SF 4951

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 04/08/2026 09:20 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; eliminating fines and fees in juvenile proceedings;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 260B.188, subdivision 1; 260B.198,
subdivision 1; 260B.225, subdivision 9; 260B.235, subdivision 4; 260B.331,
subdivision 1; 340A.703; Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 169.686,
subdivision 1; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260B.331, subdivision
5.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 169.686, subdivision 1, is amended
to read:

Subdivision 1.

Seat belt requirement.

(a) Except as provided in section 169.685, a
properly adjusted and fastened seat belt, including both the shoulder and lap belt when the
vehicle is so equipped, must be worn by the driver and passengers of a passenger vehicle,
commercial motor vehicle, type III vehicle, and type III Head Start vehicle. Notwithstanding
the equipment exemption in section 169.685, subdivision 1, this paragraph applies to the
driver and passengers of an autocycle equipped with seat belts. This paragraph applies to
the operator and passengers of a class 2 all-terrain vehicle, as defined in section 84.92,
subdivision 10, when operated on or within the right-of-way of a public road when the
all-terrain vehicle is factory-equipped with seat belts.

(b) deleted text begin A person who is 15 years of age or older and who violates paragraph (a) is subject
to a fine of $25. The driver of the vehicle in which a violation occurs is subject to a $25
fine for each violation of paragraph (a) by the driver or by a passenger under the age of 15,
but the court may not impose more than one surcharge under section 357.021, subdivision
6, on the driver. deleted text end The Department of Public Safety must not record a violation of this
subdivision on a person's driving record.

(c) The driver of a bus is not subject to the fine under paragraph (b) for a violation of
paragraph (a) by a passenger under the age of 15. This paragraph does not apply to: (1) a
school bus, including a type III vehicle; and (2) a Head Start bus, including a type III Head
Start vehicle.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260B.188, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Medical aid.

If a child is taken into custody as provided in section
260B.175 and detained in a local juvenile secure detention facility or shelter care facility,
or if a child is sentenced by the juvenile court to a local correctional facility as defined in
section 241.021, subdivision 1i, the child's county of residence shall pay the costs of medical
services provided to the child during the period of time the child is residing in the facility.
deleted text begin The county of residence is entitled to reimbursement from the child or the child's family
for payment of medical bills to the extent that the child or the child's family has the ability
to pay for the medical services. If there is a disagreement between the county and the child
or the child's family concerning the ability to pay or whether the medical services were
necessary, the court with jurisdiction over the child shall determine the extent, if any, of
the child's or the family's ability to pay for the medical services or whether the services are
necessary. deleted text end If the child is covered by health or medical insurance or a health plan when
medical services are provided, the county paying the costs of medical services has a right
of subrogation to be reimbursed by the insurance carrier or health plan for all amounts spent
by it for medical services to the child that are covered by the insurance policy or health
plan, in accordance with the benefits, limitations, exclusions, provider restrictions, and other
provisions of the policy or health plan. The county may maintain an action to enforce this
subrogation right. The county does not have a right of subrogation against the medical
assistance program or the MinnesotaCare program.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260B.198, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Court order, findings, remedies, treatment.

(a) If the court finds that
the child is delinquent, it shall enter an order making any of the following dispositions of
the case which are deemed necessary to the rehabilitation of the child:

(1) counsel the child or the parents, guardian, or custodian;

(2) place the child under the supervision of a probation officer or other suitable person
in the child's own home under conditions prescribed by the court including reasonable rules
for the child's conduct and the conduct of the child's parents, guardian, or custodian, designed
for the physical, mental, and moral well-being and behavior of the child, or with the consent
of the commissioner of corrections, in a group foster care facility which is under the
management and supervision of said commissioner;

(3) if the court determines that the child is a danger to self or others, subject to the
supervision of the court, transfer legal custody of the child to one of the following:

(i) a child-placing agency;

(ii) the local social services agency;

(iii) a reputable individual of good moral character. No person may receive custody of
two or more unrelated children unless licensed as a residential facility pursuant to sections
245A.01 to 245A.16;

(iv) a county home school, if the county maintains a home school or enters into an
agreement with a county home school; or

(v) a county probation officer for placement in a group foster home established under
the direction of the juvenile court and licensed pursuant to section 241.021;

(4) transfer legal custody by commitment to the commissioner of corrections;

