HF3874

Purpose

• Expand and clarify the Minnesota State Patrol’s duties to include security and protection responsibilities for high-profile state officials and court property, and adjust funding for the judiciary to support security, paid leave, and court operations beginning in fiscal year 2028.

Main Provisions

• State Patrol powers and security roles (Section 1)
  • The Minnesota State Patrol is authorized to employ a leadership team and officers and to act as peace officers with broad powers.
  • They gain authority to enforce laws on trunk highways, direct traffic, and handle emergencies to keep traffic and safety moving.
  • They may serve warrants, arrest warrants, and other legal documents anywhere in Minnesota, and inspect vehicle-related stations and equipment.
  • They may conduct traffic safety education and school bus clinics, and they can enforce crime laws with the same authority as sheriffs and police in their jurisdiction.
  • They can assist other peace officers in dangerous situations and must provide security and protection for the governor or governor-elect, both houses of the legislature, and state buildings or property after consulting with the governor.
  • They may coordinate security services beyond regular hours for compensation as outlined in agreements.
  • Employees designated for these duties must take an oath.
  • After consulting with the governor, the commissioner may require State Patrol to provide security for supreme court justices, legislators, and other constitutional officers for limited periods and within available resources.
• Judiciary funding and base adjustments (Sections 2–4)
  • Supreme Court: Establishes a small contingent account for ordinary expenses the court would incur; creates a “Justice Partner Access” appropriation to improve access to documents and court information; sets adjustments to the general fund base starting in FY2028.
  • Court of Appeals: Sets base adjustments starting in FY2028.
  • District Courts: Increases funding to raise the hourly rate paid to forensic examiners; sets base adjustments starting in FY2028.
• Specific appropriations and programs (Sections 5–8)
  • Supreme Court appropriations:
  • Paid leave: small annual amounts in 2026 and 2027 to cover employer-paid leave, added to base in FY2028.
  • Safety and security: funding in FY2027 to implement safety measures, added to base in FY2028.
  • Safe and secure courthouse initiative: a one-time grant of $1,000,000 in FY2027 for courthouse safety improvements (equipment, technology, construction, training, etc.) with a 50% nonstate match; available through June 30, 2029.
  • Court of Appeals appropriations:
  • Paid leave: small annual amounts in 2026 and 2027, added to base in FY2028.
  • Safety and security: funding in FY2027, added to base in FY2028.
  • District Courts appropriations:
  • Paid leave: amounts in 2026 and 2027, added to base in FY2028.
  • Safety and security: funding in FY2027, added to base in FY2028.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Security authority expansion:
  • The bill broadens the State Patrol’s role from primarily traffic and highway functions to providing security for the governor, governor-elect, the legislature, supreme court justices, and other constitutional officers, with oversight and consultation requirements.
• Oath and contracting:
  • Individuals designated for these enhanced duties must take an oath, and the state can contract for State Patrol services beyond normal hours with pay defined by agreement.
• Increased and redistributed judiciary funding:
  • Adds new or augmented funding streams (e.g., Justice Partner Access, contingent accounts, safety and security appropriations) and adjusts baseline funding for the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and District Courts beginning in FY2028.
• Targeted programs:
  • Creates a one-time courthouse safety grant program with a mandatory nonstate match to support improvements in security and safety at courthouses.

Funding and Timeframes (Overview)

• Some security and paid leave funding is allocated for FY2026–FY2027, with these amounts added to base funding starting in FY2028.
• The Justice Partner Access program and courthouse safety grant have specified availability windows (e.g., grants through June 30, 2029) and matching requirements.
• Base adjustments apply to multiple courts (Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, District Courts) beginning in FY2028.

Relevant Terms - Minnesota State Patrol - peace officers - trunk highways - search warrants - arrest warrants - governor and governor-elect - legislature (both houses) - supreme court justices - constitutional officers - security and protection - contingent account - Justice Partner Access - base adjustment / general fund base - Forensic Examiner Rate Increase - paid leave program - safety and security measures - courthouse safety and security improvements - competitive grant program - nonstate match - base funding start year (FY2028)