SF 3912

1st Engrossment - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 03/12/2020 02:43pm

A bill for an act
relating to public transportation; requiring cameras on light rail transit vehicles;
requiring an increase in number of Metropolitan Transit police officers; requiring
the Metropolitan Council to establish paid fare zones; imposing temporary bans
from Metropolitan Council transit services for individuals convicted of certain
crimes; requiring a report; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes
2018, sections 473.405, by adding a subdivision; 473.4056, subdivision 2; 473.407,
by adding a subdivision; 473.41, by adding a subdivision; 609.855, by adding a
subdivision.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 473.405, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

Subd. 16.

Legislative report.

By February 15 annually, the council must submit a report
on transit safety to the members and staff of the legislative committees with jurisdiction
over transportation policy and finance. At a minimum, the report must:

(1) provide an overview of transit safety issues and actions taken by the council to
improve safety, including improvements made to equipment and infrastructure;

(2) for each of the past three calendar years, state the number of warnings and citations
issued by the Metropolitan Transit police and a breakdown of the numbers by the reason
the warning or citation was issued;

(3) for each of the past three calendar years, include data and statistics on crime rates
occurring on public transit vehicles and surrounding transit stops and stations;

(4) for each of the past three calendar years, state the number of peace officers employed
by the Metropolitan Transit police department;

(5) state the average number of peace officers employed by the Metropolitan Transit
police department for the previous three calendar years; and

(6) make recommendations on how to improve safety on public transit and transit stops
and stations.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 473.4056, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Minimum standards.

Standards adopted under this section must include, but
are not limited to:

(1) two dedicated spaces for wheelchair users in each car;

(2) seating for a companion adjacent to at least two wheelchair-dedicated spaces; and

(3) further specifications that meet or exceed the standards established in the Americans
with Disabilities Act.; and

(4) a camera that is capable of recording the light rail transit vehicle operator and the
interior of the vehicle in the vicinity of the operator.

EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION.

This section is effective August 1, 2020, and
applies to existing light rail transit vehicles and light rail transit vehicles procured on and
after that date. This section applies in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin,
Ramsey, Scott, and Washington.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 473.407, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:

Subd. 7.

Staffing complement.

The council must not reduce the staff complement of
peace officers under this section to below the average staffing level for the most recent three
calendar years.

EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION.

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

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 473.41, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:

Subd. 4.

Paid fare zones.

The council must establish and clearly designate paid fare
zones at each station or stop where the council utilizes self-service, barrier-free fare
collection.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective August 1, 2020, and applies in the counties
of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 609.855, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:

Subd. 6a.

Mandatory ban.

(a) A person who is convicted of a gross misdemeanor
violation committed in a transit vehicle or transit facility operated by the Metropolitan
Council is prohibited from accessing Metropolitan Council transit services for six months
from the date of conviction.

(b) A person who is convicted of a felony violation committed in a transit vehicle or
transit facility operated by the Metropolitan Council is prohibited from accessing
Metropolitan Council transit services for one year from the date of conviction.

(c) For purposes of this subdivision, Metropolitan Council transit services includes but
is not limited to:

(1) entering or riding upon a transit vehicle; and

(2) presence in a paid-fare zone designated by the council.

(d) A person who intentionally violates the requirements under this subdivision is guilty
of a misdemeanor.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective August 1, 2020 and applies to crimes
committed on or after that date. This applies in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota,
Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington.

Sec. 6. APPROPRIATION; ADDITIONAL METROPOLITAN TRANSIT POLICE
OFFICERS.

$1,908,000 in fiscal year 2022 and $4,389,000 in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from
the general fund to the chair of the Metropolitan Council to increase the number of
Metropolitan Transit police officers.