SF 1510

as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to crimes; authorizing a $1 assessment fee on
state identification cards and drivers' licenses to
fund the Minnesota Financial Crimes Task Force;
providing for the organization of regional districts;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 299A.68,
subdivisions 4, 6a, by adding subdivisions.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 299A.68,
subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Statewide commander.

The participating local
agencies shall select a commander to direct the task force. The
commander shall make tactical decisions regarding the
commencement, continuation, and conclusion of investigations of
crimes in consultation with agencies participating in the task
force. new text begin The statewide commander shall also have the sole
authority to bar an agency or investigators from participating
in the task force immediately for cause; such as, failing to
complete assignments, failing to report cases, failing to
properly account for funding or assigned time by the task force,
failing to advise the commander of material facts involving an
investigation, and any inappropriate behavior or investigations
as defined in subdivision 3. new text end The commander shall also report
annually to the commissioner of public safety as required in
subdivision 10.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 299A.68,
subdivision 6a, is amended to read:

Subd. 6a.

Regional deleted text begin offices deleted text end new text begin districts new text end .

The new text begin statewide
new text end commander, as funding permits, may establish deleted text begin seven deleted text end new text begin four new text end regional
deleted text begin offices of the task force to investigate financial crimes
throughout the state and the regional areas deleted text end new text begin districts to conduct
investigations new text end . deleted text begin The regional offices must originally be
established based on current state judicial districts, with one
regional office covering the First, Second, Fourth, and Tenth
Judicial Districts. The commander must establish a separate
regional office in each of the Third, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh,
Eighth, and Ninth Judicial Districts. The regional offices must
be composed of participating agencies from each of the
designated geographic areas. In consultation with the
commander, the participating agencies of each regional office
must select a supervisor to direct the office. The regional
office supervisors must report to the commander. If necessary,
the advisory committee established in subdivision 8 may modify
the geographic boundary of a regional office. deleted text end new text begin These four
regional districts shall be defined by the advisory committee
and directed at counties outside of Hennepin, Anoka, Ramsey,
Dakota, Washington, and Scott. Within these regional districts,
cities or county law enforcement agencies may apply for
individual funding grants to conduct financial crime
investigations. Any agency participating must have established
a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the statewide task
force. The statewide commander shall review all competing
requests and determine which regional district (cities or
county) shall be selected and submitted to the advisory
committee for final approval.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 299A.68, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 7a. new text end

new text begin Financial crimes task force funding
account. new text end

new text begin The Minnesota financial crimes task force funding
account is created in the state treasury. Money received from
assessments under subdivision 7b is deposited into the account.
Money in the account is earmarked for the task force and must be
used for investigation of crimes defined under subdivision 2,
paragraph (b). All fees collected by the commissioner of public
safety under subdivision 7b must be deposited in the state
treasury and credited to the Minnesota financial crimes task
force funding account. Assessment of the funds begins July 1,
2005. This section does not expire and the funds shall be
collected from year to year.
new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 299A.68, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 7b. new text end

new text begin Assessment fees. new text end

new text begin Each Minnesota state
identification card or driver's license issued by the state of
Minnesota shall be assessed a fee of $1. A fee of $1 shall also
be assessed for renewal, replacement, or reinstatement cards or
licenses. The persons collecting assessments shall remit all
assessments to the commissioner of public safety for deposit in
a special account for the Minnesota Financial Crimes Task
Force. The task force account shall be transferred on or before
each fiscal accounting calendar quarter during each year on a
recurring basis. The total assessment for each funding quarter
based on the fiscal accounting calendar quarter shall be
reported and transferred to the approved fiscal agent account
for appropriate fund disbursements and accounts as described in
subdivisions 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12.
new text end

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 299A.68, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 13. new text end

new text begin Victims assistance program. new text end

new text begin (a) The task force
may establish a victims assistance program to assist victims of
economic crimes and provide prevention and awareness programs.
The task force may retain outside services of not-for-profit
organizations to assist the development and delivery systems in
aiding victims of economic crimes defined in subdivision 2,
paragraph (b). The victims services shall not provide any
financial assistance to victims, but are limited to helping
victims obtain police assistance and directing victims how to
protect personal accounts and identities. Services include a
victim 1-800 number, fax number, Web site, telephone service
Monday through Friday, e-mail response, and interfaces to other
helpful Web sites. Victims' information gathered by the Victim
Task Force Assistance Center shall be covered by the Data
Privacy Act under chapter 13.
new text end

new text begin (b) The task force may post or communicate through public
service announcements in newspapers, radio, television, cable
access, billboards, Internet, Web sites, and other normal
advertising channels a financial reward of up to $2,000 for tips
leading to the apprehension and successful prosecution of
individuals committing crimes defined under subdivision 2,
paragraph (b). All rewards must meet the Minnesota Financial
Crimes Task Force Advisory Committee standards. The release of
funds shall be made to an individual whose information leads to
the apprehension and prosecution of offenders committing
economic or financial crimes against citizens or businesses in
the state of Minnesota. All rewards paid to an individual shall
be reported to the Department of Revenue along with the
individual's Social Security number.
new text end