121A.035 CRISIS MANAGEMENT POLICY.
Subdivision 1.
Model policy.
The commissioner shall maintain and make available to
school boards and charter schools a model crisis management policy that includes, among
other items, cardiac emergency response plans, new text begin model school safety policy under section
121A.036, new text end school lock-down and tornado drills, consistent with subdivision 2, and school
fire drills under section 299F.30.
Subd. 2.
School district and charter school policy.
(a) A school board and a charter
school must adopt a crisis management policy to address potential violent crisis situations
in the district or charter school. The policy must be developed cooperatively with
administrators, teachers, employees, students, parents, community members, law enforcement
agencies, other emergency management officials, county attorney offices, social service
agencies, emergency medical responders, and any other appropriate individuals or
organizations. The policy must include at least five school lock-down drills, five school fire
drills consistent with section 299F.30, and one tornado drill.
(b) A school board or a charter school may adopt the model cardiac emergency response
plan provided by the commissioner under subdivision 1.
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(c) To the extent practical, a school board or charter school must integrate the school
safety policy adopted under section 121A.036 with the crisis management policy under this
section.
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Sec. 2.
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[121A.036] SCHOOL SAFETY POLICIES.
new text end
new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end
new text begin Definitions. new text end
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(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
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(b) "Evidence-based" has the meaning given in section 121A.038, subdivision 1.
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(c) "School Safety Center" means the program within the Department of Public Safety
dedicated to supporting safe and secure learning environments. If the School Safety Center
is not operational, the duties delegated to the School Safety Center in this section are
delegated to the commissioner of public safety.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 2. new text end
new text begin School Safety Center. new text end
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(a) The School Safety Center must:
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(1) develop an evidence-based model school safety policy under subdivision 3;
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(2) develop criteria for determining whether a school safety policy is evidence-based;
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(3) review local school safety policies and notify school boards whether their school
safety policies meet the requirements of this section; and
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(4) administer grants for implementing evidence-based school safety policies, to the
extent grant money is available.
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(b) The School Safety Center may provide consulting services to schools serving students
in kindergarten through grade 12 to develop, improve, or implement an evidence-based
school safety policy.
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(c) To implement the requirements of this section, the School Safety Center must employ
at least two school mental health professionals. Each mental health professional must be a
licensed school psychologist, licensed school social worker, or licensed school counselor.
The School Safety Center may also consult with the comprehensive school mental health
services lead at the Department of Education under section 127A.215.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 3. new text end
new text begin Model policy. new text end
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(a) The School Safety Center, in consultation with the Department
of Education, must maintain and make available to school boards and charter schools an
evidence-based model school safety policy to prevent human-caused safety incidents.
new text end
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(b) The School Safety Center must post the model policy on its website no later than
September 1, 2026. The School Safety Center may make available to school boards
evidence-based school safety policies developed by third parties.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 4. new text end
new text begin Local school safety policy. new text end
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(a) A school board of a district or charter school
must adopt an evidence-based school safety policy to prevent human-caused safety incidents
that meets the minimum requirements of the model policy developed under subdivision 3.
A school safety policy must include a description of the school's efforts to create a positive
school climate and support mental health. Beginning May 1, 2028, and annually thereafter,
a school board or charter school that has not yet adopted an evidence-based school safety
policy must submit the policy to the School Safety Center for review and approval. The
School Safety Center must review each policy and notify a school board whether the policy
is approved as an evidence-based policy no later than August 1.
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(b) If the School Safety Center does not approve the board-submitted policy as an
evidence-based policy, a school board may appeal the decision in the form and manner
determined by the School Safety Center no later than August 15. The School Safety Center
must make a final decision on the appeal no later than September 15.
new text end
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(c) In the calendar year that the school board submitted its policy for approval under
paragraph (a), a school board must notify parents, students, and staff no later than October
15 on the status of the school's evidence-based school safety policy. The notice must:
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(1) be written in plain language and be available to all parents and other school
community members;
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(2) explain the purpose of an evidence-based school safety policy;
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(3) indicate whether the school's school safety policy was approved as an evidence-based
school safety policy by the School Safety Center; and
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(4) provide the name and contact information of the school employee designated to
receive questions or concerns regarding school safety policies.
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(d) A school board that has not adopted an evidence-based school safety policy by
October 30 must adopt a school safety policy developed in partnership with the School
Safety Center. The school board may amend the School Safety Center policy subject to
approval by the School Safety Center.
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(e) A nonpublic school is encouraged to develop an evidence-based school safety policy
and consult with the School Safety Center on evidence-based approaches to improving
school safety.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end
new text begin Report. new text end
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The School Safety Center must prepare a report that identifies the
schools that have adopted an evidence-based school safety policy and post the report on the
Department of Public Safety's publicly facing website. The School Safety Center must
submit the report to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over public safety and
kindergarten through grade 12 education. The School Safety Center must update the report
by December 1, 2028, and every two years thereafter.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end
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This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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Sec. 3.
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[121A.0361] SCHOOL SAFETY ADVISORY COUNCIL.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end
new text begin Council established. new text end
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(a) The School Safety Advisory Council is
established as an advisory council to the School Safety Center at the Department of Public
Safety. The advisory council consists of the following members:
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(1) three students enrolled in grades 9 through 12;
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(2) two persons under the age of 21 who are survivors of school or community violence;
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(3) two parents of students enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12;
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(4) one licensed mental health professional not employed by the School Safety Center;
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(5) one school resource officer that meets the requirements of section 626.8482; and
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(6) one employee of the School Safety Center.
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(b) The commissioner of public safety, in consultation with the commissioner of
education, must appoint the members of the advisory council by September 1, 2026. The
terms and compensation of the members are governed by section 15.059. The School Safety
Advisory Council does not expire.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end
new text begin Duties. new text end
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The School Safety Advisory Council must advise the School Safety
Center on school safety needs and opportunities, including making recommendations to
existing school safety approaches.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end
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This section is effective July 1, 2026.
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Sec. 4. new text begin APPROPRIATION; SCHOOL SAFETY CENTER.
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$....... in fiscal year 2027 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of
public safety for the Minnesota School Safety Center. Of this amount:
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(1) $....... is to develop and distribute an evidence-based model school safety policy
under Minnesota Statutes, section 121A.036;
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(2) $....... is for the School Safety Advisory Council under Minnesota Statutes, section
121A.0361; and
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(3) $....... is to assist schools in implementing customized school safety and student
mental health policies under Minnesota Statutes, section 121A.036.
new text end