House committee refers bill to eliminate Public Safety Advisory Council to general register

The Minnesota House Public Safety Committee voted by voice to refer House File 1257, which would eliminate the state's Public Safety Advisory Council, to the general register.

Supporters of the bill, led in committee by Chair Novotny, argued the advisory council has "outlived its usefulness" and that local citizen oversight bodies and the main Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board can address outstanding issues. Opponents, including former state representative Carlos Mariani, said the council was a key part of the 2020 Minnesota Police Accountability Act and remains necessary to maintain public confidence and protect civil and human rights.

Chair Novotny, chairing the committee, told members the panel had become largely a forum for brainstorming and said it no longer filled a distinct need: "This is a committee that originally did have a purpose, but it has outlived its usefulness." Novotny said citizens and local oversight bodies have stepped forward and that the main POST board retains citizen members who can raise issues before the full board.

Former state representative Carlos Mariani, who helped author the 2020 police accountability legislation, urged the committee to reject the bill. Mariani said the advisory council was created after the murder of George Floyd to help rebuild trust between communities and law enforcement and that removing the council would "obscure that statutory expectation" and undercut a statewide commitment to ensuring policing protects civil and human rights.

Representative Lee Mueller questioned whether council members received compensation; Mr. Wells, speaking for agency staff, said he would "have to go back and look" but noted there is "$20,000 in an ongoing appropriation through the POST board for this purpose." Mueller also pushed back on comments in the packet that framed letters opposing the bill as coming only from state-funded groups, saying he did not believe participants received additional pay for serving on the council and that the letters should be given weight.

Committee members then voted by voice when Chair Novotny renewed his motion to recommend that House File 1257 be re-referred to the general register. The clerk announced, "Motion carries and House File 12 57 is referred to the general register." The referral moves the bill to the House'level calendar for further consideration.

No roll-call tally was recorded in the committee minutes; the transcript records only a voice vote. The POST Board and several organizations submitted written comments opposing the bill, according to the meeting packet discussed in committee.