(5) if the child is found to have violated a state or local law or ordinance which has
resulted in damage to the person or property of another, the court may order the child to
make reasonable restitution for such damage;

deleted text begin (6) require the child to pay a fine of up to $1,000. The court shall order payment of the
fine in accordance with a time payment schedule which shall not impose an undue financial
hardship on the child;
deleted text end

deleted text begin (7) deleted text end new text begin (6) new text end if the child is in need of special treatment and care for reasons of physical or
mental health, the court may order the child's parent, guardian, or custodian to provide it.
If the parent, guardian, or custodian fails to provide this treatment or care, the court may
order it provided;

deleted text begin (8) deleted text end new text begin (7) new text end if the court believes that it is in the best interests of the child and of public safety
that the driver's license of the child be canceled until the child's 18th birthday, the court
may recommend to the commissioner of public safety the cancellation of the child's license
for any period up to the child's 18th birthday, and the commissioner is hereby authorized
to cancel such license without a hearing. At any time before the termination of the period
of cancellation, the court may, for good cause, recommend to the commissioner of public
safety that the child be authorized to apply for a new license, and the commissioner may so
authorize;

deleted text begin (9) deleted text end new text begin (8) new text end if the court believes that it is in the best interest of the child and of public safety
that the child is enrolled in school, the court may require the child to remain enrolled in a
public school until the child reaches the age of 18 or completes all requirements needed to
graduate from high school. Any child enrolled in a public school under this clause is subject
to the provisions of the Pupil Fair Dismissal Act in chapter 127;

deleted text begin (10) deleted text end new text begin (9) new text end if the child is petitioned and found by the court to have committed a controlled
substance offense under sections 152.021 to 152.027, the court shall determine whether the
child unlawfully possessed or sold the controlled substance while driving a motor vehicle.
If so, the court shall notify the commissioner of public safety of its determination and order
the commissioner to revoke the child's driver's license for the applicable time period specified
in section 152.0271. If the child does not have a driver's license or if the child's driver's
license is suspended or revoked at the time of the delinquency finding, the commissioner
shall, upon the child's application for driver's license issuance or reinstatement, delay the
issuance or reinstatement of the child's driver's license for the applicable time period specified
in section 152.0271. Upon receipt of the court's order, the commissioner is authorized to
take the licensing action without a hearing;

deleted text begin (11) deleted text end new text begin (10) new text end if the child is petitioned and found by the court to have committed or attempted
to commit an act in violation of section 609.342; 609.343; 609.344; 609.345; 609.3451;
609.746, subdivision 1; 609.79; or 617.23, or another offense arising out of a delinquency
petition based on one or more of those sections, the court shall order an independent
professional assessment of the child's need for sex offender treatment. An assessor providing
an assessment for the court must be experienced in the evaluation and treatment of juvenile
sex offenders. If the assessment indicates that the child is in need of and amenable to sex
offender treatment, the court shall include in its disposition order a requirement that the
child undergo treatment. Notwithstanding section 13.384, 13.85, 144.291 to 144.298, or
260B.171, or chapter 260E, the assessor has access to the following private or confidential
data on the child if access is relevant and necessary for the assessment:

(i) medical data under section 13.384;

(ii) corrections and detention data under section 13.85;

(iii) health records under sections 144.291 to 144.298;

(iv) juvenile court records under section 260B.171; and

(v) local welfare agency records under chapter 260E.

Data disclosed under this clause may be used only for purposes of the assessment and
may not be further disclosed to any other person, except as authorized by law; or

deleted text begin (12) deleted text end new text begin (11) new text end if the child is found delinquent due to the commission of an offense that would
be a felony if committed by an adult, the court shall make a specific finding on the record
regarding the juvenile's mental health and chemical dependency treatment needs.

(b) Any order for a disposition authorized under this section shall contain written findings
of fact to support the disposition ordered and shall also set forth in writing the following
information:

(1) why the best interests of the child are served by the disposition ordered; and

(2) what alternative dispositions were considered by the court and why such dispositions
were not appropriate in the instant case. Clause (1) does not apply to a disposition under
subdivision 1a.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260B.225, subdivision 9, is amended to read:

Subd. 9.

Juvenile major highway or water traffic offender.

If the juvenile court finds
that the child is a juvenile major highway or water traffic offender, it may make any one or
more of the following dispositions of the case:

(1) reprimand the child and counsel with the child and the parents;

(2) continue the case for a reasonable period under such conditions governing the child's
use and operation of any motor vehicles or boat as the court may set;

(3) require the child to attend a driver improvement school if one is available within the
county;

(4) recommend to the Department of Public Safety suspension of the child's driver's
license as provided in section 171.16;

(5) if the child is found to have committed two moving highway traffic violations or to
have contributed to a highway accident involving death, injury, or physical damage in excess
of $100, the court may recommend to the commissioner of public safety or to the licensing
authority of another state the cancellation of the child's license until the child reaches the
age of 18 years, and the commissioner of public safety is hereby authorized to cancel the
license without hearing. At any time before the termination of the period of cancellation,
the court may, for good cause, recommend to the commissioner of public safety, or to the
licensing authority of another state, that the child's license be returned, and the commissioner
of public safety is authorized to return the license;

