1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to crime; directing the Legislative Audit Commission to study the costs 
1.3 	of crime on the state and local communities.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. STUDY REQUESTED.
 1.6 	The Legislative Audit Commission is directed to direct the legislative auditor to 
1.7 	conduct a study of the costs that criminal activity places on the state and local communities. 
1.8 	The study shall include not only the direct costs to state and local governments of 
1.9 	responding to, prosecuting, and punishing criminal offenders, but also the indirect 
1.10 	economic and social costs that criminal activity places on local communities and their 
1.11 	residents. To the extent possible, this study shall compare, by offense type, the costs of 
1.12 	imprisoning an offender to the costs of criminal behavior if the offender is not incarcerated.
1.13 	If the commission directs the auditor to conduct this study, the auditor shall report 
1.14 	findings to the chairs of the senate and house of representatives judiciary committees 
1.15 	having jurisdiction over criminal justice policy and funding by February 15, 2016.