The Minnesota Senate engaged in a debate regarding the permissible restraints that school resource officers can apply to students. This discussion was sparked by Republican lawmakers who advocated for the complete repeal of the existing regulations. The Senate ultimately passed a bill with a vote of 57 to 9, introducing an amendment that permits educators to restrain students to prevent theft or damage to school property. This amendment now awaits review by House lawmakers.
Sen. Bonnie Westlin, the bill’s sponsor, emphasized that the legislation was crafted with input from various Minnesotans. The focus was on clarifying the roles of School Resource Officers (SROs) to ensure a safe and supportive learning environment within schools. Last year, the exclusion of law enforcement leaders from discussions on the ban of restraints led to significant backlash.
The Senate session was temporarily adjourned when Republicans proposed an amendment seeking to eliminate the bill entirely and reverse a 2023 adjustment to state law. This adjustment had prompted several police chiefs and sheriffs to take action. Previously, SROs could only restrain a student if there was an imminent risk of physical harm, even if the student was violating the law. This restriction resulted in the withdrawal of officers from around 40 agencies.
Despite this, some agencies maintained their presence on school campuses, while others enhanced their SRO programs. Criticism was directed at legislators for not involving law enforcement leaders in the initial bill discussions. Sen. Eric Pratt criticized the past provision during the bill debate, labeling it as flawed. Although an amendment to spike the bill was proposed, it did not succeed.
Another successful amendment now permits teachers and administrators to restrain students to prevent property theft or damage. This inclusion has raised concerns among Democrats, who stress the need for further negotiation with House lawmakers. The new law aims to delineate the role of SROs in student restraint and discipline, with the Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (POST) tasked with developing training programs for SROs.
The legislation prohibits SROs from enforcing campus rules or meting out disciplinary actions to students. It also emphasizes the limitation of physical restraints, particularly prone restraint, and aims to standardize the role of SROs statewide. However, some progressives and education advocates oppose the bill, arguing against police use of the prone position on children.
Attorney General Keith Ellison’s opinion on police use-of-force statutes has led to the restoration of some school resource officer programs. The bill, supported by Rep. Cedrick Frazier, seeks to codify these clarifications. Senate Republicans criticized various school discipline policies passed last year, raising concerns about the impact on administrators and teachers in managing disciplinary issues effectively.