HF 4338

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/21/2022 04:29pm

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; establishing a grant program to reimburse law enforcement
agencies for financial recruitment and retention incentives for licensed peace
officers; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin PEACE OFFICER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION BONUSES;
REIMBURSEMENT GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Grants. new text end

new text begin The Peace Officers Standards and Training Board may award a
grant or grants to qualified local or state law enforcement agencies to reimburse agencies
for the payment of recruitment bonuses to newly hired peace officers or retention bonuses
to currently employed peace officers. An agency may apply for a grant on a form developed
by the board and as directed by the board. The maximum amount of a grant is $....... for
each officer hired and $....... for each officer retained by the agency. An agency may apply
for more than one grant to cover multiple bonuses.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Financial recruitment. new text end

new text begin (a) A qualified law enforcement agency may offer
recruitment bonuses to provide financial incentives to individuals to become licensed peace
officers with the agency. A reimbursement grant under this section may be made only if a
newly licensed peace officer is hired after having received notice of the availability of a
recruitment bonus and after the agency has paid the bonus. Grants may not reimburse bonuses
paid to peace officers moving laterally from other jurisdictions within the state or peace
officers who previously served as correctional officers within the state.
new text end

new text begin (b) Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, a recruitment bonus must be paid in
two installments. A newly licensed peace officer is eligible for one-half of the bonus amount
upon successfully completing the probationary period. An officer is eligible for the second
half of the bonus amount upon successfully completing one year of employment at the
agency and the officer is a member in good standing with the agency. A newly licensed
peace officer employed at a law enforcement agency that does not require a probationary
period shall receive the total bonus amount upon successfully completing one year of
employment at the agency and the officer is a member in good standing with the agency.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Financial retention. new text end

new text begin A qualified law enforcement agency may offer retention
bonuses to provide financial incentives to individual peace officers to remain employed
with the agency. An officer is eligible for one-half of the bonus amount upon completing
... months at the agency after having received notice of the availability of a retention bonus.
An officer is eligible for the second half of the bonus amount upon successfully completing
one year of employment at the agency and the officer is a member in good standing with
the agency. A reimbursement grant under this section may be made only if the peace officer
remains employed with the agency after having received notice of the availability of a
retention bonus and after the agency has paid the bonus.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Qualified law enforcement agency. new text end

new text begin A local or state law enforcement agency
that offers recruitment or retention financial incentives to individuals to become or remain
licensed peace officers with the agency is qualified to apply to the board for a grant if the
agency:
new text end

new text begin (1) uses the following transparency and accountability measures:
new text end

new text begin (i) a civilian review board that provides oversight, accountability, and transparency of
complaints against peace officers;
new text end

new text begin (ii) a community policing agreement or written community engagement strategies; and
new text end

new text begin (iii) body cameras or squad cameras, or has capabilities of both; and
new text end

new text begin (2) has at least a ... percent loss in the number of peace officers employed with the agency
resulting from resignations or retirements within the past year or expects a ... percent loss
within the next year due to the number of peace officers employed with the agency who are
eligible for retirement.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Grant awards. new text end

new text begin Grants are awarded at the discretion of the board and are limited
to the amount appropriated for the purposes of this section. If the demand for grants exceeds
the amount appropriated, the board shall award grants in a manner that ensures that grants
are distributed to qualified local and state law enforcement agencies in a geographically
balanced manner and also in a balanced manner in terms of the size of the law enforcement
agencies receiving grants.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the general fund to the Peace Officer
Standards and Training Board for the grant program under section 1.
new text end