as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 02/07/2017 09:01am
A bill for an act
relating to commerce; redirecting auto theft prevention funds from the general
fund to the insurance fraud prevention account; amending Minnesota Statutes
2016, sections 45.0135, subdivision 6; 65B.84, subdivision 1; 297I.11, subdivision
2.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 45.0135, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
The insurance fraud prevention account
is created in the state treasury. Money received from assessments under subdivision 7 and
transferred from the automobile theft prevention account in section deleted text begin 65B.84, subdivision 1deleted text end new text begin
297I.11, subdivision 2new text end , is deposited in the account. Money in this fund is appropriated to
the commissioner of commerce for the purposes specified in this section and sections
60A.951 to 60A.956.
Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 65B.84, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
(a) The
commissioner of commerce shall:
(1) develop and sponsor the implementation of statewide plans, programs, and strategies
to combat automobile theft, improve the administration of the automobile theft laws, and
provide a forum for identification of critical problems for those persons dealing with
automobile theft;
(2) coordinate the development, adoption, and implementation of plans, programs, and
strategies relating to interagency and intergovernmental cooperation with respect to
automobile theft enforcement;
(3) annually audit the plans and programs that have been funded in whole or in part to
evaluate the effectiveness of the plans and programs and withdraw funding should the
commissioner determine that a plan or program is ineffective or is no longer in need of
further financial support from the fund;
(4) develop a plan of operation including:
(i) an assessment of the scope of the problem of automobile theft, including areas of the
state where the problem is greatest;
(ii) an analysis of various methods of combating the problem of automobile theft;
(iii) a plan for providing financial support to combat automobile theft;
(iv) a plan for eliminating car hijacking; and
(v) an estimate of the funds required to implement the plan; and
(5) distribute money, in consultation with the commissioner of public safety, pursuant
to subdivision 3 from the automobile theft prevention special revenue account for automobile
theft prevention activities, including:
(i) paying the administrative costs of the program;
(ii) providing financial support to the State Patrol and local law enforcement agencies
for automobile theft enforcement teams;
(iii) providing financial support to state or local law enforcement agencies for programs
designed to reduce the incidence of automobile theft and for improved equipment and
techniques for responding to automobile thefts;
(iv) providing financial support to local prosecutors for programs designed to reduce
the incidence of automobile theft;
(v) providing financial support to judicial agencies for programs designed to reduce the
incidence of automobile theft;
(vi) providing financial support for neighborhood or community organizations or business
organizations for programs designed to reduce the incidence of automobile theft and to
educate people about the common methods of automobile theft, the models of automobiles
most likely to be stolen, and the times and places automobile theft is most likely to occur;
and
(vii) providing financial support for automobile theft educational and training programs
for state and local law enforcement officials, driver and vehicle services exam and inspections
staff, and members of the judiciary.
(b) The commissioner may not spend in any fiscal year more than ten percent of the
money in the fund for the program's administrative and operating costs. The commissioner
is annually appropriated and must distribute the amount of the proceeds credited to the
automobile theft prevention special revenue account each year, less the transfer of $1,300,000
each year to the deleted text begin general funddeleted text end new text begin insurance fraud prevention accountnew text end described in section 297I.11,
subdivision 2.
(c) At the end of each fiscal year, the commissioner may transfer any unobligated balances
in the auto theft prevention account to the insurance fraud prevention account under section
45.0135, subdivision 6.
Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 297I.11, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
A special revenue account in the state
treasury shall be credited with the proceeds of the surcharge imposed under subdivision 1.
Of the revenue in the account, $1,300,000 each year must be transferred to the deleted text begin general funddeleted text end new text begin
insurance fraud prevention account under section 45.0135, subdivision 6new text end . Revenues in excess
of $1,300,000 each year may be used only for the automobile theft prevention program
described in section 65B.84.