>> Cathy: ON TONIGHT'S SHOW WE'LL HEAR ABOUT A NEW EAST AFRICAN MAGNET SCHOOL IN ST. PAUL, PREVIEW A BIG SPORTS WEEKEND IN THE TWIN CITIES, AND REMEMBER LONGTIME ASSOCIATED PRESS POLITICAL REPORTER GENE LAHAMMER.

WE START TONIGHT WITH THE ONGOING CONTROVERSY OVER NEW LAWS REGARDING SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS AND USE OF FORCE.

>> Eric: EARLIER TODAY, GOVERNOR TIM WALZ INDICATED HE DOES NOT PLAN TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION TO TWEAK OR REPEAL THE NEW LAW, SOMETHING REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR LOUDLY.

TOP D.F.L.

LAWMAKERS HAD NOT CLOSED THE DOOR TO A SPECIAL SESSION BUT YESTERDAY, NEARLY FOUR DOZEN RANK AND FILE D.F.L.

LAWMAKERS SIGNED A LETTER OPPOSING A REPEAL OF THE LAW.

D.F.L.

HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER JAMIE LONG JOINS US.

HE HAILS FROM MINNEAPOLIS.

HERE TOO, REPUBLICAN ASSISTANT MINORITY LEADER ZACH DUCKWORTH WHO REPRESENTS LAKEVILLE IN THE STATE SENATE.

AND SENATOR DUCKWORTH OFFERED A DRAFT LEGISLATION LAST WEEK THAT WOULD HAVE REPEALED THE BAN.

YOUR REACTION TO WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAID TODAY, SENATOR?

>> WELL, I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, I WAS PRETTY SURPRISED.

IT SEEMED TO BE KIND OF A PRETTY DRAMATIC CHANGE IN DIRECTION FROM WHAT HE HADED JUST A FEW DAYS AGO WHEN HE SAID HE AS OPEN TO A SPECIAL SESSION REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND SAID MAYBE FOLKS WHO SAID WE NEEDED CLARITY WERE RIGHT AND I DON'T THINK I WAS ONLY THE ONE SURPRISED THAT HE'S NO LONGER OPEN TO A SPECIAL SESSION AT LEAST NOW.

>> Cathy: I UNDERSTAND THE FOUR LEADERS MET BEHIND CLOSED DOORS ABOUT THE SROs, WHAT DID THEY SAY?

>> WE DID, WE HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION, BUT I DON'T THINK THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID HE DOESN'T WANT A SPECIAL SESSION BUT WE HAVE OPTIONS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH TO TRY TO MAKE SURE WE ACHIEVE THE GOAL WE ALL SHARE, WHICH IS WE DON'T WANT KIDS TO BE PUT IN CHOKEHOLDS OR PRONE RESTRAINTS IN OUR SCHOOLS.

THOSE ARE POLICIES ENFORCED RIGHT NOW IN OUR PRISONS AND WE CERTAINLY WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR STUDENTS RECEIVE THE SAME PROTECTIONS.

WE SAW THIS WEEK THAT FARIBAULT BROUGHT BACK THEIR SROs AFTER GETTING SOME GLADNESS FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, WE ALSO SAW CLARITY CAME FROM THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES SO THIS IS NO LONGER AN INSURANCE ISSUE, SO RIGHT NOW 2/3 OF THE SCHOOLS THAT HAD SROs STILL HAD THEM AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THE 1/3 TO GIVE THEM THE CLARITY THEY NEED TO BRING THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS BACK.

>> Cathy: BUT NO SPECIAL SESSION.

>> WELL, WE'RE HOPING WE DON'T NEED IT BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE INFORMATION WE NEED TO THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

WE HAD AN OPINION FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE INDICATING THAT THERE IS NO REAL ISSUE WITH THIS IN TERMS OF OFFICERS BEING ABLE TO USE REASONABLE FORCE, THAT'S BEEN THE STANDARD BEFORE, THAT'S STILL THE STANDARD NOW.

2/3 OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS AS I MENTIONED THAT HAD SROs STILL HAVE THEM AND HAVE FOUND THAT THE LAW IS ONE THEY CAN INTERPRET AND UNDERSTAND.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO HELP GET SOME CLARITY OUT TO FOLKS.

>> Eric: DO YOU FIND COMFORT IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S GUIDANCE?

>> I LIKE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR OPINION ON THAT GUIDANCE, THEY FIND ZERO COMFORT IN IT.

WE'VE GOT ABOUT 40 BUILDINGS NOW THAT PREVIOUSLY HAD SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS TO KEEP KIDS, TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS SAFE, THEY'RE NO LONGER IN THOSE BUILDINGS AND WHEN WE SAY THINGS LIKE THE ISSUE MAY HAVE BEEN RESOLVED OR WE'VE GOT CLARITY THERE, I'D SAY UNTIL WE HEAR FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS THAT WE HAVE CLARITY, IN MY OPINION, WE DON'T.

