HF 783

1st Engrossment - 82nd Legislature (2001 - 2002) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to crime prevention; specifying that peace 
  1.3             officers' use of less lethal munitions does not 
  1.4             constitute deadly force; amending Minnesota Statutes 
  1.5             2000, section 609.066, subdivision 1. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 609.066, 
  1.8   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  1.9      Subdivision 1.  [DEADLY FORCE DEFINED.] For the purposes of 
  1.10  this section, "deadly force" means force which the actor uses 
  1.11  with the purpose of causing, or which the actor should 
  1.12  reasonably know creates a substantial risk of causing, death or 
  1.13  great bodily harm.  The intentional discharge of a firearm, 
  1.14  other than a firearm loaded with less lethal munitions and used 
  1.15  by a peace officer within the scope of official duties, in the 
  1.16  direction of another person, or at a vehicle in which another 
  1.17  person is believed to be, constitutes deadly force.  "Less 
  1.18  lethal munitions" means projectiles which are designed to stun, 
  1.19  temporarily incapacitate, or cause temporary discomfort to a 
  1.20  person.  "Peace officer" has the meaning given in section 
  1.21  626.84, subdivision 1. 
  1.22     Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  1.23     Section 1 is effective August 1, 2001.