Support and protect mental wellness within law enforcement departments.

 

To support and protect mental wellness in all state, county, and local law enforcement departments in the State of

Minnesota by,

a) Requiring a peer support program that is accessible to all employees within a law enforcement department.

i) Tribal departments are encouraged to adopt similar policies and standards.

b) Requiring mandatory psychological screening during employment, that adheres to the listed standards in section II of

this bill, and following MN Rules Chapter 6700.0675.

c) Requiring the Minnesota POST Board to develop and maintain standards for peer-support programs and psychological

screening guidelines.

d) Requiring the Minnesota POST Board to collect annual reports from law enforcement agencies by a deadline established

by the POST Board.

i) Reports will include how the peer-support program is structured, report the number and frequency of psychological

screenings, general data on usage and trends, and any other requirements imposed by the POST Board.

e) Penalizing any agency, group, or individual who either unintentionally or intentionally prevents or interferes with

employees, agencies, or the listed requirements in Division A, B, C, or D of this section.

 

 

Law enforcement officers are two to four times more likely than the general US population to suffer from PTSD. The FBI

released this statistic and other research, and they also cited that untreated trauma can affect decision-making skills,

regulation of emotions, and performance during high-pressure situations. Law enforcement is the key to keeping

communities safe, but when officers are struggling, communities become at risk. In 2020, Police 1 conducted a

mental-health survey and discovered that 90% of officers reported experiencing mental-health challenges such as stress,

anxiety, or depression during their careers. In that same survey, 25% of officers reported having experienced suicidal

thoughts, highlighting the seriousness of unmet mental-health needs within law enforcement. That survey by Police 1 also

found that the majority of officers stated their agencies did not provide adequate mental health resources. This just

shows internal change is needed.

The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) conducted research and found that police officers face

multiple sources of chronic stress, including trauma exposure, organizational pressures, and irregular or demanding

shift schedules. The ICJIA also reported that stigma, concerns about confidentiality, and fear of professional

consequences commonly prevent officers from seeking help. While it is not visiting a therapist, peer support gives

officers someone to talk to who actually understands the stress of the job and what they deal with day to day. Many

officers trust their peers more than mental health professionals. The National Institute of Health backed that fact with

research and continued to say, peers provide support rather than therapy, and are more approachable than therapists, and

break the barrier of needing to seek therapy.

 

Unintentional Interference – Interference that occurs due to negligence, carelessness, or failure to follow required

procedures, without intent.

Intentional Interference – Deliberate actions taken to prevent compliance with peer-support programs, psychological

screenings, or POST Board standards.

LEO - Law enforcement officer.

PTSD - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Minnesota POST Board - Minnesota Peace Officer Standards & Training Board.

Psychological Screening - A mental-health evaluation conducted by a licensed professional.

Peer Support Program – A structured, confidential system where trained personnel provide non-clinical support and

guidance to employees experiencing stress or personal challenges.

Peer Support Personnel – Department employees who have completed POST Board–approved peer-support training and are

authorized to provide peer support.

Employee – Any licensed peace officer or non-licensed staff member employed by a law enforcement agency.

 

 

a) Funding of county sheriff offices and local police departments is at their full discretion and their own budget.

Agencies are encouraged to use grants, fundraisers, or reallocation of existing budgets to support program

implementation.

b) Funding of the Minnesota State Patrol and Minnesota POST Board will be left to the Minnesota Legislature, in

conjunction with the Governor.

 

a) Peer Support Program

i) Failure to Establish a Peer Support Program

1) The agency will be notified, and a warning will be given to the agency administration to correct deficiencies within

60 days

2) If deficiencies are not corrected, the Minnesota POST Board will establish and impose further corrective action and

other appropriate consequences

b) Psychological Screenings

i) Psychological Screenings will be enforced by,

1) The department will be required to submit the finished screening to the state, material will be reviewed to ensure

full completion

ii) Tamper with Screening or Screening Material

1) 1st Degree - Felony, up to 366 days of imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $10,000

(a) Individual(s) tamper with Screening and/or Screening Material motivated by bias in an attempt that is successful or

not to get the person who is being screened fired or refused from being hired

2) 2nd Degree - Gross Misdemeanor, up to 365 days of jail and/or a fine of up to $3,000

(a) Individual(s) tamper with Screening and/or Screening Material to pass the individual who is being screened while

knowing they are unfit to pass

3) 3rd Degree - Misdemeanor, up to 90 days of jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000

(a) Individual(s) tamper with Screening and/or Screening Material to pass the individual who is being screened, while

unknowing if they are fit/unfit to pass

c) Minnesota POST Standards

i) Failure to Follow POST Board Standards

1) The Minnesota POST Board will establish and impose appropriate corrective actions or other consequences for failing

to follow POST Board standards

d) Annual Reports

i) Failure to Submit Report by Deadline

1) The Minnesota POST Board will establish and impose consequences for late submissions

2) The Minnesota POST Board will establish and impose consequences for failures to submit the report in its entirety

ii) Submission of False or Misleading Information

1) 1st Degree - Gross Misdemeanor, up to 365 days of jail and/or a fine of up to $3,000

(a) Knowingly falsifying wellness data

2) 2nd Degree - Misdemeanor, up to 90 days of jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000

(a) Negligently reporting inaccurate information

 

The effective date of this bill will be 01/01/2027. This effective date allows early acclimation, preparation, and

adherence to all items listed in this bill.