SAINT PAUL, Minn. — Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives approved the Minnesota Police Accountability Act of 2020, which was proposed by the People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus following the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis Police Officer. This legislation aims to reimagine and reform public safety in Minnesota.
“Minnesotans are demanding a fundamental change in the way we think about public safety,” said Rep. Kaohly Her (DFL – St. Paul). “Black, Brown, Indigenous, and people of color have been calling for justice for generations. Our communities have waited far too long for meaningful action. It is time to enact real criminal justice reform and police accountability. This is the first step towards building a state where all Minnesotans have the safety and security to thrive and not just survive.”
The legislation includes a bill authored by Rep. Her that reforms the grievance arbitration process to help ensure police officers are held accountable for misconduct. In addition, the legislation includes the following:
The Reclaiming Community Oversight Act
Putting power into the hands of the people and neighborhoods that police officers are sworn to serve and protect.
- Retroactive Repeal of Statutes of Limitations (Vang)
- Warrior Training Prohibited (Richardson)
- Choke Hold Ban (Moran)
- Duty to Intercede (Becker-Finn)
- Police Residency Reform (Hassan)
- Data Collection and Regulatory Reform/etc. (Mariani)
- Arbitration Reform (Her)
- Law Enforcement Oversight Council Reform (Gomez)
The Reforming Accountability Act
Restoring confidence and trust in the systems that are meant to provide justice for all Minnesotans.
- Use of Force Reform (Moran)
- Prosecutorial Reform (Becker-Finn)
- Investigatory Reform (Mariani)
- Cash Bail Reform (Noor)
The Re-Imagining Public Safety Act
Ending the unacceptable culture that is responsible for the murder of George Floyd and far too many others who look like him.
- Public Safety Peer Counseling Debriefing (Noor)
- Police Officer Critical Incident Review (Kunesh-Podein)
- Community Led Public Safety (Gomez)
- Mental Health Training (Richardson)
- Autism Training (Richardson)
- Restore the Vote (Moran)