Purpose

• Establish a state grant program to fund safety improvements at schools, funded by bond proceeds and a dedicated School Safety Improvement Account in the Special Revenue Fund. The program aims to create safer school environments through both physical upgrades and security-related equipment and systems. The Minnesota School Safety Center (within the Department of Public Safety) oversees the program; if the Center is not operational, duties transfer to the commissioner of public safety.

What the bill would create and fund

• A grant program for school safety improvements, using two funding streams:
  • Bond proceeds: grants for capital safety improvement projects (physical, long-lasting upgrades to buildings or land).
  • School safety improvement account (Special Revenue Fund): grants for capital and noncapital safety improvements, available to a broader range of school owners (public, tribal, or private).
• The program covers both current security systems and training for staff, and can fund a wide range of security components and systems.

Eligible applicants and projects

• Bond proceeds stream (capital safety improvements only)
  • Eligible owner: public entity.
  • Project type: capital safety improvements (capital, long-lasting physical upgrades).
• Special Revenue Fund (School Safety Improvement Account)
  • Eligible owner: public entity, tribal government, or private entity.
  • Project type: capital and/or noncapital safety improvements (not limited to capital). Examples include equipment, systems, and other safety enhancements.
• Projects must improve physical safety on school property or on school grounds.

Approved vendors and eligible components

• The Minnesota School Safety Center must create a list of authorized vendors (vendors must have at least two years of operation and relevant experience).
• Schools must use grant funds to contract with an authorized vendor to implement, install, and/or upgrade security equipment or systems.
• Allowed components may include, among others:
  • Bullet-resistant interior doors and windows
  • Ballistic wall panels
  • Magnetic door locking systems
  • Remote lockdown activation systems
  • Mass notification systems integrated with emergency communications
  • Emergency building access systems for first responders (fire, emergency medical services, law enforcement)
  • Access control systems, including remote door release
  • Electronic access controls for main distribution frame rooms
  • Classroom duress alarms linked to a law enforcement/administration notification system
  • Classrooms and doors with ballistic security glass, vision panels, and sidelights
  • Staff training on emergency protocols
  • Classroom door installations designed to enhance safety
• The Center must provide districts and charter schools with the list of authorized vendors.

Application process

• Applicants must submit a written application that includes:
  • Description of proposed project or improvements and rationale (including the student population served)
  • Estimated total costs, broken down by phases (design, construction, furnishing, equipment, etc.)
  • Breakdown of capital vs noncapital costs
  • Requested grant amount
  • Property owner and decision-making entity
  • Prior sources and amounts of state and nonstate funds committed to the project
  • Public purpose achieved
  • Estimated timeline for completion
  • Contact person for questions
  • Any other information requested by the Center

Prioritization and equitable distribution

• If funds are insufficient to fund all eligible requests, grants are awarded in a prioritized order based on:
  • Demonstrated local support for the project
  • The need for the project
  • Long-term maintenance costs
  • The expected increase in safety relative to the cost
• The Center must ensure grant funds are distributed equitably across Minnesota regions, including the metropolitan area and greater Minnesota.

Match requirements

• Applicants must show a nonstate-fund match unless:
  • The applicant is located in a city with net tax capacity per capita below the statewide median, or
  • The applicant is experiencing hardship.

Grant amounts and use

• A school may apply for one or more grants totaling up to a yearly limit (the bill specifies a cap, but the exact numeric amount is not provided in the excerpt).
• Each grant must cover at least the amount needed to complete one or more project phases, minus any nonstate funds already committed.
• Any remaining balance after the funding availability period is canceled back to the source fund from which it was appropriated.
• Grants funded with bond proceeds are considered state bond-financed property and are subject to related requirements.

Notifications and timelines

• The Minnesota School Safety Center must promptly notify each applicant of grant decisions.
• Approved projects must come with the grant amount, required match, and money-availability deadlines.

Applicability to other laws; duration

• Chapter 16A applies to grants made from bond proceeds and from the School Safety Improvement Account.
• Grant money remains available until the project is completed or abandoned (subject to 16A.642) and school improvements funded with bond proceeds are state bond-financed property subject to 16A.642.

Administration, monitoring, and accountability

• Up to 5% of any appropriation for this program may be used for administration and monitoring.
• The Center must provide technical assistance, education, and support for applicants and may contract with a third party to provide these services.

Reporting to the Legislature

• On or before January 31, 2027, and every January 31 thereafter, the Center must report details about grants awarded, recipients, projects funded, and related information (as required by law). A copy of the report must also be sent to the relevant chairs and ranking minority members of the state House and Senate committees with jurisdiction over capital investment, education, and public safety.

Budgetary and funding structure (high-level)

• A School Safety Improvement Account is created in the Special Revenue Fund to receive appropriations for grants under 299A.625.
• Money in the account is annually appropriated to the Commissioner of Public Safety for grant awards under 299A.625.
• A large appropriation (noted as 1,000,000,000 in the bill text) from the bond proceeds fund is allocated to the Commissioner of Public Safety to provide grants for eligible capital safety improvements.
• In fiscal year 2027, funds are transferred from the General Fund to the School Safety Improvement Account to support grants for eligible safety Improvement projects.

Key terms to know (context)

• Minnesota School Safety Center, Department of Public Safety
• School safety grant program; capital safety improvement project; noncapital safety improvements
• Authorized vendors; security systems and components; bullet-resistant and ballistic materials
• Mass notification, remote lockdown, duress alarms, access control, emergency building access for first responders
• Group E Occupancy (fire code context)
• School Safety Improvement Account; Special Revenue Fund; Bond Proceeds Fund
• Matching funds; local support; regional equity
• Reporting requirements; 16A.642; hardship and net tax capacity criteria

Relevant Terms - Minnesota School Safety Center - Department of Public Safety - school safety grant program - capital safety improvement project - noncapital safety improvements - authorized vendors - bullet-resistant interior doors and windows - ballistic wall panels - magnetic door locking systems - remote lockdown activation systems - mass notification system - emergency building access system - electronic access control systems - classroom duress alarms - ballistic security glass - Group E Occupancy - school safety improvement account - special revenue fund - bond proceeds fund - grants; matching funds - local support; need; maintenance costs; cost vs safety - equitable regional distribution - reporting to legislature - 16A.642 (related provision) - hardship (net tax capacity per capita) - first responders integration