HF 1858

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 03/04/2019 04:38pm

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; establishing the crime of falsely reporting a crime
motivated by bias; amending Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 609.505, by adding
a subdivision.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 609.505, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin False reporting of bias crime. new text end

new text begin (a) Whoever causes information to be
communicated to a peace officer, knowing that the person is a peace officer, that a crime
motivated by bias has been committed, knowing that the information is false, is guilty of a
gross misdemeanor.
new text end

new text begin (b) For purposes of this subdivision, "peace officer" has the meaning given in section
626.84, subdivision 1, paragraph (c).
new text end

new text begin (c) For purposes of this subdivision, "crime motivated by bias" means that the offender
intentionally selected the victim or the property against which the offence was committed,
in whole or in part, because of the victim's, the property owner's, or another's actual or
perceived race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability as defined in section
363A.03, age, or national origin. A crime motivated by bias includes, but is not limited to,
violations of section 609.221; 609.222; 609.223; 609.2231, subdivision 4; 609.595,
subdivision 1a; 609.748, subdivision 6, paragraph (d), clause (2); or 609.749, subdivision
3, paragraph (a), clause (1).
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective August 1, 2019, and applies to crimes
committed on or after that date.
new text end