[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6356132,"mediaKeyId","2217030-d08edfd3a192e53dde187e1494718713","parentId",2217030,"title","Corrections commissioner outlines $9M operating request, pilots and reforms; committee questions STS funding change","audioSeconds",839,"startMs",1808000,"endMs",2647000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2217030-d08edfd3a192e53dde187e1494718713&start=1808&end=2647","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2217030-d08edfd3a192e53dde187e1494718713/thumbnail_1808000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6356132/Minnesota/Corrections-commissioner-outlines-9M-operating-request-pilots-and-reforms-committee-questions-STS-funding-change","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6356132-4749ef36e665c15921097e93b06bc97b/orig.mp4?Expires=1776001886&Signature=U~giX6i25Jxc2ocDPYLYbq-GWkRtZ3tJ2W2qsi3b3BBSgevsFUw3EFLTbL33k2zby8qN0olFboNxLBSVIeLdkEy3zMeDZgfiBnu2TVRNIHMvSyf8W1bWxPDDs97W05rGjCeMBYZ2vj2kBSivlw6NXEp-veahkc54letC-kPDTxjNCjFCYM2LJtip8zzVLhKHZ6-ALxQKVQLk2cUh3n6UEN4hf7yxjNYGRPtzi1K7YLaLRq8Jh36usZ7SX9SGAaoOao~wHNEi98GLzXMekOFDnGDbPSBNP7MKpUzQepLkEaZUXvntsUffDaoXbXo7RtbuJVhxv9nEGUYeB4-sQMSYKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Minnesota Senate Media Services","date","2025-02-03T00:00:00Z","article","Paul Schnell, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Corrections, presented the agency’s overview and budget priorities to the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee and outlined requests and program changes for the coming biennium, including a $9 million operating deficiency request to close FY2025 and a proposal to stop the state's contribution to the Sentence-to-Serve (STS) program.

Key takeaways

- Staffing and facilities: The Department of Corrections (DOC) reported approximately 4,300 employees and operates 11 prisons with a combined bed capacity of 9,522 (reflecting double-bunking); the state currently houses roughly 8,300 individuals in those facilities. The agency also supervises about 20,000 people in the community through 13 district supervision offices.

- Operating deficiency: The DOC requests $9,000,000 to close out FY2025. Commissioner Schnell said the request results in part from faster-than-expected hiring and retention after compensation increases, which increased payroll costs but reduced forced overtime and improved staffing levels.

- Sentence-to-Serve (STS) state funding: The governor’s proposal included sunsetting the state's contribution to STS at the close of the current fiscal year. The DOC said the number of individuals completing STS dropped from about 5,600 in 2019 to a much lower number (less than one-third of that figure), and that county participation and crew sizes have declined; the state currently covers 25% of STS costs. Ending the state contribution would reportedly save roughly $1.8 million annually, though the committee heard questions about whether counties would continue programs without state support.

- Pilots and reforms: The DOC is piloting body-worn cameras at select facilities (funded by the 2023 Legislature) and is implementing MRRA (Minnesota Rehabilitation and Reinvestment Act) policies, with an estimated full implementation for new admissions by fall of this year and ongoing retroactive review pilots in the short term. The DOC also plans a customizable off-the-shelf replacement for a 30+ year legacy data system; the commissioner said a vendor contract was finalized and implementation will take multiple years.

- Mental-health pilot and other statutory fixes: The DOC seeks to extend a 2023 mental-health pilot that allows counties to transfer people with serious and persistent mental illness to an Oak Park Heights mental-health unit; proposed changes would permit referrals from licensed mental-health professionals (rather than requiring voluntary consent) and would extend the pilot through Aug. 1, 2027. Additional proposals would amend how the Interstate Compact Unit costs are shared, streamline tribal supervision fund distribution, repeal or codify portions of obsolete Rule 2940, and expand the definition of correctional employee in emergency-felony statutes to include certain supervision agents.

Committee questions and context

Members asked about bed impacts if the state ends STS funding and whether counties would absorb costs or cease participation. Commissioner Schnell said some counties would likely continue STS on their own; others have seen crew sizes shrink to one or two people, increasing the cost-per-client and raising questions about return on investment. Senators also asked about MRRA implementation, the shortage of programming space, mental-health bed availability and whether the mental-health pilot would expand bed capacity. Schnell said DOC is using existing and creative program-delivery options to expand access to programming while capital projects proceed.

