State Public Safety Bill Will Help Keep 'Soft Targets' Safe

The Minnesota House has approved a conference committee report that will fund judiciary and public safety priorities over the next two years. The plan funds public safety at nearly $2.333 billion over the next budget cycle, which includes the budgets of the Department of Corrections, six of the 11 divisions of the Department of Public Safety, Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, District Courts, Tax Court, Board of Judicial Standards, Guardian Ad Litem Board, Public Defense Board, Sentencing Guidelines Commission, Peace Officer Standards and Training Board, and Uniform Law Commission.

Included in the bill is a security grant program to protect nonprofit organizations that have been designated “soft targets” by Homeland Security that was originally authored by Burnsville Republican Rep. Drew Christensen.

“Jewish Community Centers across the country, including ones right here in Minnesota, have been the targets of threats for simply offering their community a place to gather and spend time together,” Christensen said in a statement. “This will create a program to grant funds to nonprofit organizations that are considered ‘soft targets’ by Homeland Security to help cover costs related to securing their facilities. This bill will help ensure that Minnesotans are safe from terrorism and that organizations like Jewish Community Centers can fulfill their missions without fear."

The bill allocates new money to local law enforcement agencies to help them pay for officers’ training costs, to help officers in dealing with suicidal and mentally disturbed people, and creates crisis intervention team training. The plan also improves our judicial system, and allows the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to replace an outdated predatory offender registry, according to a news release.

The legislation also provides new revenue to address terrorism recruitment and dedicates funds for additional sex trafficking prevention grants.

Image via Google Streetview