This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 126C.44, to enhance safe schools revenue and create a new safe schools aid program. For fiscal year 2025, a school district's safe schools revenue will equal its safe schools levy, while for fiscal year 2026 and beyond, it will be the greater of $100,000 or $44 times the pupil units. The bill introduces a new subdivision that establishes safe schools aid, which is calculated as the difference between a district's safe schools revenue and levy, adjusted by the ratio of the district's levy to the permitted levy. Additionally, the bill expands safe schools revenue to cooperative units, allowing for increased funding based on adjusted pupil units and establishing a tax rate to raise specific revenue amounts.

The bill also outlines the permissible uses of safe schools revenue, which includes funding for security personnel, drug prevention programs, and mental health services, among other safety measures. Furthermore, it specifies that revenue raised under the cooperative units' provisions must be transferred to the respective cooperative unit. The effective date for these changes is set for fiscal year 2026 and later, and the bill includes an appropriation from the general fund to the Department of Education for the implementation of the safe schools aid program.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 126C.44