On fraud-related sentencing proposals in the governor’s package, the commissioner said fiscal impacts were estimated conservatively (showing small average-daily-population bed impacts in the near term) and that detailed projections are complex because prosecutions and sentence lengths vary. The commissioner acknowledged a slide labeling bed counts as \"individuals\" contained an error and asked staff to correct related materials.

Outcome and next steps

No committee vote was taken on DOC requests during the presentation. Committee members requested follow-up materials, including updated data on MRRA implementation, more detail on the fiscal assumptions behind the $9 million request and STS savings, and clarification on the bed-impact estimates for fraud-related proposals. The commissioner offered to provide additional data and to meet individually with members.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety - 02/03/25","oneSentenceSummary","Minnesota Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell briefed the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee on the agency’s staffing, facilities and budget priorities, requesting a $9 million operating deficiency to close FY2025 and detailing pilots and statutory changes.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MN, Minnesota","taxId",77817,"location","Minnesota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6356135,"Committee lays over bill to add fentanyl to hazardous-substance statute pending fiscal analysis",673,1080000,1753000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2217030-d08edfd3a192e53dde187e1494718713&start=1080&end=1753","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2217030-d08edfd3a192e53dde187e1494718713/thumbnail_1080000.jpg","/articles/6356135/Minnesota/Committee-lays-over-bill-to-add-fentanyl-to-hazardous-substance-statute-pending-fiscal-analysis","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6356135-43883144721177bdbd07109208d59f24/orig.mp4?Expires=1776001886&Signature=XI8A8Cf-RWerLygVDMlvlH7P2hbOlPD4DCPTXNB9eHLbarUWs3m6~xhGbQIf1qWVS1faynOg8HGHo6lRz1xHAaZE9pEW5ywxAZ16rqeDdeyYdydLz3~o6WkM19hBJ8vRwxemVTW2bg4~3nn-OwyzhQ76GRj55I1Z8H1Eaj4t5Bs0RThjxCiEIriKx0nrel1CwhAllrOCusQMD74Imog2TxnHkHC3iTkZzTvxrFW-p5UWn9zH9bwsvdEPGy48ZNwiz2YIGOBLaDckFW7tppSHDtfhPsrH2mtEDryYynCi9yTl8YSC82Pz~G~jfWEZhW9eJ7A9mDS0xc0qV1L1ng3teA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate File 456 — a proposal to amend Minnesota law that currently addresses methamphetamine production and hazards to explicitly include fentanyl — was presented to the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee and laid over pending fiscal analysis.

Assistant county attorney Sebastian Mesa, joining the hearing via Zoom, told senators the bill updates existing statutory language to reflect fentanyl’s emergence as a highly toxic and destructive substance. Mesa cited research and local incidents described in the committee packet and testimony: \"Fentanyl overdose deaths in our state have roughly tripled between 2019 and 2022,\" he said while asking the committee to recognize the \"thoughtful work that SF 456 attempts to accomplish.\" (Sebastian Mesa, Assistant County Attorney, Aiken County)

Why it matters: The proposal would bring fentanyl under the same statutory framework used to address hazards from methamphetamine production, which can affect evidence handling, prosecution, and protections for children and vulnerable adults in hazardous environments. The committee flagged potential fiscal impacts — including possible bed counts for prison or jail capacity — and asked the chairs to wait for formal fiscal analysis before further action.

Committee procedure and next steps: The committee chair said a fiscal analysis was pending and that the intent was to lay the measure over until that analysis is available; the transcript records the committee laying Senate File 456 on the table. The sponsor noted a supporting letter from the county attorney was in the packet and acknowledged that fiscal staff would return a fiscal note about staffing and bed impacts if the measure carried sentencing consequences.

Lawmakers’ questions and context: Multiple senators expressed support and asked for updated statistics beyond 2022. Senator Anderson said he would seek additional numbers for 2023 from the testifier or other sources. Another senator (Senator Crumley) cited the state Department of Health dashboard indicating over 1,000 deaths caused by fentanyl in 2023. Committee members noted that national overdose trends have shifted in recent months and asked staff to ensure the record reflected the most current public-health data available.

