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HF 129

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/01/2021 04:27pm

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.
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A bill for an act
relating to public safety; creating liability and vicarious liability for trespass to
critical infrastructure; creating a crime for recruiting or educating individuals to
trespass on or damage critical infrastructure; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020,
sections 609.594, subdivision 2; 609.6055, subdivision 2; proposing coding for
new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 604.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [604.135] CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE; VICARIOUS LIABILITY.
new text end

new text begin (a) A person who is arrested for or convicted of trespass under section 609.595 or
609.6055 may be held liable for any damages to personal or real property while trespassing.
new text end

new text begin (b) A person or entity that recruits, trains, aids, advises, hires, counsels, or conspires
with or otherwise procures another to trespass as described in paragraph (a) may also be
held vicariously liable for any damages to personal or real property committed by the
individual arrested or convicted under section 609.595 or 609.6055.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective on August 1, 2021, and applies to causes
of action brought on or after that date.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 609.594, subdivision 2, is amended to read:


Subd. 2.

Prohibited conduct; penalty.

new text begin (a) new text end Whoever causes damage to the physical
property of a critical public service facility, utility, or pipeline with the intent to significantly
disrupt the operation of or the provision of services by the facility, utility, or pipeline and
without the consent of one authorized to give consent, is guilty of a felony and may be
sentenced to imprisonment for not more than ten years or to payment of a fine of not more
than $20,000, or both.

new text begin (b) Whoever intentionally recruits, trains, aids, advises, hires, counsels, or conspires
with or otherwise procures another to commit a violation of paragraph (a) is guilty of a
felony and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than ten years or to payment of
a fine of not more than $20,000, or both, if a violation is committed and the person fails to
make a reasonable effort to prevent the violation.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective August 1, 2021, and applies to violations
committed on or after that date.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 609.6055, subdivision 2, is amended to read:


Subd. 2.

Prohibited conduct; penalty.

(a) Whoever enters or is found upon property
containing a critical public service facility, utility, or pipeline, without claim of right or
consent of one who has the right to give consent to be on the property, is guilty of a gross
misdemeanor, if:

(1) the person refuses to depart from the property on the demand of one who has the
right to give consent;

(2) within the past six months, the person had been told by one who had the right to give
consent to leave the property and not to return, unless a person with the right to give consent
has given the person permission to return; or

(3) the property is posted.

(b) Whoever enters an underground structure that (1) contains a utility line or pipeline
and (2) is not open to the public for pedestrian use, without claim of right or consent of one
who has the right to give consent to be in the underground structure, is guilty of a gross
misdemeanor. The underground structure does not need to be posted for this paragraph to
apply.

new text begin (c) Whoever intentionally recruits, trains, aids, advises, hires, counsels, or conspires
with or otherwise procures another to commit a violation of paragraph (a) is guilty of a
gross misdemeanor if a violation is committed and the person fails to make a reasonable
effort to prevent the violation.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective August 1, 2021, and applies to violations
committed on or after that date.
new text end