SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Today the Minnesota House of Representatives passed SF 2909, the Judiciary and Public Safety budget bill. The public safety portion of the bill invests in a diverse set of tools to improve public safety. It prioritizes a holistic approach to gun violence prevention, funding for law enforcement and victims of crime, juvenile justice reform, and more.
Rep. Liz Olson (DFL – Duluth) voted for the bill.
“All Minnesotans deserve to be safe in their communities, and the House DFL Public Safety and Judiciary budget is a transformative bill, making a major step in the right direction to create a safer, more just state,” Rep. Olson said. “Gun violence is a public health crisis that affects all of us, and I’m proud we’re advancing background checks, red flag laws, and other actions to prevent future tragedies. In addition to our gun violence prevention measures, the bill contains numerous other public safety solutions, comprising a holistic approach that will get us closer toward our goal of a safe Minnesota for everyone.”
In response to increasing gun violence, now the leading cause of death for children in the U.S., the bill includes a number of violence prevention measures. It implements criminal background checks to keep guns out of the hands of those who are prohibited from having them. It also includes a red flag law, creating an effective tool to prevent those likely to cause harm from doing so. Lastly, it makes historic investments in gun violence prevention research grants to determine the next best steps to end gun violence.
Support for law enforcement and victims are central to the bill, carrying significant investments for both. The legislation includes law enforcement priorities with investments for recruitment, retention, police education and training. It also makes significant investments to address and improve first responder mental health. Victims and survivors will receive the assistance they need through advocacy programs, housing supports, and state-paid sexual assault exams. The bill also includes an unprecedented investment in community violence prevention grants.
With significant investments in public defense and civil legal services, an increase in juror pay, expanded hate and discrimination data tracking, the creation of an Office of Appellate Counsel, and the elimination of court document fees, the Judiciary portion of the bill is building a system that will more equitably serve the people of Minnesota.
The Minnesota Senate passed its version of the bill on April 14. The legislation now goes to a joint House/Senate conference committee to reconcile the differences between each chamber’s version of the legislation.