HF4135

Purpose

• Establish a mandatory anonymous reporting system in Minnesota elementary, middle, and high schools to improve safety, crisis response, and prevention of violence or harmful activities.
• Ensure schools have access to 24/7 reporting tools and trained personnel to respond to reports quickly and appropriately.

Key Provisions

• Anonymous reporting system requirements

  • By July 1, 2028, every listed school must implement an anonymous reporting system that supports reporting 24 hours a day, at minimum through a mobile application and a multilingual crisis center.
  • Crisis centers must be staffed by people with evidence-based counseling and crisis intervention training.
  • Reports submitted through the system must be promptly forwarded to the appropriate school-based team to coordinate a response with school staff, 911 operators, and sworn law enforcement when needed to protect public safety.
  • Schools must certify training for their school-based teams to receive notices of reports about the school, school staff, or enrolled students.
  • The system must include public awareness efforts before launch and an evidence-based student violence prevention training. This training teaches students to identify warning signs, understand the seriousness of threats, seek help, and how to report using the anonymous system.
  • Data privacy protections apply under state data practices laws and FERPA.

• Options for how schools implement the system

  • A school may use its own system or participate in a statewide system run by the Department of Education.
  • If a school uses its own system, it may contract to develop and implement a compliant system.
  • A third party providing the anonymous reporting system must offer:
  • A website explaining how to use the system and when to use it.
  • A toll-free hotline for anonymous tips about dangerous, violent, or potentially harmful activity on school property or involving students or staff.

• School-based teams and reporting process

  • By September 1, 2027, each school must form a school-based team with at least three school employees and designate a primary contact person for the team.

• Department of Education responsibilities

  • In partnership with the Department of Public Safety, publish a list of third-party providers that meet the system requirements.
  • By January 1, 2027, begin collecting and maintaining the school-based team information reported to the department.
  • The Department may operate or contract for a statewide anonymous reporting system that meets the requirements.

• Data reporting and oversight

  • By December 15, 2028 and annually thereafter, the Commissioner of Education must report to legislative committees on:
  • Total reports received in the prior year.
  • Reports since the law was enacted, broken down by school site (type of report, method of receipt, and number of false reports).
  • How schools responded, including disciplinary actions, nondisciplinary actions, and interventions, disaggregated as appropriate.
  • The gender and race of students subject to disciplinary actions or interventions arising from a report.

• Funding

  • The program may be funded through public and private sources, including state or federal funding allocated for school safety.

• Nonpublic schools

  • Nonpublic schools may implement an anonymous reporting system but are not required to meet all subdivision requirements.

Implementation Timeline Highlights

• By 2027: Department to compile and maintain school-based team information; list of third-party providers available to schools.
• By 2028: All required schools must have an anonymous reporting system in place; annual reporting to Legislature begins.
• Ongoing: Training, public awareness, and data collection continue; funding can come from multiple sources.

Significance and Expected Impacts

• A standardized, 24/7 anonymous reporting mechanism is designed to help identify at-risk individuals and respond rapidly to potential threats.
• The system links reporting to a coordinated response involving schools, crisis professionals, and law enforcement when warranted.
• Emphasis on evidence-based prevention training and clear data reporting aims to improve safety, transparency, and accountability in school environments.

Potential Considerations

• Privacy and data handling is addressed through existing data practices and FERPA protections, but broader privacy concerns may arise with increased data sharing.
• The effectiveness depends on reliable implementation across diverse school settings and ongoing funding.

Relevant terms

• anonymous reporting system
• school-based team
• evidence-based
• crisis center
• mobile application
• multilingual crisis center
• 911 telecommunicators
• sworn law enforcement
• data practices
• FERPA
• third-party provider
• statewide system
• public awareness
• student violence prevention training
• disciplinary actions
• nondisciplinary actions
• interventions
• reporting to legislature
• funding sources