SF 1712

as introduced - 80th Legislature (1997 - 1998) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to crime; requiring bias-motivated crimes 
  1.3             training requirements for peace officers; authorizing 
  1.4             a public education campaign about hate-based violence; 
  1.5             amending Minnesota Statutes 1996, sections 8.34, 
  1.6             subdivision 3, and by adding subdivisions; and 
  1.7             626.8451, subdivisions 1 and 4. 
  1.8   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.9      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 8.34, is 
  1.10  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  1.11     Subd. 2a.  [BIAS-MOTIVATED CRIME TRAINING.] The attorney 
  1.12  general's office in cooperation with the peace officers 
  1.13  standards and training board and the Minnesota county attorneys 
  1.14  association shall conduct an annual training session dealing 
  1.15  with the prosecution of bias-motivated crimes. 
  1.16     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 8.34, subdivision 
  1.17  3, is amended to read: 
  1.18     Subd. 3.  [RECORDS OF ATTENDANCE.] The head of every agency 
  1.19  that employs prosecuting attorneys shall ensure that at least 
  1.20  one prosecuting attorney within the agency attend the annual 
  1.21  training.  The agency head shall also maintain records of the 
  1.22  number of prosecuting attorneys who have attended the 
  1.23  bias-motivated crimes prosecution course training session and 
  1.24  the number of those who have not.  The agency head shall report 
  1.25  annually to the attorney general on these attendance and 
  1.26  nonattendance figures. 
  2.1      Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 8.34, is amended 
  2.2   by adding a subdivision to read: 
  2.3      Subd. 4.  [PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN.] The attorney general 
  2.4   may establish a public service campaign designed to educate the 
  2.5   public, with a priority towards youth, about hate-based violence 
  2.6   prevention and response. 
  2.7      Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 626.8451, 
  2.8   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  2.9      Subdivision 1.  [TRAINING COURSE; CRIMES MOTIVATED BY 
  2.10  BIAS.] The board must prepare a training course to assist peace 
  2.11  officers in identifying and responding to crimes motivated by 
  2.12  the victim's race, religion, national origin, sex, age, 
  2.13  disability, or characteristics identified as sexual 
  2.14  orientation.  The course must include material to help officers 
  2.15  distinguish bias crimes from other crimes, to help officers in 
  2.16  understanding and assisting victims of these crimes, and to 
  2.17  ensure that bias crimes will be accurately reported as required 
  2.18  under section 626.5531.  The course must be updated periodically 
  2.19  every three years as the board considers appropriate. 
  2.20     Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 626.8451, 
  2.21  subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
  2.22     Subd. 4.  [IN-SERVICE TRAINING; CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT 
  2.23  OFFICER REQUIREMENTS.] Beginning January 1, 1998, the head of 
  2.24  every local and state law enforcement agency shall provide the 
  2.25  training described in subdivision 1 to every peace officer and 
  2.26  part-time peace officer currently employed by the agency.  This 
  2.27  training must be provided at least once every three years.  A 
  2.28  chief law enforcement officer must inform all peace officers 
  2.29  within the officer's agency of (1) the requirements of this 
  2.30  section and section 626.5531, (2) the availability of the 
  2.31  instructional materials provided by the board under subdivision 
  2.32  3, and (3) the availability of continuing education credit for 
  2.33  the completion of these materials.  The chief law enforcement 
  2.34  officer must also encourage these peace officers to review or 
  2.35  complete the materials.