A bill for an act
relating to education; modifying the prohibition on American Indian mascots;
appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section
121A.041, subdivision 2.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 121A.041, subdivision 2, is
amended to read:
(a) Starting September 1, 2025, a
public school may not have or adopt a name, symbol, or image that depicts or refers to an
American Indian Tribe, individual, custom, or tradition to be used as a mascot, nickname,
logo, letterhead, or team name of the school, district, or school within the district, unless
the school has obtained an exemption under subdivision 3.
(b) The prohibition in paragraph (a) does not apply to a public school located within the
reservation of a federally recognized Tribal Nation in Minnesota, where at least 95 percent
of students meet the state definition of American Indian student.
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(c) The commissioner must establish a process for a public school to apply for funding
to make changes necessary to replace a prohibited name, symbol, or image on uniforms,
signs, paintings, equipment, gym floors, websites, and other school property, including
supplies and other building surfaces. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the
commissioner may approve an application to reimburse a school for amounts expended to
comply with paragraph (a) after July 1, 2023, and for expenses a public school has incurred
based on a work plan and budget approved by the commissioner. The commissioner must
provide a public school with the funding requested within 30 days of approving the school's
work plan and budget. A public school that applies to the commissioner for mascot
replacement assistance is not required to comply with the prohibition in paragraph (a) until
the commissioner has approved the request.
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This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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The sum indicated in this section is
appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education in the fiscal year
designated.
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(a) For assistance to public schools seeking
to comply with Minnesota Statutes, section 121A.041:
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$ new text end |
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....... new text end |
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2025 new text end |
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(b) This is a onetime appropriation and is available until July 1, 2026.
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