Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Safety Lockboxes topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee hears informational presentation on bill to fund law‑enforcement lockboxes for schools
Summary
An informational hearing on House File 3,220 outlined a proposal to reallocate $1.8 million from a 2018 school safety grant to install Knox-style lockboxes for law enforcement at Minnesota schools; presenters said the funding would cover all schools statewide and that the measure reflects recommended school‑safety practices.
Representative Green and co‑author Representative Witte presented House File 3,220 to the Capital Investment Committee on April 29, outlining a plan to cancel an expiring $1,800,000 balance from a 2018 Safe Schools grant and reappropriate the money to install law‑enforcement lockboxes (Knox Boxes) at Minnesota schools.
The bill is being heard on an informational basis and would direct the funds to support law‑enforcement key lockboxes that give police rapid access to school buildings in emergencies. Representative Green told the committee the proposal would allow every school in the state to be outfitted and said seconds matter in school emergencies. Representative Witte described prior local use of lockboxes during his time as a Burnsville police officer and said placement, relationships with school staff and separate lockboxes for fire and police are important operational considerations.
Pete Clough of the Knox Company answered technical questions about box size, location and maintenance. Committee members asked whether boxes used by police would be separate from fire department boxes; witnesses said boxes can be dual but are often separate for liability and key‑control reasons. Presenters cited the U.S. Department of Justice review of the Uvalde shooting, the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools and the I Love You Guys Foundation as supporters of lockbox use.
The hearing was informational only; no committee action was taken on the bill at this meeting. Committee members who asked questions included Representative Frederick and others who pressed on operational and liability issues, such as who would control keys and where boxes would be located on buildings.
The presentation included state adoption context: proponents said 66 Minnesota school districts (about 180 school facilities) already use Knox Boxes for firefighter access and nearly 60 local fire departments have them; the bill would add law‑enforcement access where districts choose to participate. Officials described the A‑1 amendment as adding American Indian tribal contract schools to the bill’s scope.
