ST. PAUL, Minn. (GRAY) – Minnesota’s House Education Finance Committee heard a Republican-backed school safety package on Tuesday, the latest proposal in a series of attempts from both parties to pass such a bill.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have routinely expressed a desire to fund new safety measures this legislative session, often referencing last summer’s shooting at Annunciation Church that left two kids dead; while they agree on the subject, they’re split on what that legislation would look like.
The Republican bill, which was heard on Tuesday afternoon, where it failed to advance on a tie vote, would have tackled several issues at once:
- More school safety funding for public, private, and tribal schools
- Funding for mental health support in schools
- Changes to Anonymous Threat Reporting Systems in schools
- Changes to disciplinary action
Some of the provisions were things DFL members agreed with. There’s been bipartisan interest this year in boosting mental health funding, for instance.
DFL members on the committee, however, expressed a number of concerns with the bill. Several members felt that public state dollars should not be allocated to non-public schools.
In addition, DFLers took issue with the details of the Anonymous Threat Reporting provisions. They support the program itself, but feel the details in the bill are too limited in scope.
“One of the things that I’m concerned about in this bill is the word encouraged, which is in the statute,” said Rep. Julie Greene (DFL-Edina), “I feel like when we’re just encouraging something, that to me doesn’t necessarily mean it is law.”
Lawmakers were also split on how to address firearms. The DFL has made gun control a top policy priority this year, and wants to address the issue. It’s been repeatedly tied to a school safety package.
Republican members were questioned several times about their stance on the issue in a press conference prior to the committee hearing, but didn’t elaborate on their stance.
Instead, GOP members answered by expressing a desire to pass legislation the two sides already agree on.
“I think if we were to finally close out the session in May and my head were to hit the pillow that night and we didn’t get a school safety package done, that would be a great sense of sadness,” said Rep. Ron Kreisha (R-Little Falls).
When a reporter asked Kreisha if that extends to guns, his reply was brief.
“I’ll leave it at that,” he said.
“This package will keep kids safer in school. We can pass this package to date, if we have a Democrat that is willing to side with us,”
The bill failed to advance in committee on a tied vote this afternoon.
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