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, new text begin EMERGENCY
RESPONSE, new text end OR FIREFIGHTING.

Subdivision 1.

Crime.

Whoever deleted text begin intentionally deleted text end new text begin knowingly new text end 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 new text begin or reserve officer new text end 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, new text begin an emergency medical technician, as
defined in section 144E.001, subdivision 5c, a physician, or a nurse new text end 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 deleted text begin may deleted text end new text begin is guilty of a
felony and shall new text end 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 deleted text begin or deleted text end new text begin ,
but no less than 24 months, and new text end to payment of a fine of not more than $10,000 deleted text begin , or both deleted text end ; new text begin or
new text end

deleted text begin (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
deleted text end

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

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Title. new text end

new text begin This section shall be cited as the "Minnesota Public Safety Personnel
Protection Act."
new text end