Anonymous reporting systems requirement provision

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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Local threat reporting system.

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(a) A school district or charter school is

encouraged to implement a local anonymous threat reporting system. 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) A district or charter school that establishes a local anonymous reporting system must

form a school-based team at each school site comprised of at least three school employees.

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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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(f) A district or charter school must report the following information to the department,

in the form and manner determined by the commissioner:

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(1) whether the district or charter school has implemented a local anonymous reporting

system, and if so:

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(i) the party that provided the system;

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(ii) contact information for each school-based team; and

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(iii) the number of reports received through the local anonymous reporting system, how

reports were received, and the number of false reports received; and

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(2) whether the district or charter school has notified students, families, employees, and

community members with information about the statewide anonymous threat reporting

system.

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Subd. 3.

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Statewide system; school requirements.

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A district or charter school that does

not implement its own local anonymous reporting system in accordance with subdivision

2 is encouraged to 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 by:

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

anonymous threat reporting system;

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

statewide anonymous threat reporting system; and

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(3) notifying 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) By September 1, 2027, 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 15, 2029, 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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(a) A district or charter school may accept funds for an

anonymous reporting system from public and private sources, including state or federal

funding, that is available to increase school safety. Acceptance of funds from a public or

private source does not abrogate or modify the anonymous reporting system requirements

established under this section.

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(b) The Department of Education must use existing resources to meet the requirements

under this section.

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EFFECTIVE DATE.

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This section is effective July 1, 2026.

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