SF 209

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 06/17/2024 04:08pm

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; requiring that notice is provided to certain public agents
on the presence of level II sex offenders; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022,
section 244.052, subdivision 4.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 244.052, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Law enforcement agency; disclosure of information to public.

(a) The law
enforcement agency in the area where the predatory offender resides, expects to reside, is
employed, or is regularly found, shall disclose to the public any information regarding the
offender contained in the report forwarded to the agency under subdivision 3, paragraph
(f), that is relevant and necessary to protect the public and to counteract the offender's
dangerousness, consistent with the guidelines in paragraph (b). The extent of the information
disclosed and the community to whom disclosure is made must relate to the level of danger
posed by the offender, to the offender's pattern of offending behavior, and to the need of
community members for information to enhance their individual and collective safety.

(b) The law enforcement agency shall employ the following guidelines in determining
the scope of disclosure made under this subdivision:

(1) if the offender is assigned to risk level I, the agency may maintain information
regarding the offender within the agency and may disclose it to other law enforcement
agencies. Additionally, the agency may disclose the information to any victims of or
witnesses to the offense committed by the offender. The agency shall disclose the information
to victims of the offense committed by the offender who have requested disclosure and to
adult members of the offender's immediate household;

(2) if the offender is assigned to risk level II, the agency also may disclose the information
to agencies and groups that the offender is likely to encounter for the purpose of securing
those institutions and protecting individuals in their care while they are on or near the
premises of the institution. These agencies and groups include the staff members of public
and private educational institutions, day care establishments, and establishments and
organizations that primarily serve individuals likely to be victimized by the offender. The
agency also may disclose the information to individuals the agency believes are likely to
be victimized by the offender. The agency's belief shall be based on the offender's pattern
of offending or victim preference as documented in the information provided by the
department of corrections or human services new text begin . The agency shall disclose the information to
public officials who are likely to visit the offender's home in the course of their duties,
including property assessors, property inspectors, and code enforcement officials new text end ;

(3) if the offender is assigned to risk level III, the agency shall disclose the information
to the persons and entities described in clauses (1) and (2) and to other members of the
community whom the offender is likely to encounter, unless the law enforcement agency
determines that public safety would be compromised by the disclosure or that a more limited
disclosure is necessary to protect the identity of the victim.

Notwithstanding the assignment of a predatory offender to risk level II or III, a law
enforcement agency may not make the disclosures permitted or required by clause (2) or
(3), if: the offender is placed or resides in a residential facility. However, if an offender is
placed or resides in a residential facility, the offender and the head of the facility shall
designate the offender's likely residence upon release from the facility and the head of the
facility shall notify the commissioner of corrections or the commissioner of human services
of the offender's likely residence at least 14 days before the offender's scheduled release
date. The commissioner shall give this information to the law enforcement agency having
jurisdiction over the offender's likely residence. The head of the residential facility also
shall notify the commissioner of corrections or human services within 48 hours after
finalizing the offender's approved relocation plan to a permanent residence. Within five
days after receiving this notification, the appropriate commissioner shall give to the
appropriate law enforcement agency all relevant information the commissioner has
concerning the offender, including information on the risk factors in the offender's history
and the risk level to which the offender was assigned. After receiving this information, the
law enforcement agency shall make the disclosures permitted or required by clause (2) or
(3), as appropriate.

(c) As used in paragraph (b), clauses (2) and (3), "likely to encounter" means that:

(1) the organizations or community members are in a location or in close proximity to
a location where the offender lives or is employed, or which the offender visits or is likely
to visit on a regular basis, other than the location of the offender's outpatient treatment
program; and

(2) the types of interaction which ordinarily occur at that location and other circumstances
indicate that contact with the offender is reasonably certain.

(d) A law enforcement agency or official who discloses information under this subdivision
shall make a good faith effort to make the notification within 14 days of receipt of a
confirmed address from the Department of Corrections indicating that the offender will be,
or has been, released from confinement, or accepted for supervision, or has moved to a new
address and will reside at the address indicated. If a change occurs in the release plan, this
notification provision does not require an extension of the release date.

(e) A law enforcement agency or official who discloses information under this subdivision
shall not disclose the identity or any identifying characteristics of the victims of or witnesses
to the offender's offenses.

(f) A law enforcement agency shall continue to disclose information on an offender as
required by this subdivision for as long as the offender is required to register under section
243.166. This requirement on a law enforcement agency to continue to disclose information
also applies to an offender who lacks a primary address and is registering under section
243.166, subdivision 3a.

(g) A law enforcement agency that is disclosing information on an offender assigned to
risk level III to the public under this subdivision shall inform the commissioner of corrections
what information is being disclosed and forward this information to the commissioner within
two days of the agency's determination. The commissioner shall post this information on
the Internet as required in subdivision 4b.

(h) A city council may adopt a policy that addresses when information disclosed under
this subdivision must be presented in languages in addition to English. The policy may
address when information must be presented orally, in writing, or both in additional languages
by the law enforcement agency disclosing the information. The policy may provide for
different approaches based on the prevalence of non-English languages in different
neighborhoods.

(i) An offender who is the subject of a community notification meeting held pursuant
to this section may not attend the meeting.

(j) When a school, day care facility, or other entity or program that primarily educates
or serves children receives notice under paragraph (b), clause (3), that a level III predatory
offender resides or works in the surrounding community, notice to parents must be made
as provided in this paragraph. If the predatory offender identified in the notice is participating
in programs offered by the facility that require or allow the person to interact with children
other than the person's children, the principal or head of the entity must notify parents with
children at the facility of the contents of the notice received pursuant to this section. The
immunity provisions of subdivision 7 apply to persons disclosing information under this
paragraph.

(k) When an offender for whom notification was made under this subdivision no longer
resides, is employed, or is regularly found in the area, and the law enforcement agency that
made the notification is aware of this, the agency shall inform the entities and individuals
initially notified of the change in the offender's status. If notification was made under
paragraph (b), clause (3), the agency shall provide the updated information required under
this paragraph in a manner designed to ensure a similar scope of dissemination. However,
the agency is not required to hold a public meeting to do so.