1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to crime; creating Task Force on Mandatory Minimum Sentences.
1.3 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.4 	Section 1. TASK FORCE ON MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCES.
 1.5 		Subdivision 1.Definition. As used in this section, "mandatory minimum" refers to 
1.6 	legislatively defined, predetermined sentencing requirements, including but not limited to 
1.7 	sentencing requirements under Minnesota Statutes, sections 152.021, 152.022, and 609.11, 
1.8 	that mandate a minimum period of commitment to the commissioner of corrections upon 
1.9 	conviction for certain offenses.
1.10 		Subd. 2.Establishment. The Task Force on Mandatory Minimum Sentences is 
1.11 	established to collect and analyze data on the charging, convicting, and sentencing of persons 
1.12 	to mandatory minimum sentences; assess whether current laws and practices promote public 
1.13 	safety and equity in sentencing; and make recommendations to the legislature.
1.14 		Subd. 3.Membership. (a) The task force consists of the following members:
1.15 	(1) the commissioner of corrections, or a designee;
1.16 	(2) the executive director of the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission, or a 
1.17 	designee;
1.18 	(3) the state public defender, or a designee;
1.19 	(4) the statewide coordinator of the Violent Crime Coordinating Council, or a designee;
1.20 	(5) one defense attorney, appointed by the Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense 
1.21 	Lawyers;
2.1 	(6) two county attorneys, one from Hennepin or Ramsey County and one from outside 
2.2 	the seven-county metropolitan area, appointed by the Minnesota County Attorneys 
2.3 	Association;
2.4 	(7) a peace officer familiar with shooting investigations, appointed by the Minnesota 
2.5 	Sheriffs' Association;
2.6 	(8) a peace officer familiar with shooting investigations, appointed by the Minnesota 
2.7 	Chiefs of Police Association;
2.8 	(9) one member representing a victims' rights organization, appointed by the senate 
2.9 	majority leader;
2.10 	(10) one member of a statewide civil rights organization, appointed by the speaker of 
2.11 	the house of representatives;
2.12 	(11) one impacted person who is directly related to a person who has been convicted of 
2.13 	a mandatory minimum sentence or who has themselves been convicted of a mandatory 
2.14 	minimum sentence and has completed the sentence, appointed by the governor; and
2.15 	(12) one person with academic expertise regarding the laws and practices of other states 
2.16 	relating to mandatory minimum sentences, appointed by the governor.
2.17 	(b) Appointments must be made no later than July 30, 2025.
2.18 	(c) Members shall serve without compensation.
2.19 	(d) Members of the task force serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority or until 
2.20 	the task force expires. Vacancies shall be filled by the appointing authority consistent with 
2.21 	the qualifications of the vacating member required by this subdivision.
2.22 		Subd. 4.Officers; meetings. (a) The task force shall elect a chair and vice-chair and 
2.23 	may elect other officers as necessary.
2.24 	(b) The commissioner of corrections shall convene the first meeting of the task force no 
2.25 	later than August 1, 2025, and shall provide meeting space and administrative assistance 
2.26 	as necessary for the task force to conduct its work.
2.27 	(c) The task force shall meet at least monthly or upon the call of its chair. The task force 
2.28 	shall meet sufficiently enough to accomplish the tasks identified in this section. Meetings 
2.29 	of the task force are subject to Minnesota Statutes, chapter 13D.
2.30 	(d) To compile and analyze data, the task force shall request the cooperation and 
2.31 	assistance of local law enforcement agencies, the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines 
2.32 	Commission, the judicial branch, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, county attorneys, 
3.1 	and Tribal governments and may request the cooperation of academics and others with 
3.2 	experience and expertise in researching the impact of mandatory minimum sentences.
3.3 		Subd. 5.Duties. (a) The task force shall, at a minimum:
3.4 	(1) collect and analyze data on charges, convictions, and sentences that involve mandatory 
3.5 	minimum sentences;
3.6 	(2) collect and analyze data on mandatory minimum sentences in which a person received 
3.7 	a mitigated durational departure because the mandatory minimum sentence was seen as 
3.8 	inappropriate by a judge or county attorney, or both;
3.9 	(3) collect and analyze data on mandatory minimum sentences in which a person likely 
3.10 	would have received a mitigated durational departure but for the enforcement of a mandatory 
3.11 	minimum sentence;
3.12 	(4) collect and analyze data on charges, convictions, and sentences for codefendants of 
3.13 	persons sentenced to a mandatory minimum sentence;
3.14 	(5) review relevant state statutes and state and federal court decisions;
3.15 	(6) receive input from persons who were convicted of a crime with a mandatory minimum 
3.16 	sentence;
3.17 	(7) receive input from family members of persons who were convicted of a crime with 
3.18 	a mandatory minimum sentence;
3.19 	(8) receive input from persons who were victims of crimes with a mandatory minimum 
3.20 	sentence;
3.21 	(9) receive input from family members of persons who were victims of crimes with a 
3.22 	mandatory minimum sentence;
3.23 	(10) analyze the benefits and unintended consequences of state statutes and practices 
3.24 	related to the charging, convicting, and sentencing of persons of crimes with mandatory 
3.25 	minimum sentences, including but not limited to an analysis of whether current statutes and 
3.26 	practices:
3.27 	(i) promote public safety; and
3.28 	(ii) properly punish a person for that person's role in an offense; and
3.29 	(11) make recommendations for legislative action, if any, on laws affecting:
3.30 	(i) the collection and reporting of data; and
4.1 	(ii) the charging, convicting, and sentencing of persons for crimes with mandatory 
4.2 	minimum sentences.
4.3 	(b) At its discretion, the task force may examine, as necessary, other related issues 
4.4 	consistent with this section.
4.5 		Subd. 6.Report. On or before August 15, 2026, the task force shall submit a report to 
4.6 	the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees and divisions with 
4.7 	jurisdiction over criminal sentencing on the findings and recommendations of the task force.
4.8 		Subd. 7.Expiration. The task force expires the day after submitting its report under 
4.9 	subdivision 6.

4.10 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.