HF 2658

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 05/15/2017 04:27pm

A bill for an act
relating to crime; providing for the crime of hiding identity at a public
demonstration; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 609.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [609.736] HIDING IDENTITY AT PUBLIC DEMONSTRATIONS.
new text end

new text begin (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to disguise, by a mask or otherwise unless based
on religious beliefs, that person's face while at a public demonstration. For the purposes of
this section, "public demonstration" means any prearranged gathering of three or more
persons for the purpose of exercising their right to free speech.
new text end

new text begin (b) If the official National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather
forecast for the time and location of the demonstration is for temperatures below zero degrees
Fahrenheit, paragraph (a) only applies to persons who engage in unprovoked violence against
a person or object.
new text end

new text begin (c) A violation of paragraph (a) is a gross misdemeanor. A violation of this section is
not a bar to prosecution for any other crime or offense.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective August 1, 2017, and applies to crimes
committed on or after that date.
new text end