Minnesota legislators reach public safety deal in push to finish budget

Minnesota legislators reached an agreement Saturday on the most contentious part of budget negotiations, a public safety-police accountability package. They face a Wednesday deadline to complete the state budget and avoid a government shut down.This weekend, state leaders moved forward with a variety of spending bills on their to-do list. They also considered the high-profile education and health measures that account for the bulk of state spending. They posted late Saturday a spreadsheet that detailed their public safety spending agreement. However, legislative staff acknowledged that they still had to resolve some minor issues.According to a source familiar, the bill will contain language that regulates the use of no knock warrants. This is a major priority for DFL. Although the bill's full text was not available Saturday night, a document detailing the amount of money included in the deal indicates that legislators didn't include money to support another Democratic push: prohibiting police officers from stopping traffic for certain offenses.Leaders from both sides of this aisle were determined to reach a compromise on legislation that would include funding for state law enforcement agencies, prisons, and other related matters. A Republican-backed provision, the agreement included $2 million for violence enforcement teams.Although some reform measures were passed by legislators last year following George Floyd's death, Democrats claim that they are only a start. DFL legislators took to Twitter to emphasize that the sentencing was not an alternative to what they consider essential changes to the criminal justice systems after Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, was sentenced to 22 years imprisonment for killing Floyd."Former officer Chauvin's sentence and conviction should not be taken as proof that the system is working. It shouldn't take a worldwide movement to hold an officer responsible. "That is not sustainable long term," Rep. Cedrick Frazier tweeted Friday. Frazier was one of the key DFL negotiators for the public safety bill. We need laws and policies that make accountability the norm, not an exception, and that stop these murders from ever happening.Continue the storyDemocrats have been calling for limits on no-knock warrants, and some pretextual traffic stop, when police pull over a driver because of a minor violation such as expired tabs, or something hanging from his rearview mirror. After Daunte Wright was killed by police in April, the push for traffic stop reforms intensified. Brooklyn Center officers claim they pulled him over because he was driving with expired tabs. After he was pulled over for driving with expired tabs, they discovered a warrant and attempted to arrest Wright. They fatally shot him.Gov. Tim Walz stated that they were also discussing the time frame before footage from police body cameras should be released."The families want it as quickly as possible. He said that the police are concerned about how it could impact the investigation.Walz stated that police are open to many of the ideas suggested for inclusion in the bill on public safety.Paul Gazelka (R-East Gull Lake), Senate Majority Leader, repeatedly stated during negotiations that Senate Republicans would not agree to any "anti-police" legislation.A spokeswoman for the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association stated that their group was involved in negotiations. However, she declined to give details about the latest developments this weekend as well as key legislators involved with the deal-making.The K-12 budget bill was being debated by lawmakers on Saturday. It contains $1.2 billion of new spending for schools in the next four-years, which is the largest increase in fifteen years. The state leaders reached an agreement to raise the per-pupil funding formula by 2.5% next and 2% in the following year. This will allow school districts to avoid teacher layoffs."All Minnesota students deserve world-class education, no matter where they live or how they look," Rep. Hodan Hassan (DFL-Minneapolis) stated during a House debate. It's a great bill and something to be proud about.House Republicans suggested a variety of changes, including giving parents control over school curricula. They also allowed school boards to choose to continue in-person classes during an emergency. These attempts were unsuccessful in the DFL-controlled chamber which voted 105-20 in favor of the bill.The health and human services agreement was also discussed by legislators. It is the second largest chunk of state spending, after the education package. On Friday, the House highlighted several provisions that will benefit low-income families while the senators highlighted the effects the bill will have for Minnesotans living with disabilities."This bill is for people with disabilities. This bill will make it possible to push for independence wherever possible, something that has been decades in the works," stated Jim Abeler (R-Anoka), Chairman of Senate Human Services Reform Committee. Abeler stated that the deal will support workers, including personal and home care assistants and seniors who care for them. He also noted that many people with disabilities struggle to get staff to help them survive. He said, "This will be helpful."Walz stated that the state's health and human service package is an important part of government. He added, "It has an impact on millions of Minnesotans lives."Jessie Van Berkel 651-925-5044Ryan Faircloth 612-673-4243