A local representative supports legislation that would invest millions of dollars to improve school safety.

The bill, which was passed by the Minnesota House of Representatives Thursday, would expand the use of long-term facilities maintenance revenue for facility security upgrades, strengthen state investment in school-linked mental health grants, support suicide prevention training for teachers and increase funding for the safe schools revenue stream.

“Our bill represents a common sense approach to keeping students, teachers and staff safe in our classrooms,” said District 27A Rep. Peggy Bennett, vice chairwoman of the Education Finance Committee, in a press release. “Not only will this legislation help improve school safety throughout the state, I believe it will also work toward improving outcomes for our young learners in Minnesota.”

Legislation Bennett authored to allow students to take vocational classes outside school hours was included in the bill.

“The expansion of vocational education in schools is critical in helping our students gain the skills necessary to enter high-demand fields when they graduate,” Bennett said. “With a demand for skilled workers, we can help fill this gap while also helping Minnesota students find good-paying careers that fit their strengths and interests.’

District 27 Sen. Dan Sparks, DFL-Austin, said he supports expanding the use of long-term facilities maintenance revenue for facility upgrades and other provisions that increase school security.

He said the issue should be bipartisan.

The bill largely mirrors a $21 million proposal offered by DFL Gov. Mark Dayton earlier this year. The House bill reportedly expands on the governor’s plan, providing $28.5 million to be shared by schools in every district in the state. House GOP lawmakers reportedly also plan to dedicate $25 million in a separate bonding bill to schools for building improvements.

The plans reportedly do not include a $57 million request from Dayton to continue funding prekindergarten programs in 59 school districts around the state.

Bennett said the request was not included because they are already fully funded through the two-year budget bill, “and will be looked at next year when the Legislature takes up the next budget cycle.”

The House bill would prohibit sexual relationships between educators and students, even if the student is 18; require periodic teacher background checks; and prohibit issuing or renewing a teacher or administrative license or bus driver endorsement for certain felonies or gross misdemeanors involving a juvenile.

The bill would require the Minnesota Department of Education to create a school report card to provide school and district ratings for families so they can research, compare and determine the proper school for their children, Bennett said.

The legislation would double the number of school audits every year to enhance the “transparency of school funding and our commitment to tackling our state’s achievement gap,” Bennett said.

“These audits will discern whether or not education dollars allocated to school districts and dedicated to special education, English-learner and low-income students are reaching the students intended,” she said.

The bill seeks to ensure students are exposed to different post-secondary options, including trades and branches of the military. Bennett said the legislation would strengthen laws that protect children from school lunch shaming and create a special education working group to engage stakeholders and examine factors driving rising costs.

The Senate and House must still come up with a plan to send to Dayton.