(KNSI) — A bill authored by two St. Cloud lawmakers to put more law enforcement officers in uniform had its first hearing at the Capitol on Tuesday.
Minnesota House File 2454, known as the Law Enforcement Scholarship Act, was written by St. Cloud Democratic Representative Dan Wolgamott and Republican Representative Bernie Perryman.
Wolgamott told fellow legislators that an impending shortage of officers has created a crisis. “Minnesota is facing a law enforcement workforce shortage that has a direct threat to the safety and security of our communities.” Alexandria Technical College noted that after 2021, it saw a 25% to 30% decrease in enrollment in its Police Training and Education Program.
He adds, “Right now, there are over 1,000 open positions in law enforcement. Stacked on top of that, there are over 2,700 members of the law enforcement community who are in the retirement age between 50 and 55.”
That makes up roughly a third of the current officers in Minnesota.
Wolgamott explained the law would fill the need by creating a scholarship for licensed police officers and their dependents to pursue a degree within the fields of criminal justice and law enforcement.
The legislation has been modeled after a bill in Nebraska and establishes a grant program to cover the cost of tuition and fees for eligible students. The scholarships are for one semester and used for tuition and fees at any Minnesota State college or university. It can be renewed if the student continues to meet eligibility requirements.
No dollar amount was set aside for the program. The bill was presented to the House Higher Education Committee, where it was laid over for possible inclusion in the committee’s budget. A companion bill is moving through the Senate.
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