HF 2991

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/16/2010 10:11am

A bill for an act
relating to judiciary; authorizing the court to furnish copies of documents in
any electronic format to the public defender at no charge; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2008, section 611.271.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 611.271, is amended to read:

611.271 COPIES OF DOCUMENTS; FEES.

The court administrators of courts, the prosecuting attorneys of counties and
municipalities, and the law enforcement agencies of the state and its political subdivisions
shall furnish, upon the request of the district public defender, the state public defender,
or an attorney working for a public defense corporation under section 611.216, copies
of any documents in their possession at no charge to the public defender, including
the following: police reports, photographs, copies of existing grand jury transcripts,
audiotapes, videotapes, new text begin audio or video files in electronic format, new text end copies of existing
transcripts of audiotapes deleted text begin or deleted text end new text begin , new text end videotapes new text begin , or audio or video files in electronic format new text end and,
in child protection cases, reports prepared by local welfare agencies. new text begin When files are
provided in electronic format, the provider shall, upon the request of the public defender,
include the software needed to open, view, or play the electronic files. new text end Nothing in this
section shall compel production of documents that are not discoverable under the rules of
court, court order, or chapter 13.