(6) place the child under the supervision of a probation officer in the child's own home
under conditions prescribed by the court including reasonable rules relating to operation
and use of motor vehicles or boats directed to the correction of the child's driving habits;

(7) if the child is found to have violated a state or local law or ordinance and the violation
resulted in damage to the person or property of another, the court may order the child to
make reasonable restitution for the damage; new text begin and
new text end

deleted text begin (8) require the child to pay a fine of up to $1,000. The court shall order payment of the
fine in accordance with a time payment schedule which shall not impose an undue financial
hardship on the child;
deleted text end

deleted text begin (9) deleted text end new text begin (8) new text end if the court finds that the child committed an offense described in section 169A.20,
the court shall order that a chemical use assessment be conducted and a report submitted to
the court in the manner prescribed in section 169A.70. If the assessment concludes that the
child meets the level of care criteria for placement under rules adopted under section 254A.03,
subdivision 3, the report must recommend a level of care for the child. The court may require
that level of care in its disposition order. deleted text begin In addition, the court may require any child ordered
to undergo an assessment to pay a chemical dependency assessment charge of $75. The
court shall forward the assessment charge to the commissioner of management and budget
to be credited to the general fund. deleted text end The state shall reimburse counties for the total cost of
the assessment in the manner provided in section 169A.284.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260B.235, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Dispositions.

If the juvenile court finds that a child is a petty offender, the court
may:

deleted text begin (1) require the child to pay a fine of up to $100;
deleted text end

deleted text begin (2) deleted text end new text begin (1) new text end require the child to participate in a community service project;

deleted text begin (3) deleted text end new text begin (2) new text end require the child to participate in a drug awareness program;

deleted text begin (4) deleted text end new text begin (3) new text end order the child to undergo a chemical dependency evaluation and if warranted
by this evaluation, order participation by the child in an outpatient chemical dependency
treatment program;

deleted text begin (5) deleted text end new text begin (4) new text end place the child on probation for up to six months or, in the case of a juvenile
alcohol or controlled substance offense, following a determination by the court that the
juvenile is chemically dependent, the court may place the child on probation for a time
determined by the court;

deleted text begin (6) deleted text end new text begin (5) new text end order the child to make restitution to the victim; or

deleted text begin (7) deleted text end new text begin (6) new text end perform any other activities or participate in any other outpatient treatment
programs deemed appropriate by the court.

In all cases where the juvenile court finds that a child has purchased or attempted to
purchase an alcoholic beverage in violation of section 340A.503, if the child has a driver's
license or permit to drive, and if the child used a driver's license, permit, Minnesota
identification card, or any type of false identification to purchase or attempt to purchase the
alcoholic beverage, the court shall forward its finding in the case and the child's driver's
license or permit to the commissioner of public safety. Upon receipt, the commissioner shall
suspend the child's license or permit for a period of 90 days.

In all cases where the juvenile court finds that a child has purchased or attempted to
purchase tobacco in violation of new text begin Minnesota Statutes 2018, new text end section 609.685, subdivision 3,
if the child has a driver's license or permit to drive, and if the child used a driver's license,
permit, Minnesota identification card, or any type of false identification to purchase or
attempt to purchase tobacco, the court shall forward its finding in the case and the child's
driver's license or permit to the commissioner of public safety. Upon receipt, the
commissioner shall suspend the child's license or permit for a period of 90 days.

None of the dispositional alternatives described in clauses (1) to deleted text begin (6) deleted text end new text begin (5) new text end shall be imposed
by the court in a manner which would cause an undue hardship upon the child.

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260B.331, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Care, examination, or treatment.

(a)(1) Whenever legal custody of a
child is transferred by the court to a local social services agency, or

(2) whenever legal custody is transferred to a person other than the local social services
agency, but under the supervision of the local social services agency, and

(3) whenever a child is given physical or mental examinations or treatment under order
of the court, and no provision is otherwise made by law for payment for the care,
examination, or treatment of the child, these costs are a charge upon the welfare funds of
the county in which proceedings are held upon certification of the judge of juvenile court.

