The Minnesota Senate this morning passed a comprehensive Judiciary and Public Safety budget providing the constitutionally required and critical funding to keep Minnesotans safe.
“Public safety is one of the most critical responsibilities of government,” said Senator Jeremy Miller (R-Winona). “This bill prioritizes the safety of our communities, justice for victims of crime, and resources so law enforcement, the judiciary, and correctional officers have to tools they need to do their job.”
The bill includes $30 million to top off the Disaster Assistance Contingency Account, which is used to help communities across Minnesota recover from natural disasters such as tornados, severe weather, and flooding.
“Disaster relief funding is used to support our neighbors as they work to recover after a disaster strikes,” added Sen. Miller. “This bill ensures we are prepared to help local communities throughout the state if a natural disaster does occur. I am proud of the bipartisan support for this bill, and I look forward to getting it to the governor’s desk for his signature.”
The Public Safety budget provides significant support for first responders through pay raises for law enforcement officers and investments in training programs to help Minnesotans in the field. To keep Minnesotans safe, there are expansions included for the Violent Crime Enforcement Teams, which investigate serious crimes such as gangs and drug trafficking.
Notably, this budget prioritizes the needs of victims to get the justice they deserve by increasing penalties for heinous crimes, provides investigative resources for crimes in the National Guard, and amending statutes that prioritize the criminal over the victim. Crimes against children are particularly terrible, and this bill increases penalties for criminals who traffic children and those who create or distribute child pornography, and also creates a new crime with severe penalties for child torture. As seen in a Supreme Court case earlier this year, Minnesota statute is amended through this bill to close the “voluntary intoxication loophole,” giving sexual assault survivors the full support of the criminal justice system regardless of sobriety.
Other Key Provisions Include:
- Matson Strong: Stiffens penalties for the attempted murder of a public safety official
- Travis’s Law: Requires 911 operators to include social service crisis teams for mental health calls
- Matthew’s Law: Increases safety protections for confidential informants
- Hometown Heroes: Financial support, training and resources for firefighters
- Ignition interlocks for repeat DUI offenders
- Tightening cases where no-knock warrants may be used
- Provides increased support for body cameras for law enforcement agencies
- Database improvements to track officer conduct through the Police Officer Standards and Training Board.
- Department of Corrections requirement to provide identification cards and information on how to access public services and prevent homelessness, when releasing convicts at the end of their prison sentence