SF 4567

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 03/19/2026 09:09 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; establishing enhanced penalties for theft from a vulnerable
adult; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.52, subdivision 3a.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.52, subdivision 3a, is amended to read:

Subd. 3a.

Enhanced deleted text begin penalty deleted text end new text begin penalties; risk of harm; vulnerable adult new text end .

new text begin (a) new text end If a violation
of this section creates a reasonably foreseeable risk of bodily harm to another, the penalties
described in subdivision 3 are enhanced as follows:

(1) if the penalty is a misdemeanor or a gross misdemeanor, the person is guilty of a
felony and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than three years or to payment
of a fine of not more than $5,000, or both; and

(2) if the penalty is a felony, the statutory maximum sentence for the offense is 50 percent
longer than for the underlying crime.

new text begin (b) If a person violates this section knowing or having reason to know that the victim
of the offense is a vulnerable adult as defined in section 609.232, subdivision 11, the penalties
described in subdivision 3 are enhanced as follows:
new text end

new text begin (1) if the penalty is a misdemeanor, the person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor;
new text end

new text begin (2) if the penalty is a gross misdemeanor, the person is guilty of a felony and may be
sentenced to imprisonment for not more than two years or to payment of a fine of not more
than $5,000, or both; and
new text end

new text begin (3) if the penalty is a felony, the statutory maximum sentence for the offense is 25 percent
longer than for the underlying crime.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective August 1, 2026, and applies to crimes
committed on or after that date.
new text end