Senate DFL Judiciary and Public Safety budget includes historic funding for judiciary staffing needs, crime prevention efforts, and support for law enforcement partners
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – On Friday, Senator Liz Boldon (DFL-Rochester) voted yes to pass expanded background checks and extreme risk prevention orders included in the Judiciary and Public Safety Conference Committee Report. These widely supported gun violence prevention measures have been shown to reduce rates of gun violence and reduce gun deaths.
“Minnesotans have been demanding action from the legislature to help curb the gun violence epidemic facing our communities, and after years of gridlock, we are getting it done,” said Sen. Boldon. “We listened to Minnesotans and have brought forth legislation that will help to keep people safe and prevent guns from getting into the wrong hands. This bill will make a real impact on the public health epidemic of gun violence, and I’m proud to have voted yes.”
The Conference Committee Report includes $880 million in new spending with $650 million for Public Safety and $230 million for the Judiciary. The budget includes pay increases for judges and judicial staff, increased funding for civil legal services and public defenders, increased funding for crime prevention programs in the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, funding for the Office of Justice Programs including significant investments in youth intervention programs, and funding for the Department of Corrections.
The report passed in a 34-33 vote and will be taken up by the House of Representatives as early as today.
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