Chiefs Legislative Agenda

The Minnesota Chiefs of Police Legislative Agenda is compiled and reviewed each year by a committee of members. It is then approved by the board of directors prior to the annual legislative session.

The Minnesota Legislature has adjourned until April 14th in as part of the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Lawmakers are on-call to return to the Capitol or meet in restricted session to pass essential legislation. The adjournment likely means lawmaker will place non-essential legislation on hold until meeting restrictions can be eased or lifted entirely.

 Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association (MCPA) 2020 Legislative Agenda was developed over a period of several months with input from the state’s police chiefs, law enforcement leaders and stakeholder groups.  Members of the organization’s Legislative Committee, which is made up of public safety professionals from agencies large and small, urban and rural, discussed, vetted and prioritized the agenda. The MCPA Board of Directors approved the 2020 Legislative Agenda on November 21, 2019.

CLARIFY EXISTING TRACKING WARRANT STATUTES
The MCPA supports legislation that ensures search warrants can be granted for mobile applications operating through means other than cellular networks when there is sufficient probable cause a crime has or is being committed.

AMEND CHAPTER 229C to allow CLEOS ACCESS TO NATIONAL CRIM. HISTORY DATABASE
The MCPA supports giving chief law enforcement officers the ability to utilize the resources of the National Criminal History database to conduct background investigations for certain business licenses and certain employment background investigations.

IMPROVE INFORMATION SHARING AMONG FIRST RESPONDERS AND STAKEHOLDERS
The MCPA supports enhancing the ability of law enforcement, medical professionals and human services reps to more effectively communicate and share information in certain situations involved mental health or crisis response.

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS
The MCPA supports preventing individuals who are legally able to purchase a gun from doing so without background checks at gun shows, online or in private transactions.

EXTREME RISK PROTECTION ORDERS (ERPO)
The MCPA supports allowing law enforcement who believe an individual’s documented dangerous behavior has a substantial likelihood to lead to violence to request an order from a civil court authorizing the temporary removal of any guns in the individual’s possession and the prohibition of any new gun purchases during the duration of the temporary order.

FALSELY REPORTING INGESTION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES WHILE DETAINED
The MCPA supports a legislative solution to the growing trend of individuals who falsely report the ingestion of controlled substances while detained prior to booking.

AMEND MN Statute 144.7407 subd. 2 FOR OFFICER SAFETY PURPOSES
The MCPA supports allowing a blood sample be taken from an individual whose bodily fluid exposes a sworn law enforcement officer to danger when that individual refuses consent or is unable to provide consent.

AMEND MN CHAPTER 144E.001 TO REQUIRE LOCAL APPROVAL FOR ANY CHANGES IN AMBULANCE SERVICES
The MCPA supports requiring there be local approval for any changes proposed related to ambulance services, including staffing, training, budgetary and the level of service available to community members.

STRENGTHENING 3^RD DEGREE ASSAULT STATUTE TO INCLUDE STRANGULATION OF ANY PERSON REGARDLESS OF THE RELATIONSHIP
The MCPA supports changing the statute to provide protection to anyone, specifically minors, for the crime of strangulation when the crime is not covered under any other statutes, such as domestic abuse by strangulation or maltreatment of a minor.

AMEND 3^RD DEGREE CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT STATUTE (609.344)
The MCPA supports closing a loophole in the 3^rd degree criminal sexual conduct statute that is currently allowing criminals to victimize children.   Specifically, amending the statute  to include acts between a minor and an adult more than 48 months older who is not in a position of authority.

ARBITRATION REVISION ACT
The MCPA supports creating a more objective arbitration process by changing the way in which arbitrators are selected in public employee discipline arbitration (amendment to 179.02 Subd. 3 Rules) cases.  Currently, the MCPA believes arbitrators are not selected objectively and all financial incentives for arbitrators must be removed in order to ensure fairness, consistency and procedural integrity.

LAW ENFORCEMENT INTEGRITY ACT  
The MCPA supports legislation allowing for a Minnesota Licensed Peace Officer to be terminated from public employment without opportunity to challenge the remedy of termination should the basis for termination be willful or intentional dishonesty, deception, or similar unethical or illegal conduct that is deemed sufficient to imperil their credibility in court testimony. The MCPA does not support limiting an officer’s due process right to arbitration.

CONTINUED INVESTMENTS IN MANDATED LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING
The MCPA supports continuing the POST Board training reimbursement allocation to local agencies, which began in 2018, into fiscal year 2022-2023 through the Peace Officer Training Fund for mandated training in the areas of recognizing and valuing diversity and cultural differences, conflict management and mediation, crisis intervention and mental Illness crises.

K12 THREAT ASSESSMENTS  
The MCPA supports legislation requiring school districts to establish a team of subject matter experts to examine and address school safety issues and specific threats to the students, staff and community.  This legislation would move our state beyond physical school safety measures, such as infrastructure improvement grants, passed by the Legislature in 2018.

LAW ENFORCEMENT HEALTH AND WELLNESS ACT
The MCPA supports legislation that will help officers and agencies support funding for police officer safety, health and wellness and mental health programs for PTSD.

NEUTRAL:
STATEWIDE DRIVER DIVERSION PROGRAM
The MCPA will take a neutral position on any legislation that will drivers cited to participate in an educational program in lieu of proceeding through the courts.