HF 640

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 04/21/2025 01:42 p.m.

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; expanding fourth-degree assault crime related to transit
operators to include transportation network company drivers; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2024, section 609.2231, subdivision 11.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.2231, subdivision 11, is amended to read:

Subd. 11.

Transit operators.

(a) A person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor if (1) the
person assaults a transit operator, or intentionally throws or otherwise transfers bodily fluids
onto a transit operator; and (2) the transit operator is acting in the course of the operator's
duties and is operating a transit vehicle, aboard a transit vehicle, or otherwise responsible
for a transit vehicle. A person convicted under this paragraph may be sentenced to
imprisonment for not more than 364 days or to payment of a fine of not more than $3,000,
or both.

(b) For the purposes of this subdivision, "transit operator" means a driver or operator of
a transit vehicle that is used to provide any of the following services:

(1) public transportation, as defined in section 174.22, subdivision 7;

(2) light rail transit service;

(3) special transportation service under section 473.386, whether provided by the
Metropolitan Council or by other providers under contract with the council; deleted text begin or
deleted text end

(4) commuter rail service deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin ; or
new text end

new text begin (5) transportation in a personal vehicle through a transportation network company under
section 65B.472, subdivision 1, paragraph (m).
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective August 1, 2025, and applies to crimes
committed on or after that date.
new text end