Governor Signs School Resource Officer Bill Into Law

(KNSI) — The Minnesota legislature Thursday passed a bipartisan bill providing use of force guidance for school resource officers.

The education bill passed last session and signed into law in May of 2023 included language police departments said was too ambiguous and opened up SROs to criminal prosecution or civil liability for doing their jobs. It also prohibited the use of different holds to restrain a physical aggressor, leading to dozens of departments suspending their SRO programs.

The bill appeared to be on the fast track to passage within the first few days of the legislature reconvening for the 2024 session last month, but Republicans said they were left out of key discussions, and Democrats needed their votes to get the bill done. This week, the House sent the Senate the bill, to which an amendment was added that included language about the destruction of school property and allowed for when and how a school staff member could step in.

The bill fell apart and was sent to a conference committee, where that amendment was removed, and the original language was written. Thursday, the House and Senate hammered out their differences and sent the bill to the governor’s desk.

The bill directs funding for school resource officer training, establishes clear duties for school resource officers, and requires the Police Officer Standards and Training Board to develop a model policy.

It was signed late Thursday afternoon.

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