deleted text begin (b) The court may order, and the local social services agency may require, the parents
or custodian of a child, while the child is under the age of 18, to use income and resources
attributable to the child for the period of care, examination, or treatment, except for clothing
and personal needs allowance as provided in section 256B.35, to reimburse the county for
the cost of care, examination, or treatment. Income and resources attributable to the child
include, but are not limited to, Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security Income
(SSI), veterans benefits, railroad retirement benefits and child support. When the child is
over the age of 18, and continues to receive care, examination, or treatment, the court may
order, and the local social services agency may require, reimbursement from the child for
the cost of care, examination, or treatment from the income and resources attributable to
the child less the clothing and personal needs allowance. The local social services agency
shall determine whether requiring reimbursement, either through child support or parental
fees, for the cost of care, examination, or treatment from income and resources attributable
to the child is in the child's best interests. In determining whether to require reimbursement,
the local social services agency shall consider:
deleted text end

deleted text begin (1) whether requiring reimbursement would compromise a parent's ability to meet the
child's treatment and rehabilitation needs before the child returns to the parent's home;
deleted text end

deleted text begin (2) whether requiring reimbursement would compromise the parent's ability to meet the
child's needs after the child returns home; and
deleted text end

deleted text begin (3) whether redirecting existing child support payments or changing the representative
payee of social security benefits to the local social services agency would limit the parent's
ability to maintain financial stability for the child upon the child's return home.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (c) If the income and resources attributable to the child are not enough to reimburse the
county for the full cost of the care, examination, or treatment, the court may inquire into
the ability of the parents to reimburse the county for the cost of care, examination, or
treatment and, after giving the parents a reasonable opportunity to be heard, the court may
order, and the local social services agency may require, the parents to contribute to the cost
of care, examination, or treatment of the child. When determining the amount to be
contributed by the parents, the court shall use a fee schedule based upon ability to pay that
is established by the local social services agency and approved by the commissioner of
children, youth, and families. The court shall take into account any expenses that the parents
may have incurred as a result of the offense, including but not limited to co-payments for
mental health treatment and attorney fees. The income of a stepparent who has not adopted
a child shall be excluded in calculating the parental contribution under this section. The
local social services agency shall determine whether requiring reimbursement from the
parents, either through child support or parental fees, for the cost of care, examination, or
treatment from income and resources attributable to the child is in the child's best interests.
In determining whether to require reimbursement, the local social services agency shall
consider:
deleted text end

deleted text begin (1) whether requiring reimbursement would compromise a parent's ability to meet the
child's treatment and rehabilitation needs before the child returns to the parent's home;
deleted text end

deleted text begin (2) whether requiring reimbursement would compromise the parent's ability to meet the
child's needs after the child returns home; and
deleted text end

deleted text begin (3) whether requiring reimbursement would compromise the parent's ability to meet the
needs of the family.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (d) If the local social services agency determines that requiring reimbursement is in the
child's best interests, the court shall order the amount of reimbursement attributable to the
parents or custodian, or attributable to the child, or attributable to both sources, withheld
under chapter 518A from the income of the parents or the custodian of the child. A parent
or custodian who fails to pay without good reason may be proceeded against for contempt,
or the court may inform the county attorney, who shall proceed to collect the unpaid sums,
or both procedures may be used.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (e) deleted text end new text begin (b) new text end If the court orders a physical or mental examination for a child, the examination
is a medically necessary service for purposes of determining whether the service is covered
by a health insurance policy, health maintenance contract, or other health coverage plan.
Court-ordered treatment shall be subject to policy, contract, or plan requirements for medical
necessity. Nothing in this paragraph changes or eliminates benefit limits, conditions of
coverage, co-payments or deductibles, provider restrictions, or other requirements in the
policy, contract, or plan that relate to coverage of other medically necessary services.

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 340A.703, is amended to read:

340A.703 MISDEMEANORS.

Where no other penalty is specified a violation of any provision of this chapter is a
misdemeanor. deleted text begin A minimum fine of $100 must be assessed against a person under the age of
21 years who violates section 340A.503.
deleted text end

Sec. 8. new text begin REPEALER.
new text end

new text begin Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260B.331, subdivision 5, new text end new text begin is repealed.
new text end

APPENDIX

Repealed Minnesota Statutes: 26-07531

260B.331 COSTS OF CARE.

Subd. 5.

Attorney fees.

(a) In proceedings in which the court has appointed counsel pursuant to section 260B.163, subdivision 4, for a minor unable to employ counsel, the court shall inquire into the ability of the parents to pay for such counsel's services and, after giving the parents a reasonable opportunity to be heard, may order the parents to pay attorney fees.

(b) The court may order a parent under paragraph (a) to reimburse the state for the cost of the child's appointed counsel. In determining the amount of reimbursement, the court shall consider the parent's income, assets, and employment. If reimbursement is required under this subdivision, the court shall order the reimbursement when counsel is first appointed or as soon as possible after the court determines that reimbursement is required. The court may accept partial reimbursement from a parent if the parent's financial circumstances warrant establishing a reduced reimbursement schedule. If the parent does not agree to make payments, the court may order the parent's employer to withhold a percentage of the parent's income to be turned over to the court.