Friends and neighbors,
By now you have probably heard about the controversy with school resource officers, but here is a recap: Last session, Democrats passed a new law governing what actions School Resource Officers (SROs) can take while de-escalating violent or dangerous situations.
Police groups immediately expressed serious concerns about the new law. They argued that it limited their ability to intervene effectively in situations where students might be a risk to themselves or others. They said that they were being denied the necessary tools to maintain safety and order.
They have also expressed frustration about the lack of clarity in the law. They argue the way the law is written could expose officers to legal liabilities for intervening in dangerous altercations.
In response, many police departments withdrew officers from schools, and law enforcement groups, parents, and school administrators called for a special session to correct the issue. I heard these frustrations all the time around the district, and still do today. Republicans supported the idea of a special session, and even put together a bipartisan bill that would solve the issue for everyone. Democrats were not interested and said they would address it right away in the new session.
Well the first week of session arrived and Democrats still were not ready. In the House, their SRO bill stalled in its first committee and they had to set it aside. In the Senate, they jammed their bill through its first hearing while continuing their partisan approach to governing that they displayed last year – they rejected all Republican amendments (even amendments that had bipartisan support in the House) and generally ignored the ongoing concerns of law enforcement and other stakeholders.
It is a bad way to govern. If the Democrats’ approach does not change, the outcome is going to be another failed law that has little public support, and we’ll have to come back and fix it once again. The right solution here is the simplest one: let’s repeal last year’s law and go back to the way things were. The old law was working, and it will work again.
But if Democrats do not want to do that, then the solution must be a bipartisan one – all stakeholders should be involved so we can arrive at a true fix. The safety of our kids, teachers, and schools should always come before partisan politics. Let’s show some bipartisanship and put students first.
Last session was one of the most partisan, divisive, and controversial in memory. I hope that approach changes this year, because our success as a state depends on cooperation and bipartisanship. So I really hope my friends on the other side of the aisle will be more willing to work together and more open to constructive feedback this year. It is for the good of the state.
Contact me:
If you have any questions about any issues we are working on at the legislature, feel free to contact me any time at sen.john.jasinski@mnsenate.gov or 651-296-0284.
And you can always get the latest news from St. Paul on my Facebook page at fb.com/SenatorJohnJasinski.
It is a privilege to serve you!