SF 2638

1st Engrossment - 82nd Legislature (2001 - 2002) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to crimes; providing that whoever employs 
  1.3             runners to procure clients under certain circumstances 
  1.4             involving motor vehicle insurance is guilty of a 
  1.5             felony; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
  1.6             Statutes, chapter 609. 
  1.7   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.8      Section 1.  [609.612] [EMPLOYMENT OF RUNNERS.] 
  1.9      Subdivision 1.  [DEFINITIONS.] (a) As used in this section, 
  1.10  the following terms have the meanings given. 
  1.11     (b) "Public media" means telephone directories, 
  1.12  professional directories, newspapers and other periodicals, 
  1.13  radio and television, billboards, and mailed or electronically 
  1.14  transmitted written communications that do not involve in-person 
  1.15  contact with a specific prospective client. 
  1.16     (c) "Runner," "capper," or "steerer" means a person who for 
  1.17  a pecuniary gain procures clients at the direction of, or in 
  1.18  cooperation with, a health care provider when the person knows 
  1.19  or has reason to know that the provider's purpose is to 
  1.20  fraudulently perform or obtain services or benefits under or 
  1.21  relating to a contract of motor vehicle insurance.  The term 
  1.22  does not include a person who procures clients through public 
  1.23  media. 
  1.24     Subd. 2.  [ACT CONSTITUTING.] Whoever employs, uses, or 
  1.25  acts as a runner, capper, or steerer is guilty of a felony and 
  1.26  may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than three years 
  2.1   or to a payment of a fine of not more than $6,000, or both.  
  2.2   Charges for any services rendered by a health care provider, who 
  2.3   violated this section in regard to the person for whom such 
  2.4   services were rendered, are noncompensable and unenforceable as 
  2.5   a matter of law. 
  2.6      Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.7      Section 1 is effective August 1, 2002, and applies to 
  2.8   crimes committed on or after that date.