Outcome: Senate File 456 was laid over pending fiscal analysis; committee materials indicate the sponsors and county attorneys are coordinating to provide supporting data and letters for the record.","The Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee laid over Senate File 456, which would amend state statute to address fentanyl alongside existing hazardous-substance provisions, while waiting for fiscal analysis and updated overdose data.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6356140,"Committee approves sales-tax exemption for firearm safety devices and adopts clarifying amendment",195,591000,786000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2217030-d08edfd3a192e53dde187e1494718713&start=591&end=786","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2217030-d08edfd3a192e53dde187e1494718713/thumbnail_591000.jpg","/articles/6356140/Minnesota/Committee-approves-sales-tax-exemption-for-firearm-safety-devices-and-adopts-clarifying-amendment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6356140-0d30b8a416593b35b4a551b0c174c2fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1776001886&Signature=lFLmtmhO4YLLyVy29zmpp~2xH2vWwfSHP9p0Kp6hs0hKrWEcXnoZxVCBKpqzwX7vQdarqmQ4GNe6oiC40tunrgXpPztm0oUhO2fENdXVnLte0EaRPxWZ0r63CMNI9ztPZ4N~9SkrsJU5DFzVMnLPQDVMsVOkVwKXcrM4MsI6Y8rovFGVmZbMRtDyvuiyekEp7usLAj5sscHWadqj-BSOXfnVqRsagUWbkpbx2PY5DuIfExlRzxLcKUEWAFidw51VrBlldOtv-eW8B6jgnPeBXushtTl11f45uZjQExkQSwY90rbRgyKt3EOc5-a6qxCvzDJpeoN392BtVVrw76oSBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee adopted a clarifying amendment and recommended Senate File 11, which would add a sales-tax exemption for firearm safety devices, to the Senate Taxes Committee.

The bill adds a sales-tax exemption for purchases of firearm safety devices such as trigger locks and safes but explicitly does not apply to the sale of a firearm that already has an embedded safety device at the time of purchase. A clarifying A1 amendment was adopted to specify the statutory reference for the phrase \"government entity\" used in the bill.

Why it matters: The bill aims to encourage the purchase of standalone firearm-safety products by offering a sales-tax exemption. The measure also addresses how purchase or transfer data for safety devices will be treated under state data-practices law.

During committee discussion, the senator presenting the bill said the A1 amendment clarifies the statutory cross-reference that defines \"government entity\" and cited a subdivision number in committee debate. The sponsor said the exemption is intended to encourage the purchase of safety devices separately from firearms: \"What it does not include is the sale of a firearm that already has embedded in it ... a trigger lock on it. It has to be something that is separate because we're not intending to offer a sales tax exemption to the purchase of a firearm in and of itself.\" (Senator Rust)

Senator Anderson moved adoption of the A1 amendment; the committee adopted the amendment by voice vote. Later, Senator Pappas moved that \"Senate File 11 as amended be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Senate Taxes Committee,\" and the committee approved the motion by voice vote.

Data practices and privacy: Committee discussion noted that the bill makes information about the purchase or transfer of a firearm safety device private data if that information is collected by a government entity. The sponsor said the change was intended to encourage ownership of trigger locks and gun safes by assuring purchasers that certain purchase data would be private.

Support and materials: The committee packet included a letter of support from the National Shooting Sports Foundation, which the sponsor noted on the record.

