April 16: Public Safety, House DFL Budget

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Dear Neighbors, 

While our community is in pain, grieving the loss of yet another Black man in Minnesota, we must stop playing politics. We’ve held dozens of hearings over the course of the session that were met with resistance and dismissiveness from police lobbyists and Republican members in both the Senate and the House.

The people of Minnesota deserve and demand a future where community trust is sacred, police officers are held accountable for misconduct, and justice is served for everyone. We cannot normalize waking up to a piling list of Black men killed by law enforcement officers.

The House Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Committee has had a total of 21 hearings which have included police reform bills, 11 of which occurred this year. While lawmakers passed compromise reforms last year — including a prohibition on “warrior training,” a ban on chokeholds, and requiring the duty to intercede — many critical reforms such as enhanced citizen oversight and strengthening the police officer misconduct database were left off the table.

Some of the proposals that we are pushing forward include a measure to allow local governments to establish civilian oversight councils, a ban on altering, erasing or destroying body-worn camera recordings and withholding footage, prohibiting peace officers from affiliating with white supermacist groups, and funding to community organizations working to prevent crime.  

The United Black Legislative Caucus released an important statement on Monday in the wake of Daunte Wright’s killing in Brooklyn Center. You can give it a read here.

More on the 2021 Public Safety & Criminal Justice Reform Budget Bill

Last week, House DFL lawmakers discussed their 2021 Public Safety & Criminal Justice Reform budget bill. The legislation invests in law enforcement, improves police accountability, and listens to the victims of sex crimes. House DFL legislators are proposing to improve accountability for law enforcement by:

• allowing local governments to establish civilian oversight councils;
• banning the alteration, erasure, or destruction of body-worn camera recordings and withholding footage;
• prohibiting peace officers from affiliating with white supremacist groups;
• providing funding for community organizations working to prevent crime. 

Minnesota is in urgent need of an effective and comprehensive public safety initiative that looks out for community members of all backgrounds. Holding law enforcement accountable and investing in the correction of oppressive systems is a public health issue. We need to make sure we deliver on the promises we made to keep Minnesotans safe and respond with urgency.

You can read more about the details of the bill here. 

Star Tribune: “We Must Outlaw White Supremacy in Law Enforcement”

Recently, I had the honor to publish a few words on my bill, House File 593, too ban affiliation of police officers with white supremacist groups. You can read the article by clicking the link below. This bill is tackling the bare minimum expectations from those tasked with protecting and serving our communities, and they can't fulfill their roles when affiliated with white supremacist groups. 

Putting Minnesotans First: House DFL Budget Bills

This month, the House DFL revealed our omnibus budget bills which will be a guide for many of our conversations during the rest of the session as we work to create a budget to address disparities, recover economically and look out for Minnesotans that need a little extra care. Our commitment to Minnesota children, families, and main street businesses remain a priority and through this budget we hope to ensure everyone can successfully run through the approaching finish line after the long year we have all had. 

These bills reflect hours of hearings, expert input, bipartisan dialogue for a better future in Minnesota. More information on the budget details can be found here, and you can watch our press conference here.

Please reach out to me at rep.cedrick.frazier@house.mn with any questions or concerns about legislative issues in the Minnesota House, I look forward to hearing from you!

In Service, 

Cedrick Frazier
State Representative, District 45A 
Minnesota House of Representatives