This bill, H.F. No. 1686, proposes amendments to Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 326.3361, to expand training requirements for licensed security officers in the state of Minnesota. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Public Safety Finance and Policy.

Key Provisions:

1. Expanded Firearms & Weapons Training:

   • Security officers armed with firearms must receive training on proper use and associated risks.
     
   • Security officers armed with other weapons (e.g., batons, chemical weapons, electronic incapacitation devices) must receive similar training.
     
   • Additional training on first aid and alternatives to the use of force, emphasizing when force should not be used.
     
   • Training on the legal limitations of justifiable use of force and deadly force as outlined in Minnesota laws.

2. Pre-Assignment & Continuing Education:

   • Security officers must undergo specific training before starting their jobs and continuing professional education during employment.
     
   • Security officers and their employers must comply with new mandatory continuing training standards.
     

3. New Required Training Topics:

   • Community health & wellness, including training on substance abuse, homelessness, and mental illness.
     
   • First aid, including CPR, AED use, and opioid overdose response.
     
   • Conflict & crisis de-escalation strategies, particularly for responding to violent incidents and mental health crises.
     
   • Industry standards for reporting security incidents and writing incident reports.
     
   • Understanding the roles and responsibilities of public safety entities and how security officers should interact with them.
     
   • Handling disruptions in building operations, such as power outages, water leaks, flooding, elevator malfunctions, and emergencies.
     
   • Identifying security threats to buildings and their occupants.
     

4. Implementation Plan:

   • The board must develop a plan to ensure existing licensed security officers comply with these new training requirements.

Overall Impact:

This bill aims to enhance the professionalism and preparedness of security officers by expanding their training requirements to address public health issues, emergency response, and de-escalation techniques, ensuring safer interactions with the public.