This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 126C.44, to increase safe schools revenue and expand its availability to charter schools, cooperative units, nonpublic schools, and Tribal contract schools. 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 $32,000 or the safe schools allowance multiplied by the district's adjusted pupil units. The safe schools allowance is set at $44 for fiscal year 2026 and later. Additionally, the bill introduces provisions for safe schools aid for charter schools, nonpublic schools, and American Indian Tribal contract schools, ensuring they receive funding based on their enrollment and adjusted pupil units.

The bill also modifies the structure of safe schools aid for cooperative units, establishing a new revenue calculation based on the adjusted pupil units of member school districts. It specifies that safe schools revenue must be used for various safety-related expenditures, including funding for peace officers, drug abuse prevention programs, and mental health services. The bill includes an effective date for the new provisions and appropriates funds from the general fund to the Department of Education for safe schools aid.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 126C.44