1st Engrossment - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am
A bill for an act
relating to public safety; establishing a Crimes Against Children Team;
specifying the team's duties and membership; authorizing memorandums of
understanding with federal agencies, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task
Force, local government, and law enforcement; appropriating money; proposing
coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 299A.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
new text begin
(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms
have the meanings given them.
new text end
new text begin
(b) "ICAC" means the Minnesota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
new text end
new text begin
(c) "Team" means the crimes against children team.
new text end
new text begin
The commissioner of public
safety shall convene a crimes against children team to investigate technology-facilitated
crimes against children, including the solicitation of minors for sexual purposes and
the possession or distribution of child pornography. The team shall consist of Bureau
of Criminal Apprehension agents, analysts, clerical support, and computer/technology
support.
new text end
new text begin
(a) The team shall serve as a statewide source of prevention,
education, and investigative expertise to provide assistance to parents, teachers, law
enforcement, and other professionals working on child victimization issues. The team
shall investigate criminal activity involving the possession or distribution of child
pornography and criminal activity involving the exploitation or solicitation of a minor
for sexual purposes.
new text end
new text begin
(b) The team shall assist in implementing a statewide "NetSmartz" and other
educational programs designed to enhance safety awareness for children and to prevent
crimes against children.
new text end
new text begin
The commissioner of
public safety has the authority to enter into memorandums of understanding with federal
agencies in the United States Departments of Justice, Treasury, and Homeland Security.
The memorandums may authorize state law enforcement officers to enforce federal laws.
new text end
new text begin
The commissioner of public safety has the authority to enter into
memorandums of understanding with the ICAC Task Force, state law enforcement
agencies, city police departments, county sheriff's departments, and local government
units. These memorandums of understanding may authorize city and county law
enforcement officers to have statewide authority to conduct criminal investigations and
to possess the same powers of arrest as those of a sheriff.
new text end
new text begin
The team shall cooperate fully with existing prosecutorial
offices and law enforcement agencies including county attorney's offices, the Minnesota
Attorney General's office, the United States Attorney's Office, the ICAC Task Force,
federal law enforcement agencies, city and county law enforcement agencies, and other
state law enforcement agencies.
new text end
new text begin
$1,000,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of public
safety to fund the activities of the crimes against children team. The appropriation is
available for the biennium ending June 30, 2007.
new text end