A substantial group of Minnesota Democratic lawmakers is opposing the idea of holding a special legislative session to repeal a recently enacted law that places restrictions on physical restraints used by school staff. In a joint statement released on Thursday, they criticized prone restraints as “extreme punishments” unsuitable for an educational environment.
This coordinated resistance is the first significant pushback against the proposed rollback of the law, which was passed earlier this year. The law prohibits school personnel, including law enforcement officers stationed in schools, from employing restraints that restrict breathing or hinder communication of distress, with exceptions allowed for situations where the restraint is necessary to prevent bodily harm or death to others.
The call for repeal has come from Republicans and several law enforcement leaders, following announcements by some police departments that they would withdraw school resource officers due to concerns about the law’s implications.
The lawmakers who issued the statement argue that repealing the law would eliminate crucial safety measures for students, measures that are already in place in other settings. They stated, “Anyone advocating for the repeal of this law is working to take us backwards. We do not support a special session to repeal this law. Repealing this law would make our schools less safe and remove critical measures that are necessary to protect students in their learning environment.”
However, the issue remains contentious, as some police agencies have completely withdrawn officers from schools over potential liability concerns.
House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth, a Republican, expressed disappointment with the DFL’s response and called on Governor Tim Walz to collaborate with Republicans. She emphasized the need for a bipartisan solution to ensure the safety of schools.
The power to call a special legislative session lies with Governor Walz.
Meanwhile, a coalition of parents, teachers, advocates against police violence, and others voiced their support for the law during a news conference at the Capitol. They argued that the law, which mirrors one adopted in 2015 preventing prone holds of students with disabilities, is necessary to protect students, especially after the murder of George Floyd.
They urged DFL leaders not to call a special session and to maintain the law as is, emphasizing the need to prioritize the safety and well-being of Minnesota students.
A report from the Minnesota Department of Education showed over 10,000 physical holds of students during the 2021-2022 school year, without specifying how many of these involved prone holds or impacted students’ breathing.