1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             proposing an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution, 
  1.3             article I, by adding a section; guaranteeing certain 
  1.4             rights to victims of crime. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.] 
  1.7      An amendment to the Minnesota Constitution, amending 
  1.8   article I by adding a section, is proposed to the people.  If 
  1.9   the amendment to article I is adopted, the new section will read:
  1.10     Sec. 18.  (a) Victims of crime are entitled to be treated 
  1.11  fairly and with dignity and respect during all phases of the 
  1.12  criminal justice process.  Victims of crime have the right to 
  1.13  reasonable and appropriate notice of and information about 
  1.14  criminal justice proceedings and to a meaningful role in such 
  1.15  proceedings, including the right to be heard.  Victims of crime 
  1.16  are entitled to receive from the perpetrator of the crime, 
  1.17  financial compensation for any injury or loss caused by the 
  1.18  perpetrator. 
  1.19     (b) Nothing in this section may be construed to permit a 
  1.20  civil cause of action for monetary damages for the violation of 
  1.21  its provisions or authorizes a victim of a crime to take any 
  1.22  action to stay a criminal proceeding. 
  1.23     Sec. 2.  [SUBMISSION TO VOTERS.] 
  1.24     The proposed amendment must be submitted to the people at 
  1.25  the 1998 general election.  The question submitted must be: 
  2.1      "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to guarantee 
  2.2   rights to victims of crime? 
  2.3                                      Yes .......
  2.4                                      No ........"
  2.5      Election procedures are as provided by law.