Anonymous threat reporting systems required, and report required.

A bill for an act

relating to education; requiring anonymous reporting systems; requiring a report;

proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 121A.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

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[121A.036] ANONYMOUS REPORTING SYSTEM.

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Subdivision 1.

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Definition; evidence-based.

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As used in this section, the term

"evidence-based" means a program or practice that:

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(1) demonstrates a statistically significant effect on relevant outcomes based on:

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(i) strong evidence from at least one well-designed and well-implemented experimental

study;

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(ii) moderate evidence from at least one well-designed and well-implemented

quasi-experimental study; or

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(iii) promising evidence from at least one well-designed and well-implemented

correlational study with statistical controls for selection bias; or

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(2) demonstrates a rationale based on high-quality research findings or positive evaluation

that the program or practice is likely to improve relevant outcomes, and includes ongoing

efforts to examine the effects of the program or practice.

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Subd. 2.

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Threat reporting system.

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(a) By July 1, 2028, each elementary, middle, or

secondary school, as defined in section 120A.05, subdivisions 9, 11, and 13, must either

use and promote the Department of Public Safety's statewide anonymous threat reporting

system in accordance with subdivision 3, or implement its own local anonymous reporting

system in accordance with this subdivision. A local anonymous reporting system must:

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(1) support anonymous reporting 24 hours a day through, at a minimum, a mobile

application and a multilingual crisis center;

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(2) include crisis centers staffed by persons with evidence-based counseling and crisis

intervention training;

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(3) promptly forward reported information to the appropriate school-based team;

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(4) support a coordinated response by schools, 911 telecommunicators, and sworn law

enforcement to an identified crisis when response by schools and sworn law enforcement

is to be reasonably expected to ensure the public safety and welfare;

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(5) require and certify the training of a school-based team in each school to receive

notice of any report submitted through the anonymous reporting system concerning the

school, school personnel, or an enrolled student;

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(6) promote public awareness and education about the anonymous reporting system and

its reporting methods before launching the system;

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(7) implement an evidence-based student violence prevention training that teaches

students how to identify observable warning signs and signals of an individual who may be

at risk of self-harm, the importance of taking threats seriously and seeking help, and how

to report a person who is at risk using the anonymous reporting system; and

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(8) comply with data practices under chapter 13 and the Family Educational Rights and

Privacy Act of 1974, United States Code, title 20, section 1232g.

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(b) A school that implements its own system may enter into a contract to develop and

implement an anonymous reporting system that meets the requirements of this subdivision.

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(c) In addition to the system requirements under paragraph (a), a party providing a local

anonymous reporting system must establish the following:

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(1) a website to educate students on the availability of the anonymous reporting system

and provide guidance on how and when to use the system; and

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(2) a toll-free hotline that can be used to provide anonymous tips regarding dangerous,

violent, threatening, harmful, or potentially harmful activity that occurs, or is threatened

on, school property or relates to an enrolled student or school personnel.

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(d) By September 1, 2026, a school subject to this subdivision that establishes a local

anonymous reporting system must form a school-based team comprised of at least three

school employees and inform the commissioner of education, in the form and manner

determined by the commissioner, of the primary contact person for each school-based team.

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(e) A nonpublic school may implement a local anonymous reporting system but is not

subject to the requirements of this subdivision.

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Subd. 3.

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Statewide system; school requirements.

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A school subject to subdivision 2

that does not implement its own local anonymous reporting system in accordance with

subdivision 2 must provide to students, families, employees, and community members

information about the Department of Public Safety's statewide anonymous threat reporting

system and how to use the system. A school must, at a minimum:

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(1) post on its website information about the Department of Public Safety's statewide

anonymous threat reporting system;

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(2) include in the student handbook information about the Department of Public Safety's

statewide anonymous threat reporting system; and

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(3) notify parents annually of the availability of the Department of Public Safety's

statewide anonymous threat reporting system.

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Subd. 4.

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Department of Education.

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(a) The Department of Education must, in

collaboration with the Department of Public Safety, make available to all schools where a

Minnesota resident may fulfill the compulsory instruction requirements under section

120A.22 a list of third parties that provide anonymous reporting systems that meet the

requirements under this section. The list must include third parties who offer free or low-cost

anonymous reporting systems.

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(b) By January 1, 2027, the Department of Education must compile and maintain the

school-based team information reported to the department under subdivision 2.

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(c) By December 15, 2028, and each year thereafter, the commissioner of education

must submit a report to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over kindergarten through

grade 12 education and public safety with the following information:

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(1) the total number of reports received through a local anonymous reporting system for

the preceding school year; and

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(2) for all reports received through a local anonymous reporting system since July 1,

2026, the following information disaggregated by school site:

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(i) the type of reports received;

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(ii) the method by which the report was received; and

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(iii) the number of false reports received.

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Subd. 5.

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Funding sources.

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The Department of Education and schools subject to the

requirements of this section may accept funds for the anonymous reporting system required

under this section from public and private sources, including state or federal funding, that

is available to increase school safety.

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EFFECTIVE DATE.

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This section is effective July 1, 2026.

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