Senate approves bipartisan fix to school resource officer law
Friends and neighbors,
Back in August, I shared that the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office announced the removal of their school resource officer (SRO) from Rockford High School, located in Rockford Area School District 883. This was due to last session’s change in Minnesota’s school discipline law, which ultimately led to dozens of law enforcement agencies removing their SROs.
To ensure the safety of our students, Republicans urged Democrats and the governor to join us in finding an immediate solution before the start of the school year. However, they refused to call a special session and repeal their harmful law.
This session, Senate Republicans fought hard to get this issue resolved, and I am pleased to share that we recently passed a bipartisan fix. This legislation has the support of Minnesota law enforcement and eliminates the overly restrictive language that hinders their ability to act in dangerous situations.
The original version lacked proper input from law enforcement, and I am grateful for all the bipartisan efforts made to protect the safety of our students, teachers, and faculty. Our SROs are an integral part of our school communities, and I am glad they have the support and clarity they need to do their jobs.
Constituents at the Capitol
This week was filled with a lot of great visits from members of our community! I had the opportunity to meet with constituents who work at Swan River Montessori Charter School. They visited the Capitol to advocate for state school safety dollars for their students. Right now, charter schools are left out of the equation and do not receive this funding, even though they must subscribe to state education standards.
The safety of our students is integral, and I will continue to work with our local charter schools as they seek this funding.
Additionally, I met with a group from the Wright Soil and Water Conservation District Board. We discussed the importance of modernizing our water infrastructure and their bonding requests for local projects. I remain committed to working with our local leaders to ensure our community continues to have access to clean, reliable water.
My office is always open to constituents, and I invite you to stop by the next time you’re in St. Paul!
Contact My Office
Please feel free to reach out to my office with any concerns or ideas you may have. I will keep your thoughts and concerns in mind as legislation comes before me. You can contact my office at sen.bruce.anderson@mnsenate.gov or 651-296-5981.
Sincerely,
Bruce Anderson