SF 1719

1st Engrossment - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 06/05/2025 09:44 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to crime; creating Task Force on Mandatory Minimum Sentences.

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

Section 1. new text begin TASK FORCE ON MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCES.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definition. new text end

new text begin As used in this section, "mandatory minimum" refers to
legislatively defined, predetermined sentencing requirements, including but not limited to
sentencing requirements under Minnesota Statutes, sections 152.021, 152.022, and 609.11,
that mandate a minimum period of commitment to the commissioner of corrections upon
conviction for certain offenses.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The Task Force on Mandatory Minimum Sentences is
established to collect and analyze data on the charging, convicting, and sentencing of persons
to mandatory minimum sentences; assess whether current laws and practices promote public
safety and equity in sentencing; and make recommendations to the legislature.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Membership. new text end

new text begin (a) The task force consists of the following members:
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new text begin (1) the commissioner of corrections, or a designee;
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new text begin (2) the executive director of the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission, or a
designee;
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new text begin (3) the state public defender, or a designee;
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new text begin (4) the statewide coordinator of the Violent Crime Coordinating Council, or a designee;
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new text begin (5) one defense attorney, appointed by the Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense
Lawyers;
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new text begin (6) two county attorneys, one from Hennepin or Ramsey County and one from outside
the seven-county metropolitan area, appointed by the Minnesota County Attorneys
Association;
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new text begin (7) a peace officer familiar with shooting investigations, appointed by the Minnesota
Sheriffs' Association;
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new text begin (8) a peace officer familiar with shooting investigations, appointed by the Minnesota
Chiefs of Police Association;
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new text begin (9) one member representing a victims' rights organization, appointed by the senate
majority leader;
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new text begin (10) one member of a statewide civil rights organization, appointed by the speaker of
the house of representatives;
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new text begin (11) one impacted person who is directly related to a person who has been convicted of
a mandatory minimum sentence or who has themselves been convicted of a mandatory
minimum sentence and has completed the sentence, appointed by the governor; and
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new text begin (12) one person with academic expertise regarding the laws and practices of other states
relating to mandatory minimum sentences, appointed by the governor.
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new text begin (b) Appointments must be made no later than July 30, 2025.
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new text begin (c) Members shall serve without compensation.
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new text begin (d) Members of the task force serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority or until
the task force expires. Vacancies shall be filled by the appointing authority consistent with
the qualifications of the vacating member required by this subdivision.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Officers; meetings. new text end

new text begin (a) The task force shall elect a chair and vice-chair and
may elect other officers as necessary.
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new text begin (b) The commissioner of corrections shall convene the first meeting of the task force no
later than August 1, 2025, and shall provide meeting space and administrative assistance
as necessary for the task force to conduct its work.
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new text begin (c) The task force shall meet at least monthly or upon the call of its chair. The task force
shall meet sufficiently enough to accomplish the tasks identified in this section. Meetings
of the task force are subject to Minnesota Statutes, chapter 13D.
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new text begin (d) To compile and analyze data, the task force shall request the cooperation and
assistance of local law enforcement agencies, the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines
Commission, the judicial branch, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, county attorneys,
and Tribal governments and may request the cooperation of academics and others with
experience and expertise in researching the impact of mandatory minimum sentences.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin (a) The task force shall, at a minimum:
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new text begin (1) collect and analyze data on charges, convictions, and sentences that involve mandatory
minimum sentences;
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new text begin (2) collect and analyze data on mandatory minimum sentences in which a person received
a mitigated durational departure because the mandatory minimum sentence was seen as
inappropriate by a judge or county attorney, or both;
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new text begin (3) collect and analyze data on mandatory minimum sentences in which a person likely
would have received a mitigated durational departure but for the enforcement of a mandatory
minimum sentence;
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new text begin (4) collect and analyze data on charges, convictions, and sentences for codefendants of
persons sentenced to a mandatory minimum sentence;
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new text begin (5) review relevant state statutes and state and federal court decisions;
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new text begin (6) receive input from persons who were convicted of a crime with a mandatory minimum
sentence;
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new text begin (7) receive input from family members of persons who were convicted of a crime with
a mandatory minimum sentence;
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new text begin (8) receive input from persons who were victims of crimes with a mandatory minimum
sentence;
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new text begin (9) receive input from family members of persons who were victims of crimes with a
mandatory minimum sentence;
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new text begin (10) analyze the benefits and unintended consequences of state statutes and practices
related to the charging, convicting, and sentencing of persons of crimes with mandatory
minimum sentences, including but not limited to an analysis of whether current statutes and
practices:
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new text begin (i) promote public safety; and
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new text begin (ii) properly punish a person for that person's role in an offense; and
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new text begin (11) make recommendations for legislative action, if any, on laws affecting:
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new text begin (i) the collection and reporting of data; and
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new text begin (ii) the charging, convicting, and sentencing of persons for crimes with mandatory
minimum sentences.
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new text begin (b) At its discretion, the task force may examine, as necessary, other related issues
consistent with this section.
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new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin On or before August 15, 2026, the task force shall submit a report to
the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees and divisions with
jurisdiction over criminal sentencing on the findings and recommendations of the task force.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Expiration. new text end

new text begin The task force expires the day after submitting its report under
subdivision 6.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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