SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Friday, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed the Public Safety and Judiciary Finance bill, including $200 million in proven, transformative, and innovative solutions to help keep people and communities safe. This bill also funds critical justice system services for the first time in decades with $140 million in new investments.
“All Minnesotans deserve to feel safe in their homes and communities. House DFLers are proposing resources and strategies that are proven to prevent crime, stop violence, and strengthen public safety,” said Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL – Rochester). “This moment calls for community-based innovations like those in this bill, developed in collaboration with law enforcement, prosecutors, and local leaders. The legislation also boosts funding for our court system. I am particularly pleased that the bill includes full funding for public defenders and a significant increase for civil legal services, to bring access to justice closer to reality in Minnesota.”
The budget includes the Public Safety Innovation Act with $150 million worth of investments in expedited, data-driven strategies for communities to address crime, hire additional personnel, and rebuild community trust. House DFLers are also working to advance juvenile justice measures including grants for prevention, intervention, mental health, and wellness, including a prohibition on solitary confinement of juveniles, funding the Youth Conflict Resolution Center, investing in Youth Intervention Programs, and more.
The package also helps people previously convicted of crimes turn their lives around. The Clean Slate Act removes barriers that make it difficult to access housing, education, and employment. Additionally, the bill funds additional direct assistance to crime victims, authorizes the use of GPS devices to track stolen vehicles, provides funding to increase forensic and analytical capacity at the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and more.
In addition, the bill eliminates fees for uncertified copies of public court documents, establishes an Office of Appellate Counsel for parents, and establishes increased ongoing funding for the Family Resiliency Partnership.
Video of the House Floor session will be available on House Public Information Services’ YouTube channel.