Purpose of the Bill

The primary goal of this bill is to eliminate the community justice reinvestment account from the special revenue fund in Minnesota's public safety framework. This account was previously used to provide financial support for programs related to criminal justice, specifically in the areas of substance use disorder and mental health treatment.

Main Provisions

• Repeal of Statute: The bill repeals Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 299A.707, which authorized the existence of the community justice reinvestment account.

• Elimination of Grant Program: With the repeal, the existing grant program that was managed by the Office of Justice Programs under the commissioner of public safety is discontinued. This grant program previously funded a variety of initiatives, including:

  • Substance use disorder and mental health treatment programs.
  • Programs aimed at improving supervision, including pretrial and precharge supervision.
  • Programs intended to reduce recidivism among controlled substances offenders, those on probation or supervised release, and participants in treatment courts.

• Impact on Funding: The funds that were previously transferred from the general fund to support this account will no longer be made available under this bill.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• The legislation repeals the framework set up by Laws 2016 chapter 160, which was designed to redirect state savings to support the community justice reinvestment account.

• It discontinues the requirement for the commissioner of management and budget to transfer $461,000 annually from the general fund to the account.

• The regular reporting from the commissioner to legislative committees on the distribution and use of the grants is no longer required.

Relevant Terms

• Repealer
• Community Justice Reinvestment Account
• Substance Use Disorder
• Mental Health Treatment
• Recidivism
• Pretrial and Precharge Supervision
• Treatment Courts
• Special Revenue Fund