2026 Minnesota Statutes

121A.036 ANONYMOUS THREAT REPORTING SYSTEM.

Subdivision 1.Anonymous threat reporting system.

By June 30, 2027, the board of a school district or charter school must adopt a policy at a school board meeting to implement the use of an anonymous threat reporting system, and inform the commissioner of education which option listed in subdivision 4 the board selected. The district or charter school must implement either the local or the statewide anonymous threat reporting system by July 1, 2028.

Subd. 2.Local anonymous threat reporting system.

(a) A local anonymous threat reporting system must:

(1) support anonymous reporting 24 hours a day using a mobile application, website, and toll-free hotline;

(2) be used to receive anonymous tips regarding dangerous, violent, threatening, harmful, or potentially harmful activity that occurs, or is threatened on, school property or relates to an enrolled student or school personnel;

(3) immediately forward reported information to designated school staff, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and local law enforcement as soon as practicable; and

(4) comply with subdivision 5, data practices under chapter 13, and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, United States Code, title 20, section 1232g.

(b) A school district or charter school that implements its own system may enter into a contract to develop and implement an anonymous threat reporting system that meets the requirements of this subdivision.

(c) A school district or charter school that establishes a local anonymous threat reporting system must:

(1) designate school staff to receive and respond to a report submitted through the anonymous threat reporting system;

(2) require training for school staff designated to receive and respond to a report submitted through the anonymous threat reporting system, including training on coordinating a response to reports with the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and local law enforcement;

(3) promote public awareness and education about the anonymous threat reporting system by providing, to students, families, employees, and the school community, information about the anonymous threat reporting system and how to use it, including by:

(i) posting on the district's or charter school's website information about the local anonymous threat reporting system;

(ii) including information in the student handbook about the local anonymous threat reporting system; and

(iii) notifying parents annually of the availability of the local anonymous threat reporting system; and

(4) report to the commissioner of education, in the form and manner determined by the commissioner, the type of system adopted.

(d) A school district or charter school that implemented a local anonymous threat reporting system before July 1, 2026, may continue to use the system even if the system does not meet the requirements of this section, as long as the system immediately forwards reported information to designated school staff, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and local law enforcement.

(e) Information about a district or charter school's local anonymous threat reporting system is "security information" as defined in section 13.37, subdivision 1, including information reported to the Department of Education under this section.

Subd. 3.Statewide anonymous threat reporting system.

(a) A school district or charter school that does not implement its own local anonymous threat reporting system in accordance with subdivision 2 must provide, to students, families, employees, and the school community, information about the Department of Public Safety's statewide anonymous threat reporting system and how to use the system. A district or charter school must, at a minimum:

(1) post on the district's or charter school's website information about the Department of Public Safety's statewide anonymous threat reporting system;

(2) include information in the student handbook about the Department of Public Safety's statewide anonymous threat reporting system; and

(3) notify parents annually of the availability of the Department of Public Safety's statewide anonymous threat reporting system.

(b) A school district or charter school that uses and promotes the statewide system must report to the commissioner, in the form and manner determined by the commissioner, that it has complied with this subdivision.

Subd. 4.Department of Education.

By January 15, 2028, and each year thereafter, the commissioner of education must submit a report to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over kindergarten through grade 12 education and public safety that lists the districts and charter schools that have:

(1) implemented a local anonymous threat reporting system;

(2) used and promoted the statewide system; and

(3) neither implemented a local anonymous threat reporting system nor used and promoted the statewide system.

Subd. 5.Data practices.

(a) The definitions in section 13.02 apply to this subdivision. For purposes of this subdivision, the following additional terms have the meanings given:

(1) "anonymous threat reporting system data" means all data created, collected, received, or maintained by either a local anonymous threat reporting system or the Department of Public Safety's statewide anonymous threat reporting system. Anonymous threat reporting system data also includes data created by a school district or charter school, the Department of Education, a law enforcement agency, or noncriminal justice partners in response to a tip or report received by either a local anonymous threat reporting system or the Department of Public Safety's statewide anonymous threat reporting system;

(2) "law enforcement agency" has the meaning given in section 626.84, subdivision 1, paragraph (f); and

(3) "noncriminal justice partners" means the multidisciplinary team of professionals utilized by a law enforcement agency, that may include, but is not limited to, school administrators, behavioral health and social services providers, community partners, faith leaders, medical personnel, public safety professionals, or other partners.

(b) Anonymous threat reporting system data are classified as confidential data on individuals or protected nonpublic data while the anonymous threat report is active. Active anonymous threat reporting system data may be shared between or among a school district or charter school, the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Education, law enforcement agencies, and noncriminal justice partners. Inactive anonymous threat reporting system data from a local anonymous threat reporting system are governed by section 13.32. Inactive anonymous threat reporting system data from the Department of Public Safety's statewide anonymous threat reporting system are governed by section 13.82, subdivision 7.

(c) Anonymous threat reporting system data are active upon creation, collection, or receipt, but shall become inactive:

(1) when the school district or charter school, the Department of Education, or a law enforcement agency has determined that the data is no longer connected to a potential risk or threat; or

(2) two years following the last associated report of potential risk or threat made to either the local anonymous threat reporting system or the Department of Public Safety's statewide anonymous threat reporting system.

(d) Nothing in this subdivision restricts the application of section 13.37 or 13.82, subdivision 25, to inactive anonymous threat reporting system data.

History:

2026 c 117 s 3