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Rep. Persell Votes for the Minnesota Police Accountability Act of 2020

Friday, June 19, 2020

St. Paul, MN – Tonight, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed the Minnesota Police Accountability Act of 2020. This package of racial justice and police accountability legislation was authored by members of the People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus.

“Every single Minnesotan deserves to be safe in their community,” said Rep. John Persell (DFL – Bemidji). “While we need the services of law enforcement, the killing of George Floyd proved that meaningful reforms are needed to deliver justice and strengthen community trust. This is the first step towards building a state where everyone can thrive, no matter where they live or what they look like.”

The legislation includes the following:

The Reclaiming Community Oversight Act

Putting power into the hands of the people and neighborhoods that police officers are sworn to serve and protect.

  • Retroactive Repeal of Statutes of Limitations (Vang)
  • Warrior Training Prohibited (Richardson)
  • Choke Hold Ban (Moran)
  • Duty to Intercede (Becker-Finn)
  • Police Residency Reform (Hassan)
  • Data Collection and Regulatory Reform/etc. (Mariani)
  • Arbitration Reform (Her)
  • Law Enforcement Oversight Council Reform (Gomez)

The Reforming Accountability Act

Restoring confidence and trust in the systems that are meant to provide justice for all Minnesotans.

  • Use of Force Reform (Moran)
  • Prosecutorial Reform (Becker-Finn)
  • Investigatory Reform (Mariani)
  • Cash Bail Reform (Noor)

The Re-Imagining Public Safety Act

Ending the unacceptable culture that is responsible for the murder of George Floyd and far too many others who look like him.

  • Public Safety Peer Counseling Debriefing (Noor)
  • Police Officer Critical Incident Review (Kunesh-Podein)
  • Community Led Public Safety (Gomez)
  • Mental Health Training (Richardson)
  • Autism Training (Richardson)
  • Restore the Vote (Moran)