HF 2557

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/10/2016 05:22pm

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; creating the Minnesota Public Safety Personnel
Protection Act; increasing penalties for obstructing emergency responders;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 609.50.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 609.50, is amended to read:

609.50 OBSTRUCTING LEGAL PROCESS, ARREST, EMERGENCY
RESPONSE, OR FIREFIGHTING.

Subdivision 1.

Crime.

Whoever intentionally knowingly does any of the following
may be sentenced as provided in subdivision 2:

(1) obstructs, hinders, or prevents the lawful execution of any legal process, civil or
criminal, or apprehension of another on a charge or conviction of a criminal offense;

(2) obstructs, resists, or interferes with a peace officer or reserve officer while the
officer is engaged in the performance of official duties;

(3) interferes with or obstructs a firefighter while the firefighter is engaged in the
performance of official duties;

(4) interferes with or obstructs a member of an ambulance service personnel crew,
as defined in section 144E.001, subdivision 3a, an emergency medical technician, as
defined in section 144E.001, subdivision 5c, a physician, or a nurse who is providing, or
attempting to provide, emergency care; or

(5) by force or threat of force endeavors to obstruct any employee of the Department
of Revenue while the employee is lawfully engaged in the performance of official duties
for the purpose of deterring or interfering with the performance of those duties.

Subd. 2.

Penalty.

A person convicted of violating subdivision 1 may is guilty of a
felony and shall be sentenced as follows:

(1) if (i) the person knew or had reason to know that the act created a risk of death,
substantial bodily harm, or serious property damage; or (ii) the act caused death, substantial
bodily harm, or serious property damage; to imprisonment for not more than five years or,
but no less than 24 months, and to payment of a fine of not more than $10,000, or both; or

(2) if the act was accompanied by force or violence or the threat thereof, and is
not otherwise covered by clause (1), to imprisonment for not more than one year or to
payment of a fine of not more than $3,000, or both; or

(3) (2) in other cases, to imprisonment for not more than 90 days or less than 12
months and to payment of a fine of not more than $1,000, or both $10,000.

Subd. 3.

Title.

This section shall be cited as the "Minnesota Public Safety Personnel
Protection Act."