SF3983

Purpose

The bill would require all Minnesota elementary, middle, and high schools to have an anonymous reporting system to report threats or dangerous behavior. Schools can use the state Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) statewide system or create their own local system. The goal is to improve school safety by enabling quick reporting, coordinated responses, and better protection for students and staff.

Key definitions

• Evidence-based: A program or practice that shows a statistically significant positive effect on relevant outcomes based on strong research or well-designed studies, or provides a solid rationale from high-quality findings with ongoing evaluation.
• Anonymous reporting system: A system that accepts tips or reports about dangerous, violent, or potentially harmful activity without revealing the reporter’s identity.

What schools must do (local vs. statewide option)

• By July 1, 2028, each school must either implement its own local anonymous reporting system or use the statewide anonymous threat reporting system.
• If a school uses its own local system, it must meet a detailed set of requirements (see Local requirements below).
• If a school does not implement a local system, it must provide information about the statewide system to students, families, employees, and the community. This includes posting information on the school website, including it in the student handbook, and annually informing parents about the statewide system.

Local anonymous reporting system requirements

A local system must: - Provide anonymous reporting 24/7 through at least a mobile app and a multilingual crisis center. - Include crisis centers staffed by people with evidence-based counseling and crisis intervention training. - Promptly forward reports to the appropriate school-based team. - Support a coordinated response by schools, 911 dispatchers, and sworn law enforcement when a safe, effective response is needed. - Require and certify training for the school-based team to receive notices of any reports. - Promote public awareness and education about the system and how to use it before it launches. - Include an evidence-based student violence prevention training that teaches students to identify warning signs, take threats seriously, seek help, and report using the anonymous system. - Comply with data privacy laws (data practices and FERPA). - Allow contracting with third parties to develop and implement the system if needed. - Establish a website to educate students about the system and provide guidance on how to use it, and maintain a toll-free hotline for anonymous tips about dangerous or potentially harmful activity on school grounds or involving students or staff. - By September 1, 2026, form a school-based team of at least three school employees to handle reports, and inform the state Education Department of the primary contact for the team. - Nonpublic schools may implement a local system but are not required to follow these specific local-system requirements.

Statewide system option and minimum information if not using local system

• Schools that do not implement a local anonymous reporting system must inform people about the Department of Public Safety’s statewide system and how to use it.
• At a minimum, schools must post information about the statewide system on their website, include it in the student handbook, and notify parents annually about the system.

Department of Education duties and data reporting

• The Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Public Safety, must provide a list of third-party providers that offer anonymous reporting systems meeting these requirements, including free or low-cost options.
• By January 1, 2027, the Department must compile and maintain the school-based team information reported under local-system requirements.
• By December 15, 2028 and each year after, the Department must report to relevant legislative committees with:
  • The total number of reports received through local systems for the previous year.
  • For all local-system reports since July 1, 2026: disaggregated data by school site including the type of report, the method of reporting, and the number of false reports.

Funding and implementation

• The state and schools may accept funds from public or private sources, including state or federal funding, to support the anonymous reporting system and overall school safety improvements.

Significance and potential impact (summary)

• This bill expands how schools collect information about threats and violence, aiming for faster, coordinated responses and better prevention.
• It introduces a standardized, privacy-conscious framework while allowing local flexibility through local systems and third-party options.
• It increases accountability by requiring ongoing reporting to the legislature and ongoing training for school staff and students.

Key timeline highlights

• September 1, 2026: Local school-based teams must be formed (at least three school employees) for schools with a local system.
• January 1, 2027: Department to compile and maintain school-based team information.
• July 1, 2028: All schools must have either a local anonymous reporting system or be using the statewide system.
• December 15, 2028 and annually thereafter: Legislative reports on system usage and report types.

Relevant Terms anonymous reporting system threat reporting system local anonymous reporting system statewide anonymous threat reporting system school-based team crisis center evidence-based counseling crisis intervention training data practices FERPA Department of Public Safety Department of Education third-party providers mobile app toll-free hotline multilingual crisis center warning signs self-harm false reports reporting requirements school safety funding