1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to public safety; appropriating money for grants to county attorneys to 
1.3 	reduce violent crime and criminal case backlogs; requiring a report.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. COUNTY ATTORNEY CRIMINAL CASE BACKLOG; 
1.6 	APPROPRIATION.
 1.7 	(a) $30,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
1.8 	commissioner of public safety for the Office of Justice Programs to award grants to county 
1.9 	attorneys to prosecute violent crimes and reduce criminal case backlogs. Grant recipients 
1.10 	may use the funds to hire and train additional attorneys, paralegals, law clerks, and other 
1.11 	support staff, and purchase needed equipment and supplies.
1.12 	(b) A county attorney may apply to the commissioner for a grant on a form provided by 
1.13 	the commissioner. The applicant shall describe the intended uses of the funds, estimate the 
1.14 	amount of funds required, and include any other information required by the commissioner. 
1.15 	The commissioner shall give priority to applicants who prosecute criminal cases in counties 
1.16 	that have higher violent crime rates and residents with lower socioeconomic status than the 
1.17 	state average.
1.18 	(c) On or before July 1, 2025, a county attorney grant recipient shall submit a report to 
1.19 	the commissioner describing how the grant funds were spent, the purpose of the expenditures, 
1.20 	and the success rate in reducing violent crimes and criminal case backlogs. On or before 
1.21 	September 1, 2025, the commissioner of public safety shall report to the chairs and ranking 
1.22 	minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over criminal justice policy 
1.23 	and funding on the implementation, administration, and results of the grant program.
2.1 	(d) This appropriation is available until June 30, 2025.