SF 869

as introduced - 82nd Legislature (2001 - 2002) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to corrections; creating discipline 
  1.3             procedures for correctional officers; proposing coding 
  1.4             for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 241. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [241.026] [CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS DISCIPLINE 
  1.7   PROCEDURES ACT.] 
  1.8      Subdivision 1.  [DEFINITIONS.] For purposes of this 
  1.9   section, the terms defined in this subdivision have the meanings 
  1.10  given them. 
  1.11     (a) "Administrative hearing" means a nonjudicial hearing or 
  1.12  arbitration authorized to recommend, approve, or order 
  1.13  discipline. 
  1.14     (b) "Formal statement" means the questioning of an officer 
  1.15  in the course of obtaining a recorded, stenographic, or signed 
  1.16  statement to be used as evidence in a disciplinary proceeding 
  1.17  against the officer. 
  1.18     (c) "Correctional officer" and "officer" mean a person 
  1.19  employed by the state, a state correctional facility, or a local 
  1.20  correctional or detention facility in a security capacity. 
  1.21     Subd. 2.  [APPLICABILITY.] The procedures and provisions of 
  1.22  this section apply to the department of corrections and local 
  1.23  correctional authorities. 
  1.24     Subd. 3.  [GOVERNING FORMAL STATEMENT PROCEDURES.] The 
  1.25  formal statement of an officer must be taken according to 
  2.1   subdivisions 4 to 10. 
  2.2      Subd. 4.  [PLACE OF FORMAL STATEMENT.] The formal statement 
  2.3   must be taken at a facility of the employing or investigating 
  2.4   agency or at a place agreed to by the investigating individual 
  2.5   and the investigated officer. 
  2.6      Subd. 5.  [COMPLAINT.] An officer's formal statement may 
  2.7   not be taken unless there is filed with the employing or 
  2.8   investigating agency a written complaint signed by the 
  2.9   complainant stating the complainant's knowledge, and the officer 
  2.10  has been given a summary of the allegations.  Complaints stating 
  2.11  the signer's knowledge also may be filed by members of the 
  2.12  correctional agency.  Before an administrative hearing is begun, 
  2.13  the officer must be given a copy of the signed complaint. 
  2.14     Subd. 6.  [WITNESSES; INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS.] Upon request, 
  2.15  the investigating agency or the officer's representative shall 
  2.16  provide the other party with a list of witnesses that the agency 
  2.17  or representative expects to testify at the administrative 
  2.18  hearing and the substance of the testimony.  A party, including 
  2.19  the union, is entitled to copies of any witness statements in 
  2.20  the possession of the other party and an officer is entitled to 
  2.21  a copy of the investigating agency's investigative report, 
  2.22  provided that any references in a witness statement or 
  2.23  investigative report that would reveal the identity of 
  2.24  confidential informants need not be disclosed except upon order 
  2.25  of the person presiding over the administrative hearing for good 
  2.26  cause shown. 
  2.27     Subd. 7.  [SESSIONS.] Sessions at which a formal statement 
  2.28  is taken must be of reasonable duration and must give the 
  2.29  officer reasonable periods for rest and personal necessities.  
  2.30  When practicable, sessions must be held during the officer's 
  2.31  regularly scheduled work shift.  If the session is not held 
  2.32  during the officer's regularly scheduled work shift, the officer 
  2.33  must be paid by the employing facility at the officer's current 
  2.34  compensation rate for time spent attending the session. 
  2.35     Subd. 8.  [RECORD.] A complete record of sessions at which 
  2.36  a formal statement is taken must be made by electronic recording 
  3.1   or otherwise.  Upon written request, a complete copy or 
  3.2   transcript must be made available to the officer or officer's 
  3.3   representative without charge or undue delay.  The session may 
  3.4   be tape-recorded by the investigating officer and by the officer 
  3.5   under investigation.  
  3.6      Subd. 9.  [PRESENCE OF ATTORNEY OR UNION 
  3.7   REPRESENTATIVE.] The officer whose formal statement is taken has 
  3.8   the right to have an attorney of the officer's choosing and a 
  3.9   union representative present during the session.  The officer 
  3.10  may request the presence of an attorney and a union 
  3.11  representative at any time before or during the session.  When a 
  3.12  request under this subdivision is made, no formal statement may 
  3.13  be taken until a reasonable opportunity is provided for the 
  3.14  officer to obtain the presence of the attorney and a union 
  3.15  representative. 
  3.16     Subd. 10.  [ADMISSIONS.] Before an officer's formal 
  3.17  statement is taken, the officer shall be advised in writing or 
  3.18  on the record that admissions made in the course of the formal 
  3.19  statement may be used as evidence of misconduct or as a basis 
  3.20  for discipline. 
  3.21     Subd. 11.  [DISCLOSURE OF FINANCIAL RECORDS.] No employer 
  3.22  may require an officer to produce or disclose the officer's 
  3.23  personal financial records except pursuant to a valid search 
  3.24  warrant or subpoena. 
  3.25     Subd. 12.  [RELEASE OF PHOTOGRAPHS.] No correctional 
  3.26  facility or governmental unit may publicly release photographs 
  3.27  of an officer without the written permission of the officer, 
  3.28  except that the facility or unit may display a photograph of an 
  3.29  officer to a prospective witness as part of an agency or unit 
  3.30  investigation. 
  3.31     Subd. 13.  [DISCIPLINARY LETTER.] No disciplinary letter or 
  3.32  reprimand may be included in an officer's personnel record 
  3.33  unless the officer has been given a copy of the letter or 
  3.34  reprimand. 
  3.35     Subd. 14.  [RETALIATORY ACTION PROHIBITED.] No officer may 
  3.36  be discharged, disciplined, or threatened with discharge or 
  4.1   discipline as retaliation for or solely by reason of the 
  4.2   officer's exercise of the rights provided by this section. 
  4.3      Subd. 15.  [RIGHTS NOT REDUCED.] The rights of officers 
  4.4   provided by this section are in addition to and do not diminish 
  4.5   the rights and privileges of officers that are provided under an 
  4.6   applicable collective bargaining agreement or any other 
  4.7   applicable law. 
  4.8      Subd. 16.  [DISCHARGE OF CORRECTIONAL OFFICER.] After six 
  4.9   months of continuous employment, a correctional officer shall 
  4.10  continue in service and hold the position without demotion until 
  4.11  suspended, demoted, or discharged under an administrative 
  4.12  hearing as defined in this section. 
  4.13     Subd. 17.  [ACTION FOR DAMAGES.] Notwithstanding section 
  4.14  3.736 or 466.03, a political subdivision or state agency that 
  4.15  violates this section is liable to the officer for actual 
  4.16  damages resulting from the violation, plus costs and reasonable 
  4.17  attorney fees.  The political subdivision or the state is deemed 
  4.18  to have waived any immunity to a cause of action brought under 
  4.19  this subdivision, except that the monetary limits on liability 
  4.20  under section 3.736, subdivision 4, or 466.04 apply.