Committee hears bipartisan request to supplement federal nonprofit security grants in House File 1821

House File 1821, introduced March 19 in the House Public Safety Committee, would provide supplemental state funding for nonprofit security grants administered by the Department of Public Safety’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

Vice Chair Witte, sponsor of the bill, said the state supplement program began in 2017 after a series of high-profile threats and that federal awards are competitive and limited for Minnesota applicants. "The federal nonprofit security grant program is very competitive and less than 2% of all federal money goes to Minnesota applicants," Witte said.

Faith and nonprofit leaders described repeated attacks and damage to houses of worship and community organizations and urged state supplement funding for cameras, locks, training and target-hardening. Rob Allen, director of community security for the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the…