>> Eric: LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

DID YOU -- DID LEGISLATORS BRING THE ISSUE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OR DID LAW ENFORCEMENT BRING THE ISSUE TO YOUR, FOR INSTANCE, TO YOUR CAUCUS?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

USUALLY WHEN WE GO TO PASS THE LAW WE GET FEEDBACK FROM STAKEHOLDERS LIKE LAW ENFORCEMENT, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN IN THIS INSTANCE, WHICH IS WHY WE FIND OURSELVES IN THE SITUATION TO BEGIN WITH.

WHAT HAPPENED WAS SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS STARTED GETTING PULLED OUT OF BUILDINGS BECAUSE LAW ENFORCEMENT LOOKED AT THE LAW AND SAID THERE'S AN ISSUE HERE, THAT'S WHAT TRIGGERED US TO BRING OUT A LAW THAT SAID, HEY, WE NEED TO FIX THIS, WE NEED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN OUR SCHOOLS ESPECIALLY IF PARENTS DESIRE THEM TO BE THERE TO KEEP THEIR STUDENTS SAFE.

THAT'S WHY SPECIAL SESSION S NEEDED.

WE HAVE TO GET CLARITY.

THESE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS SHOULD BE BACK IN THESE BUILDINGS KEEPING FOLKS SAFE.

>> SO I AGREE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS BACK IN THE SCHOOLS THAT WANT THEM.

SENATOR DUCKWORTH VOTED FOR THE LAW, THIS HAS BEEN A PROPOSAL THAT'S BEEN OUT THERE FOR MONTHS AND WAS PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, THIS WAS NOT AN ISSUE THAT WAS RAISED DURING THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

REPEALING, THOUGH, THE LAW THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW WOULD MEAN THAT WE ARE SENDING A MESSAGE TO OUR STUDENTS THAT IT'S OKAY IF THEY'RE PUT IN CHOKEHOLDS, THAT IT'S OKAY IF THEY'RE PUT IN PRONE RESTRAINTS, SURELY THAT'S NOT THE OUTCOME WE WANT SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIND COMMON GROUND HERE.

WE'RE OPEN TO ANY WAY THAT WE CAN TO MAKE SURE WE MOVE FORWARD.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE GOOD NEWS THIS WEEK WHERE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE BRINGING BACK SROs BECAUSE OF THE GUIDANCE THAT'S COME OUT.

THE ORIGINAL ISSUE CAME IN PART FROM INTERPRETATIONS THAT WEREY AND WE'RE TRYING TO CORRECT THOSE NOW AND GET SOME OF THIS MISINFORMATION OUT OF THE WAY.

>> I DO HAVE TO CLARIFY I DID NOT VOTE FOR THE EDUCATION BILL WHEN IT WAS UP FOR THE SENATE FLOOR FINAL VOTE.

A FEW REASONS, OF COURSE LAW ENFORCEMENT, DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS CAN ALL AGREE WE DON'T WANT TO BE HARMING CHILDREN, WE WANT TO PROTECT THEM, THAT'S WHY THE LAW NEEDS CLARITY SO THOSE CHILDREN, THOSE TEACHERS CAN GET THE SAFEGUARDING AND PROTECTIONS THEY NEED FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> Eric: IS THERE DATA ON HOW EFFECTIVE SROs, RESOURCE OFFICERS ARE?

DO WE KNOW IF THEY'RE EFFECTIVE OR ARE WE JUST KIND OF PLAYING BLIND HERE?

>> I WOULD SAY WE'RE PLAYING BLIND IN THIS REGARD AND THE GOVERNOR SAID THIS IN HIS INTERVIEW AT THE STATE FAIR, HE IS NOT AWARE OF ANY INSTANCE IN STATE HISTORY IN WHICH A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH USING EXCESSIVE FORCE ON A STUDENT.

THE GENESIS OF THE LAW, THE REASON IT'S NEEDED SEEMS TO BE LOST ON FOLKS.

I THINK THAT IS PART OF THE ISSUE THAT WE ARE DISCOVERING HERE IS WE'VE HAD A LAW PUT ON THE BOOKS THAT WASN'T TRYING TO ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT WAS ACTIVELY APPENING, THAT'S AN ISSUE.

>> JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE HASN'T BEEN CHARGED DOESN'T MEAN IT HASN'T HAPPENED AND WE CERTAINLY HAVE HEARD PERSONAL STORIES FROM FOLKS THAT HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERNS.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO LEAVE UP TO THE DISTRICTS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE DECISION FOR THEMSELVES ABOUT HETHER A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER IS RIGHT FOR THEM.

