Committee Prepares School Safety Proposals

The Senate E-12 Education Policy Committee considered several bills Tuesday, March 13, designed to improve safety at Minnesota's public schools. The proposals will be considered as part of an omnibus committee bill in the coming week.s

The first bill before the committee, SF 3068, sponsored by Senator Carrie Ruud, R-Breezy Point, would establish a grant program to cover the costs incurred by school districts conducting safety audits of their schools. The schools could receive full reimbursement of their audit costs.

The second bill, SF1626, sponsored by Senator Patricia Torres Ray, DFL-Minneapolis, would prohibit revenue from the school safety levy from being used for public safety transportation costs, firearms, tactical gear and communications equipment. Senator Torres Ray said the expense of the proposed exemptions should be resolved between schools and local governments.

Two school safety bills are sponsored by committee chair Eric Pratt, R-Prior Lake. One of his bills, SF 3243, would allow school districts to use long-term facilities maintenance revenue for improving school facilities to increase safety. The second bill, SF 2900, allows schools to change their emergency drill procedures by not forcing the institutions to fully empty the building every time an alarm sounds. Senator Pratt explained that a full evacuation was exploited by the perpetrator at Parkland High School in Florida.