Minnesota State Senate Approves, Amdends Measure Defining Use of Force for School Resource Officers

(KNSI) — The Minnesota State Senate has passed a measure outlining what school resource officers can and cannot do, hopefully clarifying the use of force allowed to restrain a physical aggressor.

As part of the education bill passed by the legislature and signed into law last session by Governor Tim Walz, it banned SROs from putting students in certain positions and included language departments called confusing. They say the ambiguity of the wording could open officers up to civil liability or criminal prosecution. Many districts suspended their SRO programs as a result. Some departments thought an opinion from Attorney General Keith Ellison, the League of Minnesota Cities, and other entities issued last fall was enough to put aside their concerns and return SROs to buildings. Other departments still have yet to renew their rounds after giving notice to sever a joint powers agreement with their local district in summer 2023 until a legislative fix is in place.

The House and Senate versions of the bill were almost identical, but an amendment put forth and agreed to by the Senate allowed for the use of the prone position to prevent bodily harm or death and included language “to prevent theft, damage, or destruction of property.”

The new version will be discussed in a conference committee to iron out differences before it is sent to the governor for his signature.

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