SF 3518

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 04/12/2016 11:30am

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; requiring that certain peace officer-initiated use of force
cases be prosecuted by a special prosecutor; establishing the Board of Special
Prosecution and a special prosecutorial office; prohibiting the use of grand
juries in certain peace officer-initiated use of force cases; appropriating money;
proposing coding for new law as Minnesota Statutes, chapter 626B.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [626B.01] DEFINITIONS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Terms defined. new text end

new text begin As used in this chapter, the terms defined in this
section have the meanings given them.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Board. new text end

new text begin "Board" means the Board of Special Prosecution.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Deadly force. new text end

new text begin "Deadly force" has the meaning given in section 609.066,
subdivision 1.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Great bodily harm. new text end

new text begin "Great bodily harm" means bodily injury that creates
a high probability of death, or causes serious permanent disfigurement, or causes a
permanent or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Law enforcement agency. new text end

new text begin "Law enforcement agency" has the meaning
given in section 626.84, subdivision 1, paragraph (f).
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Officer-involved incident. new text end

new text begin "Officer-involved incident" means the use of
deadly force by a peace officer while the officer is on duty or off duty but performing
activities that are within the scope of the officer's law enforcement duties that results
in great bodily harm or death of another.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Peace officer. new text end

new text begin "Peace officer" has the meaning given in section 626.84,
subdivision 1, paragraph (c).
new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin [626B.02] BOARD OF SPECIAL PROSECUTION.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Board established; members. new text end

new text begin (a) The Board of Special Prosecution
consists of the following five members appointed by the governor:
new text end

new text begin (1) three public members, at least one of whom has been the subject of peace
officer-initiated use of force or has a close association with someone who has, and another
who is a person of color;
new text end

new text begin (2) a county or city attorney with experience prosecuting criminal offenses; and
new text end

new text begin (3) a peace officer.
new text end

new text begin (b) All members shall demonstrate an interest in and be supportive of maintaining
a high-quality, permanent, independent special prosecutorial office to investigate and
prosecute officer-involved incidents.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Board duties and responsibilities. new text end

new text begin The board shall: (1) appoint an
attorney with sufficient prosecutorial experience to serve as state special prosecutor and
establish the prosecutor's compensation; (2) approve and recommend to the legislature a
budget for the board and the special prosecutorial office; (3) provide appropriate oversight
and supervision for the prosecutor and the office; and (4) make recommendations to the
legislature regarding changes in law relating to the responsibilities and jurisdiction of the
prosecutor and the office, and other related matters.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Meetings; chair. new text end

new text begin The board shall meet at least annually and may meet as
often as necessary to fulfill its duties and responsibilities. The board shall elect a chair
from among its members.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Terms. new text end

new text begin Board members shall serve two-year terms. The initial terms of the
peace officer and the county or city attorney are one year.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Limitation. new text end

new text begin In no event shall the board or its members interfere with
the discretion, judgment, or zealous advocacy of the state special prosecutor or other
members of the special prosecutorial office in their handling of individual cases within
their jurisdiction.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Workload; outside employment. new text end

new text begin The board shall monitor the workload
of the state special prosecutor and other members of the special prosecutorial office.
If the board determines that a position need not be full time, the board shall adjust the
individual's compensation and working arrangements accordingly. If this occurs, the
board may allow the individual to work outside the scope of the office if doing so does not
jeopardize the integrity or the real or perceived independence of the office.
new text end

Sec. 3.

new text begin [626B.03] STATE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Term; office. new text end

new text begin The state special prosecutor's term is two years. The
prosecutor serves in the unclassified service and may be removed only for cause by the
board. The prosecutor shall direct the operation of the special prosecutorial office and,
subject to the approval of the board, may hire or retain other individuals to assist in the
investigation and prosecution of officer-involved incidents within the state.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Jurisdiction. new text end

new text begin (a) The state special prosecutor has sole prosecutorial
jurisdiction over officer-involved incidents in the state. In addition, upon written request
of the governor or a county attorney, the prosecutor shall prosecute, when appropriate,
cases involving other peace officer-initiated use of force.
new text end

new text begin (b) In situations described in paragraph (a), the prosecutor shall exercise the powers
of a county attorney.
new text end

new text begin (c) The prosecutor is subject to the same ethical standards as a county attorney. The
prosecutor shall prosecute only those cases that the prosecutor considers appropriate,
based on the prosecutor's professional judgment and experience.
new text end

Sec. 4.

new text begin [626B.04] COMMENCEMENT OF PROSECUTION BY COMPLAINT
AND NOT INDICTMENT.
new text end

new text begin If, after proper investigation, the state special prosecutor determines that a
prosecution is warranted in a peace officer-initiated use of force case, the prosecutor
shall commence the criminal action by complaint and not by indictment, regardless of
the maximum punishment for the offense.
new text end

Sec. 5.

new text begin [626B.05] CONFLICTING PROVISIONS SUPERSEDED.
new text end

new text begin To the extent of a conflict, the provisions in this chapter supersede contrary
provisions in sections 8.01, 388.051, and 388.12, and Minnesota Rules of Criminal
Procedure, rule 17.01, and any other conflicting provision in law or rule.
new text end

Sec. 6.

new text begin [626B.06] NOTIFICATIONS.
new text end

new text begin (a) A chief law enforcement officer of a law enforcement agency shall ensure
that the special prosecutorial office is notified when a peace officer employed by the
agency is involved in an officer-involved incident. If a county attorney is aware that an
officer-involved incident has occurred in the county, the attorney shall notify the office of
this unless the attorney knows that the office has already been notified.
new text end

new text begin (b) The notifications required in paragraph (a) must be made immediately.
new text end

new text begin (c) In addition, any other person may report a suspected officer-involved incident to
the office.
new text end

Sec. 7.

new text begin [626B.07] REPORTING.
new text end

new text begin (a) If the state special prosecutor determines that a criminal charge is not warranted
in a case within the prosecutor's jurisdiction, the prosecutor shall issue a public report
explaining the reasons for the decision.
new text end

new text begin (b) By November 15 of each even-numbered year, the board shall submit a
detailed report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the senate and house of
representatives committees and divisions having jurisdiction over criminal justice policy
and funding that addresses the activities of the board, the state special prosecutor, and the
special prosecutorial office, along with any recommended changes in law as required in
section 626B.02, subdivision 2.
new text end

Sec. 8. new text begin GOVERNANCE.
new text end

new text begin The governor shall appoint members of the Board of Special Prosecution described
in section 2 by July 1, 2016, and ensure that the first meeting of the board is convened by
July 15, 2016.
new text end

Sec. 9. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... from the general fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017, is appropriated
to the commissioner of management and budget to implement this act.
new text end

Sec. 10. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end

new text begin Sections 1 to 8 are effective the day following final enactment. The provisions of
section 3 relating to the jurisdiction of the state special prosecutor are effective September
1, 2016, and apply to crimes committed on or after that date.
new text end