Votes at a glance: A1 amendment adoption: adopted by voice vote. Senate File 11 (as amended) — recommended to pass and referred to Senate Taxes Committee: adopted by voice vote (tally not specified).","The Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee adopted a clarifying amendment and recommended Senate File 11, adding a sales-tax exemption for standalone firearm safety devices, to the Senate Taxes Committee.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6356145,"Committee advances bill allowing Campaign Finance Board access to Department of Revenue records for refund administration",576,0,576000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2217030-d08edfd3a192e53dde187e1494718713&start=0&end=576","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2217030-d08edfd3a192e53dde187e1494718713/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6356145/Minnesota/Committee-advances-bill-allowing-Campaign-Finance-Board-access-to-Department-of-Revenue-records-for-refund-administration","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6356145-7edac67433c081ba83f12fe42fef9ece/orig.mp4?Expires=1776001886&Signature=LJJ2EiNuNBUeMB~SKpGHIhTLW-6qNuJoWxAFX2j9qZ55MMCHUyKoNb9ER3zOD1pvCknBmz~bgmfurmRxF-8PlFOd8BVoMnFADy-dSuUUVQj8k3XJk5tb9uhm5EiESt~gCCPbsqObkMlgiGCxbs8abRMl3vz3WWG0jnEZmZAtuVEM0JgvLPa7Ajc16WAAPnPz~XleMXq0qXK~SHSsZOVA3T2ke7FzHaXCigcz3PD9Ygx8d68RGdbF~-rzd~pnau-QQY7ks67rGrC7sVKHLbeC0Rz5QFo0ZQuClpf5XI~qeRjQ9FZiOzgT7EixK0xR0W9KkaX~3rjsHQnaDsm9xoxFZg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee recommended that Senate File 9 be referred to the Senate Taxes Committee after members discussed how the bill would let the Campaign Finance Board use contribution records stored in a Department of Revenue system to administer a refund program.

The measure would allow the Campaign Finance Board to access or use data entered into a Department of Revenue system and classifies much of the related receipt and validation information as private or nonpublic data. The bill also sets a minimum contribution receipt amount of $10 as the trigger for eligibility to apply for the refund and contemplates the electronic system summing contributions to determine eligibility. According to committee discussion, portions of the bill were written to take effect on Jan. 1, 2027.

Why it matters: The bill affects who can see individual contribution records and how those records are treated under state data practices law while establishing mechanics for a campaign contribution refund administered electronically.

Sponsor remarks and technical explanations came from the senator presenting the bill, who said the proposal had moved through elections committee work last year and into tax negotiations before returning to Judiciary and Public Safety for the data-practices jurisdiction. The sponsor told the committee the Campaign Finance Board \"requests that it have access, or, use data that is, entered and stored in that system that will be set up by the, by the, Department of Revenue and the characterization, of that, of that data.\" (Senator Rest)

Committee members questioned two main points: (1) the classification of contribution and receipt data under state data-practices law and (2) the choice to set the reporting threshold at $10 rather than at a lower or higher amount. On classification, committee staff noted there is language in the bill making some lines private data and other lines nonpublic data. \"There's also a data privacy classification on page 3, lines 5 through 7,\" a staff member told senators during the hearing (Miss Primo).

On the $10 threshold, Senator Lemmer asked why the bill uses $10 rather than recognizing every donation. The sponsor said committee deliberations in the elections committee produced the $10 threshold as the efficient point at which receipts become eligible for refund application and that an electronic system would add up receipts across the year and determine refund eligibility. The Campaign Finance Board representative said the system can transmit reports frequently; \"once the system is up it certainly can be, it can be even faster than that,\" (Mr. Sigurdsson, Campaign Finance Board representative).

Procedure and outcome: A motion that \"Senate File 9 be recommended to pass and be referred to the committee on taxes\" was moved on the record and adopted by voice vote; the committee chair announced \"motion prevails.\" The committee did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript. The sponsor noted fiscal and technical materials were in the committee packet.

What the bill does not yet resolve: Committee discussion noted additional technical choices (classification of particular report fields as private vs. nonpublic) and that the system's operational details — including frequency of reporting and how the electronic validation would be triggered at the $10 threshold — would be handled within the electronic system. The bill’s text and the packet materials attached to the hearing were cited as the sources for those specifics.

Votes at a glance: Senate File 9 — motion to recommend passage and refer to Taxes Committee: adopted by voice vote (tally not specified).","The Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee recommended that Senate File 9 be referred to the Senate Taxes Committee after discussion of data-classification and a $10 minimum contribution threshold for refund eligibility.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Corrections commissioner outlines $9M operating request, pilots and reforms; committee questions STS funding change

Committee lays over bill to add fentanyl to hazardous-substance statute pending fiscal analysis

Committee approves sales-tax exemption for firearm safety devices and adopts clarifying amendment

Committee advances bill allowing Campaign Finance Board access to Department of Revenue records for refund administration