THE STANDARD WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED HAS BEEN THE SAME ONE THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE FOR YEARS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.

RIGHT NOW YOU CAN'T PUT A STUDENT WITH A DISABILITY IN A PRONE RESTRAINT AND YOU CAN'T CHOKEHOLD THEM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTING FOR YEARS AND SO WE'RE EXPANDING THAT TO OTHER STUDENTS RIGHT NOW AND WE'RE TRYING TO HELP FOLKS UNDERSTAND OUR INTENT WHICH IS PRETTY CLEAR.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE KIDS ARE SAFE, WE WANT O MAKE SURE THAT SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS ARE BACK IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT WANT THEM.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, IS SOME OF THE HESITANCY OVER NOT WANTING TO CALL SPECIAL SESSION ALSO OVER THE FACT THAT COULD OPEN THE DOOR TO I MEAN ONCE AS YOU BOTH KNOW AS LAWMAKERS ARE IN SESSION, ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.

IS THERE SOME WORRY IN THE ADMINISTRATION THAT IF YOU HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION ON THIS, IT COULD EXPAND TO, SAY, MAKING CHANGES IN THE MARIJUANA LAW?

>> NO, YOU CALL A SPECIAL SESSION WHEN YOU WANT TO FIX SOMETHING AND RIGHT NOW WE PASSED A LAW THAT HAS THE STATED GOAL THAT WE ALL WANT TO ACHIEVE, WHICH IS MAKING SURE WE'RE PROTECTING OUR STUDENTS WHEN THEY'RE IN SCHOOLS.

AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT THAT INTENT WAS CLEAR O EVERYBODY.

WE HAVE SEEN THE OPINION FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, WE'VE SEEN THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES, WE'VE SEEN THAT MOST OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE, THAT'S ENOUGH FOR THEM.

WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH THE OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS RIGHT NOW TO HELP GET THEM SOME CLARITY.

>> I'D LIKE TO WEIGH N ON THAT TOO IF THAT'S OKAY.

>> Eric: SURE, OF COURSE.

>> WE'VE BEEN ENTIRELY ON BOARD ABOUT KEEPING IT A SINGULAR ISSUE BE, THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO US, PARENTS, FAMILIES, KIDS, TEACHERS, THAT WE WANT TO FIXED IMMEDIATELY, WE'RE WILLING TO KEEP A SINGULAR FOCUSER ON THAT.

THE OTHER THING I'LL SAY IS THIS.

IT'S OBVIOUS NOBODY IS ADVOCATING FOR THINGS LIKE CHOKEHOLDS TO BE USED ON STUDENTS.

THAT'S COMPLETELY -- >> WELL, REPEALING THE LAW -- >> F I COULD FINISH MY STATEMENT.

THAT COMPLETELY GOES AGAINST ANYTHING THAT ANYBODY'S SUGGESTING OR ADVOCATING FOR THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT WOULD EVEN CONSIDER.

AS A MATTER OF FACT THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A BAN ON LAW ENFORCEMENT USING CHOKEHOLDS JUST A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE ADVOCATING FOR.

WE WANT SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS TO BE IN BUILDINGS TO STOP, DETER AND PREVENT INSTANCES FROM ESCALATING AND GETTING FURTHER OUT OF CONTROL AND CAUSING INJURIES TO STUDENTS, TEACHERS, ET CETERA.

THAT'S ALL WE'RE OOKING TO DO.

>> WE DIDN'T CHANGE THE DEFINITION OF REASONABLE FORCE, THAT'S STILL THERE.

AS I MENTIONED THIS HAS BEEN THE STANDARD FOR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS WHEN THEY'RE DEALING WITH STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES FOR YEARS.

ALL THAT WE'RE SAYING IS THE SAME STANDARD THAT'S BEEN USED FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR THOSE IN PRISON IN MINNESOTA SHOULD BE GOOD ENOUGH FOR ALL STUDENTS >> Cathy: HOW DID THIS GET SO POLITICIZED?

>> PUBLIC SAFETY ARE EMOTIONAL ISSUES, RIGHT?

AND I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT UNFORTUNATELY SOMETIMES WE SEE POLITICIZED.

BUT I THINK THAT WE HAVE A SHARED GOAL HERE WHICH IS TO TRY TO MAKE URE THAT WE'RE PROTECTING OUR KIDS AND SENATOR DUCKWORTH HAS THE SAME GOAL.

I THINK THAT WE CAN GET TO A PLACE WHERE WE CAN GIVE DISTRICTS A COMFORT WITHOUT A SPECIAL SESSION AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO DO IN THE NEXT EEK HERE.

