SF 2506

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 07/05/2023 02:38pm

A bill for an act
relating to transit; amending requirements governing transit enforcement;
establishing a transit service intervention project; establishing a working group;
appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 609.855,
subdivision 3; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 473.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [473.4065] TRANSIT PASSENGER ACTIVITIES.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Code of conduct. new text end

new text begin (a) The council must adopt a rider code of conduct for
transit passengers. The council must post a copy of the code of conduct in a prominent
location at each light rail transit station and each park-and-ride station.
new text end

new text begin (b) The code of conduct must not prohibit sleeping in a manner that does not otherwise
violate conduct requirements.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Violations. new text end

new text begin A peace officer, as defined in section 626.84, subdivision 1,
paragraph (c), may order a person to depart a transit vehicle or transit facility for a violation
of the rider code of conduct established under subdivision 1.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following
final enactment and applies in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey,
Scott, and Washington.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 609.855, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Prohibited activities; misdemeanor.

(a) A person is guilty of a misdemeanor
who, while riding in a vehicle providing public transit service:

(1) operates a radio, television, tape player, electronic musical instrument, or other
electronic device, other than a watch, which amplifies music, unless the sound emanates
only from earphones or headphones and except that vehicle operators may operate electronic
equipment for official business;

(2) smokes or carries lighted smoking paraphernalia;

(3) consumes food or beverages, except when authorized by the operator or other official
of the transit system;

(4) throws or deposits litter; or

(5) carries or is in control of an animal without the operator's consent.

deleted text begin (b) A person is guilty of a violation of this subdivision only if the person continues to
act in violation of this subdivision after being warned once by an authorized transit
representative to stop the conduct. deleted text end new text begin (b) A peace officer may order a person to depart a transit
vehicle or transit facility for a violation under paragraph (a).
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment and
applies to violations committed on or after that date.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin TRANSIT SERVICE INTERVENTION PROJECT.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Council" means the Metropolitan Council established under Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 473.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Intervention project" means the Transit Service Intervention Project established in
this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin A Transit Service Intervention Project is established to provide
coordinated, high-visibility interventions on light rail transit lines that provide for enhanced
social services outreach and engagement, code of conduct regulation, and law enforcement.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Project manager. new text end

new text begin By March 13, 2023, the governor must appoint a project
manager to implement the intervention project. The project manager must have managerial
experience in social services, transit service, or law enforcement.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Working group. new text end

new text begin (a) The project manager must establish a working group of
project partners that provides for coordination on the intervention project.
new text end

new text begin (b) The working group consists of the following participants:
new text end

new text begin (1) a representative from the Department of Human Services, appointed by the
commissioner of human services;
new text end

new text begin (2) a representative from the Department of Public Safety, appointed by the commissioner
of public safety;
new text end

new text begin (3) a representative from the Metropolitan Council, appointed by the chair of the council;
new text end

new text begin (4) one representative from each county within which a light rail transit line operates,
appointed by the respective county board;
new text end

new text begin (5) one representative from each city within which a light rail transit line operates,
appointed by the respective city council;
new text end

new text begin (6) the executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Minnesota, or a
designee; and
new text end

new text begin (7) up to ....... representatives from community-based social service organizations as
designated by the governor.
new text end

new text begin (c) By March 13, 2023, each appointing authority must make the appointments or
designations under paragraph (b).
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin (a) In collaboration with the working group under subdivision 4, the
project manager must:
new text end

new text begin (1) establish social services intervention teams that consist of county-based social services
personnel and personnel from nonprofit organizations having mental health services or
support capacity to perform on-site social services engagement with (i) transit riders
experiencing homelessness, (ii) transit riders with substance use disorders or mental or
behavioral health disorders, or (iii) a combination;
new text end

new text begin (2) establish coordinated intervention teams that consist of personnel under clause (1),
community service officers, and peace officers;
new text end

new text begin (3) implement interventions in two phases as follows:
new text end

new text begin (i) by April 3, 2023, and for a period of three weeks, deploy the social services
intervention teams on a mobile basis on light rail transit lines and facilities; and
new text end

new text begin (ii) beginning at the conclusion of the period under item (i), and for a period of at least
nine weeks, deploy the coordinated intervention teams on a mobile basis on light rail transit
lines and facilities; and
new text end

new text begin (4) evaluate impacts of the intervention teams related to social services outreach, code
of conduct violations, and rider experience.
new text end

new text begin (b) Social services engagement under paragraph (a) includes but is not limited to outreach,
preliminary assessment and screening, information and resource sharing, referral or
connections to service providers, assistance in arranging for services, and precrisis response.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Administration; meetings. new text end

new text begin (a) The council must provide staff assistance and
administrative support for the project.
new text end

new text begin (b) Members of the working group under subdivision 4 may be compensated as provided
by Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059, subdivision 3.
new text end

new text begin (c) The task force is subject to the Minnesota Open Meeting Law under Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 13D.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Expiration. new text end

new text begin This section expires December 31, 2023.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin APPROPRIATION; TRANSIT SERVICE INTERVENTION PROJECT.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the general fund to the Metropolitan
Council for implementation of the duties of the Transit Service Intervention Project under
section 3, including but not limited to costs of a project manager and the intervention teams.
This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2024.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end