>> MARY: WELCOME TO ANOTHER SEASON OF "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL."

I'M MARY LAHAMMER.

WE HAVE GREAT SHOW FOR YOU TONIGHT.

WE HAVE SENATE LEADERS HERE LIVE IN THEIR FIRST JOINT APPEARANCE TOGETHER.

AND I BELIEVE ONE OF THEM MAKING HISTORY.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT MUCH LATER.

WE ALSO HAVE A REPORTER TO CHECK IN WITH.

AND YOU GET TO MEET ANOTHER FRESHMAN AND THIS ONE HAD BUN OF THE CLOSEST RACES IN THE STATE.

BUT FIRST ONE ISSUE IS ALREADY BECOMING CLEAR THIS SESSION, ALTHOUGH IT HAS NOW STALLED OUT IN HOUSE COMMITTEE LAST NIGHT.

IT DEALS WITH POLICE OFFICERS IN SCHOOLS.

[ Gavel banging ] >> THE HOUSE WILL COME TO ORDER.

> >> Mary: THE 2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS OFF AND RUNNING AND DAY ONE, UNISSUE IMMEDIATELY SURFACED HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

>> EXCELLENT.

WE'RE REAL HAPPY TO BE BACK.

>> Mary: TOP ISSUES?

>> SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE A TON ISSUE.

>> Mary: ARE YOU MOVING FAST ENOUGH FOR THE MINORITY?

>> WELL, OF COURSE NOT.

WE ARE MOVING QUICKLY, AND WE ARE MOVING THOUGHTFULLY.

WE EXPECT A BILL ON THE FLOOR EARLY NEXT WEEK.

NOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING INTENSIVELY SINCE AUGUST ON THIS.

>> Mary: HE SPEAKER SAYS THE ILL WILL MOVE QUICKLY, BUT NOT FAST ENOUGH FOR REPUBLICANS IN EITHER CHAMBER.

>> FAST ENOUGH FOR ME WOULD HAVE BEEN A SPECIAL SESSION.

WE WANT IT TO BE BIPARTISAN, WE TRULY DO.

THIS IS NOT REPUBLICANS VERSUS DENL WHEN IT COMES TO THE SAFETY OF OWFER KIDS.

>> Mary: THE SENATE DFL'S NEW LEADER SAID A VOTE ON S.R.O.s IS STILL WEEKS AWAY.

>> THIS IS WORK THAT WE COMMITTED TO.

AND FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, FOR OUR CAUCUS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE SAFE IN THE SCOO, THEY'RE IN SCHOOLS WHERE THEY CAN LEARN, WHERE THE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE WORKING THERE ARE SAFE AND THAT'S THE HEART OF THE MATTER.

>> T'S A NOT A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER.

THEIR REAL JOB IS BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH KIDS.

THEY ARE A SCHOOL RELATIONSHIP OFFICER.

>> Mary: THIS REPRESENTATIVE WAS A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER.

>> THIS ISSUE IS NOT REVOLVED UNTIL 100% OF OUR S.R.O.s ARE BACK IN THE SCHOOLS AND WE PASS THE FIX INTO LAW.

>> MUCH OF WHAT YOU SAID MEANS YOU SHOULD SUPPORT THIS BILL.

THIS BILL CREATES A PROCESS TO CREATE UNIFORMITY AND TRANSPARENCY THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT RIGHT NOW.

>> Mary: THE HOUSE AND SENATE BOTH HAD COMMITTEE HEARINGS IN THIS FIRST WEEK.

>> WE WANT ALL STUDENTS TOO BE SAFE IN OUR SCHOOLS.

WE WANT ALL PEOPLE TO BE SAFE IN OUR SCHOOLS.

>> WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT S.R.

O.s IN SCHOOLS CAN BE A COMPLICATED CONVERSATION THAT REQUIRE HONEST AND CAREFUL CONSIDERATION.

AND IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT WE PROVIDE CLARITY THROUGH THIS BILL.

>> THIS BILL LSO MAKES IT CLEAR THAT S.R.O.s ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE INVOLVED IN SCHOOL DISCIPLINE, AND IF A COMMUNITY SO CHEESES TO HAVE AN S.R.O., THIS BILL WILL HELP.

>> Mary: SOME STUDENTS OPPOSE THE CHANGES.

>> PLEASE LISTEN TO THOSE WHO WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS THE MOST, THE STUDENTS AS WE ARE HERE TODAY AND PLEASE LISTEN AND RESPECT US AS THIS AFFECTS US, NOT ADULTS.

>> COUNTLESS OF MY PEERS HAVE LASTING TRAUMA FROM BEING HELD FACE DOWN BY AN ADULT.

>> THIS SO-CALLED PROPER PRONE RESTRAINT IS INHUMANE.

IT'S TRAUMATIC.

IT'S INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS FOR CHILDREN.