Purpose

• authorize the commissioner of education to provide school safety facility grants to eligible schools to improve safety for students and staff
• cancel a specified amount of money previously set aside for the Minneapolis–Duluth Northern Lights Express intercity rail project
• allocate funds for school safety improvements and establish how the grants are administered

Key Provisions

• Grant program and purpose

  • The commissioner of education may award school safety facility grants to qualifying schools to enhance safety
  • Grants must be used for school facility security improvements described in the related security provisions

• Qualifying schools

  • Eligible entities include: school districts, charter school cooperatives (as defined in Minnesota law), tribal contract schools, and nonpublic schools

• Application requirements

  • Schools must apply in the format specified by the commissioner
  • Applications must disclose other funding sources that will fully fund the safety project

• Grant awards

  • Grants may be up to $500,000 per qualifying school
  • The commissioner, after consulting with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s School Safety Center, will award grants
  • Applications should be prioritized in the awarding process
  • At least half of the grants must go to schools whose administrative offices are located outside the seven-county metropolitan area

• Grant disbursement

  • Construction funds may not be distributed until bids have been received for 100% of the construction documents
  • Applicants must provide documentation showing the project can be fully completed with the money available

• Funding and implementation

  • An appropriation of $25,000,000 from the general fund is made for fiscal year 2027 for school safety facility grants
  • The funds are available through June 30, 2028

• Cancellation of prior rail project funds

  • $25,000,000 of funds previously appropriated for the Minneapolis–Duluth Northern Lights Express intercity rail project are canceled on the effective date of this section

Implementation and Oversight

• Administration by the Department of Education
• Coordination with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Minnesota School Safety Center to determine grant awards

Financial and Policy Implications

• Creates a dedicated state funding stream specifically for school safety facility upgrades
• Targets funding to nonmetro (outstate) schools in at least half of grant awards
• Reallocates funds away from a rail project to support school safety

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Establishes a new grant program and appropriation for school safety facility improvements
• Cancels previously allocated funds for the Northern Lights Express intercity rail project, redirecting them to safety grants

Relevant Terms - school safety facility grants - qualifying school - school safety project - Minnesota School Safety Center - Department of Public Safety - construction bids - 100% of construction documents - seven-county metropolitan area - administrative offices outside the seven-county area - general fund appropriation - fiscal year 2027 - Northern Lights Express intercity passenger rail project - capital improvements and betterments (as related to the rail project)