Fast-tracked change to new law about officers in schools hits snag at the Capitol

On the opening day of the legislative session, Democrats promised to fast-track a bill to address concerns with a new law that limits the types of restraints that school resource officers (SROs) can use on students.

The bill got two hearings within two days in the House, but it was unexpectedly laid over in the Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee on Tuesday night. It was supposed to head to the Ways and Means Committee next, which top leaders said would set the bill up for a floor vote as early as next week.

The bill did clear the Senate’s Committee on Education Policy on Wednesday and is heading to that chamber’s judiciary committee next.

“There should be minimum standards, and there should be minimum requirements that are uniform throughout our state,” said Sen. Bonnie Westlin, DFL-Plymouth, who is sponsoring the bill.

SROs were pulled out of some classrooms last fall because of the new law, and leaders in both parties called for a fix immediately this session.

The bill would allow the officers to use prone restraints on students but would require a series of trainings for SROs stationed in schools, including one on juvenile brain development, and courses on how to work with students with disabilities or who are enrolled in special education courses. It would also create a model policy to outline their responsibilities.

Republicans have criticized Democrats for bringing a bill they argue wasn’t ready for prime time, and they say GOP input — and votes — will be needed to pass the bill because some Democratic votes are expected to fall off.

“The school resource officer issue was not a surprise to anyone. They’ve had months. We could have had a bill dropped that had been vetted by all stakeholders,” Sen. Zach Duckworth, R-Lakeville, said after the Senate education committee hearing Wednesday. “If you’ve been telling the press, the public, the media you’ve been working on this for months, then why isn’t the bill ready?”