>> I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THE QUESTION.

THIS SHOULD NOT BE POLITICIZED.

THIS IS SOMETHING HAT I THINK REPRESENTATIVE LONG JUST MENTIONED, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS AND ALL MINNESOTANS CAN AGREE UPON, PUTTING SAFETY OF OUR KIDS, STUDENTS, TEACHERS AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE DECISIONS WE'RE MAKING AND UNFORTUNATELY IN TODAY'S AY AND AGE IN SOCIAL MEDIA AND THINGS LIKE THAT YOU'VE GOT FOLKS OUT THERE THAT ANT TO SAY DEMOCRATS DON'T WANT TO KEEP KIDS SAFE AND THEY SAY REPUBLICANS WANT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT WANT TO HARM CHILDREN.

LAW ENFORCEMENT HAVE TOLD US THEY WANT CLARITY IN THE LAW SO THEY CAN DO JUST THAT.

>> I THINK THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BRINGING A PRESS CONFERENCE WHERE YOU BRING POLICE OFFICERS AND TRY TO POLITICIZE THE ISSUE AND TRYING TO LOOK AT THE DETAILS AND GET NEEDS AND ANSWERS MET.

>> Eric: WHAT IF ANYTHING IS BEING DONE TO NOT HAVE SCHOOL VIOLENCE IN THE FIRST PLACE?

>> SURE, WELL, WE PASSED SOME REALLY INCREDIBLE LAWS THIS SESSION IN THE EDUCATION SPACE, SENATOR DUCKWORTH WORKED ON THOSE ON THE SENATE SIDE.

WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE BETTER MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

WE'RE TRYING TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO STUDENT COUNSELORS IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND SO WE HAVE FUNDING FOR THOSE PROGRAMS AT MUCH ORE SUBSTANTIAL LEVEL THAN WE EVER HAVE AS A RESULT OF THE WORK WE'VE DONE THIS SESSION.

SOME OF THOSE MEASURES I THINK WILL REALLY HELP IN TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF THE NEED OR HAVING ANY INTERVENTION WITH SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS.

>> Eric: ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THOSE STEPS, OR?

>> I THINK WE'VE DONE A LOT OF GOOD ORK AND A LOT OF IT HAS BEEN BIPARTISAN BUT WE TAKE A STEP BACKWARD WHEN WE REMOVE A VITAL RESOURCE LIKE A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER.

THESE LAW ENFORCEMENT FOLKS IN SCHOOLS DO SO MUCH MORE THAN INTERVENE WHEN THEY HAVE TO.

THEY ALSO HELP IDENTIFY STUDENTS THAT MIGHT BE IN NEED OF MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND REFER THEM WHERE THEY NEED TO GO, THEY HELP ADDRESS BEHAVIORAL ISSUES, THEY ARE ANOTHER TOOL, AN ASSET THAT GO TOWARD HELPING KEEP OUR SCHOOLS SAFE AND ADDRESSING THE VERY THINGS WE'RE TRYING TO WHEN IT COMES TO SCHOOL SAFETY.

TO REMOVE THEM TAKES US MANY STEPS BACKWARD.

>> AND THE LEGISLATION WE PASSED WASN'T TO REMOVE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, IT WAS TO TRY TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE VERY CLEAR STANDARDS FOR ALL STUDENTS.

THAT THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME STANDARD WHICH IS THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BE PUT IN PRONE RESTRAINTS WHICH ARE DANGEROUS, PUT IN CHOKEHOLDS WHICH ARE DANGEROUS AND SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THOSE STANDARDS ARE CLEAR AND TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE VOLUNTEER THAT UNDERSTANDING.

>> IF I MAY TOUCH THAT.

IT MAY BE THAT IT WAS AN UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE OF THE LAW.

SUFFICE IT TO SAY THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING HAPPEN, WE'RE SEEING SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS BEING PULLED OUT OF BUILDINGS SO IF THAT WAS NOT THE INTENT OF THE LAW THEN LET'S FIX IT.

LET'S CLARIFY IT SO WE DON'T HAVE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS BEING PULLED OUT OF BUILDINGS.

WE CAN PASS SOMETHING IMMEDIATELY, GET THEM BACK WHERE THEY BELONG AND THIS ISSUE IS RESOLVED AND WE CAN DO IT IN A BIPARTISAN MANNER.

>> IF WE ALL AGREE THAT THE INTENT IS THE SAME AND WE'VE ACHIEVED THAT INTENT THEN WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO RIGHT NOW IS GET THAT CLARITY, THE LEGAL INFORMATION FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, THE CLARITY WE GOT FROM LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES THIS WEEK TO SAY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SCHOOLS SHOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE