Purpose

• Create an Office of Gun Violence Prevention within the Department of Health to help prevent gun violence and reduce related injuries and deaths in Minnesota.

What would be established

• The commissioner of health would establish and maintain the new office.
• A director, who is highly knowledgeable about gun violence issues, would be appointed.
• The director and full-time staff would be members of the Minnesota State Retirement System.
• The office could hire assistants and other staff as needed and fund them from available resources.

Key duties of the office

• Coordinate and promote effective efforts to reduce gun violence and related traumas.
• Conduct and promote research on the causes of gun violence and evidence-based responses.
• Collect and report data on gun-related incidents and deaths in Minnesota.
• Create public health campaigns about the effects of gun violence and how to reduce it.
• Support and provide resources for victims of gun violence.
• Build partnerships with local, state, and national experts, agencies, and stakeholders working to reduce gun violence.
• Serve as a resource to the Minnesota Legislature on gun violence prevention legislation.

Collaboration and coordination

• The office must coordinate its efforts with the Department of Public Safety, including the Office of Justice Programs.
• It may coordinate with stakeholder groups and other state agencies involved in reducing gun violence.

Funding and staffing

• The director may select, appoint, and compensate staff as needed using available funds.
• The office may apply for and receive grants from public and private entities to carry out its duties.

Reporting requirements

• By February 15 of each year, the office must report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over health and public safety policy and funding, detailing activities from the previous year.

Changes to law and coding

• The bill proposes coding a new law in Minnesota Statutes, likely adding a new chapter related to the Office of Gun Violence Prevention within Chapter 144.

Appropriations and fiscal impact

• The bill would appropriate money from the general fund in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to the Department of Health to implement this act.

Relevant Terms - Office of Gun Violence Prevention - Department of Health - gun violence - gun-related incidents - gun deaths - public health campaigns - victims of gun violence - director - Minnesota State Retirement System - Department of Public Safety - Office of Justice Programs - data collection - research - grants - Minnesota Statutes Chapter 144 - general fund appropriation - fiscal years 2026 and 2027