SF 2435

1st Engrossment - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 03/25/2014 09:06am

A bill for an act
relating to crimes; establishing a task force to comprehensively review the
enforcement of animal anticruelty laws and practices and make recommendations
for improvements; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. LAW ENFORCEMENT TASK FORCE ON ANIMAL CRUELTY.

Subdivision 1.

Membership.

(a) The Animal Law Enforcement Task Force consists
of the following 19 voting members:

(1) the commissioner of public safety, or designee;

(2) two sheriffs, or their designees, appointed by the Minnesota Sheriffs Association;

(3) two police chiefs, or their designees, appointed by the Minnesota Chiefs of
Police Association;

(4) two peace officers, or their designees, appointed by the Minnesota Police and
Peace Officers Association;

(5) two county attorneys, or their designees, appointed by the Minnesota County
Attorneys Association;

(6) one city attorney, appointed by the League of Minnesota Cities;

(7) one individual, appointed by the Judicial Council;

(8) the executive director, or designee, of the Board of Peace Officer Standards
and Training;

(9) the executive director of Animal Law Resources Minnesota, or a board member
designated by the executive director;

(10) the executive director of the Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine; and

(11) five individuals, appointed by the governor.

(b) When making appointments to the task force, the appointing authorities shall
attempt to appoint individuals with a demonstrated interest in and knowledge of animal
anticruelty laws and issues. In addition, the appointing authorities shall attempt to appoint
individuals from all geographic areas of the state. The cochairs of the task force may
appoint additional nonvoting members to the task force or its subcommittees.

(c) The appointments described in paragraph (a) must be made by July 15, 2014.

Subd. 2.

Task force duties.

(a) The task force shall comprehensively review the
enforcement of animal anticruelty laws and practices and make recommendations for
improvements. At a minimum, the task force shall do the following:

(1) evaluate animal cruelty in Minnesota, including an analysis of types of crimes
against animals and a review of types of cruelty cases, including the link between human
and animal violence;

(2) examine and analyze best practices and policies pertaining to the enforcement
of animal anticruelty law and prevention of these crimes, including structure and
accountability, collaboration between sectors and agencies, training and resources, and
data collection and dissemination;

(3) examine and analyze current funding for the enforcement of animal anticruelty
laws and the funding needed to implement best practices; and

(4) make recommendations on changes and improvements to any of the items
reviewed under clauses (1) to (3) and on recommended funding and revenue sources to
implement these recommendations.

(b) To the degree feasible, the task force shall hold meetings in various areas of
the state and shall solicit the opinions and perspectives of a wide range of people. The
cochairs of the task force may establish subcommittees to assist the task force in carrying
out its duties. If this occurs, the cochairs shall consider supplementing a subcommittee's
membership by appointing individuals from entities not represented on the task force with
expertise in areas within the subcommittee's jurisdiction.

Subd. 3.

First meeting; cochairs.

The commissioner of public safety shall convene
the first meeting of the task force by August 1, 2014. The task force shall elect two
cochairs from among its members.

Subd. 4.

Support staff; additional resources and support.

The commissioner
of public safety shall provide support staff and meeting space for the task force. The
commissioner may solicit resources from other entities to support the task force. The
task force may collaborate with and solicit advice and support from other state agencies
when needed.

Subd. 5.

Outside funding.

The task force may solicit and accept supplemental
financial assistance from private sources which are accepted on behalf of the state and
constitute donations to the state. Funds received under this subdivision are appropriated to
the commissioner of public safety for purposes of the task force. Any assistance received
shall be administered by the commissioner of public safety for the benefit of the task force.

Subd. 6.

Grants.

Upon recommendation of the task force, and within the limits
of appropriated funds, the commissioner may award grants to further the purpose of
the task force and its recommendations.

Subd. 7.

Member expenses.

Task force members may not receive compensation
but may be reimbursed for expenses as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059,
subdivision 3.

Subd. 8.

Report.

By February 15, 2015, the task force shall report to the chairs and
ranking minority members of the legislative committees and divisions having jurisdiction
over civil and criminal law. The report must summarize the activities of the task force
and detail its recommendations.

Subd. 9.

Sunset.

The task force expires when the report described in subdivision
8 is submitted.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective the day following final enactment.

Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.

$....... is appropriated to the commissioner of public safety from the general fund for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, to implement section 1.