SF 874

2nd Engrossment - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 05/12/2014 10:43am

A bill for an act
relating to criminal justice; modifying judicial forfeiture provisions; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 609.531, subdivision 6a; 609.5314,
subdivision 3; 609.5316, subdivision 3; 609.5318, subdivision 1.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 609.531, subdivision 6a, is amended to read:

Subd. 6a.

Forfeiture a civil procedure; conviction results in presumption
required.

(a) An action for forfeiture is a civil in rem action and is independent of any
criminal prosecution, except as provided in this subdivision and section 609.5318.

(b) An asset is subject to a designated offense forfeiture by judicial determination
under section 609.5312 sections 609.5311 to 609.5318 only if the underlying designated
offense is established by proof of a criminal conviction.:

(1) a person is convicted of the criminal offense related to the action for forfeiture; or

(2) a person is not charged with a criminal offense under chapter 152 related to
the action for forfeiture based in whole or in part on the person's agreement to provide
information regarding the criminal activity of another person.

For purposes of clause (1), an admission of guilt to an offense chargeable under
chapter 152, a sentence under section 152.152, a stay of adjudication under section
152.18, or a referral to a diversion program for an offense chargeable under chapter 152 is
considered a conviction.

(c) The appropriate agency handling the judicial forfeiture has the benefit of the
evidentiary presumption of section 609.5314, subdivision 1, for forfeitures related to
controlled substances may introduce into evidence in the judicial forfeiture case in civil
court the agreement in paragraph (b), clause (2).

(d) For all other forfeitures, The appropriate agency handling the judicial forfeiture
bears the burden of proving the act or omission by clear and convincing evidence that the
property is an instrument or represents the proceeds of the underlying offense.

(e) A court may not issue an order of forfeiture under section 609.5311 while the
alleged owner of the property is in custody and related criminal proceedings are pending
against the alleged owner. As used in this paragraph, the alleged owner is:

(1) for forfeiture of a motor vehicle, the registered owner according to records of
the Department of Public Safety;

(2) for real property, the owner of record; and

(3) for other property, the person notified by the prosecuting authority in filing
the forfeiture action.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective August 1, 2014, and applies to crimes
committed on or after that date.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 609.5314, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Judicial determination.

(a) Within 60 days following service of a notice
of seizure and forfeiture under this section, a claimant may file a demand for a judicial
determination of the forfeiture. The demand must be in the form of a civil complaint and
must be filed with the court administrator in the county in which the seizure occurred,
together with proof of service of a copy of the complaint on the prosecuting authority for
that county, and the standard filing fee for civil actions unless the petitioner has the right to
sue in forma pauperis under section 563.01. The claimant may serve the complaint on the
prosecuting authority by any means permitted by court rules. If the value of the seized
property is $15,000 or less, the claimant may file an action in conciliation court for recovery
of the seized property. If the value of the seized property is less than $500, the claimant
does not have to pay the conciliation court filing fee. No responsive pleading is required of
the prosecuting authority and no court fees may be charged for the prosecuting authority's
appearance in the matter. The hearing must be held at the earliest practicable date, and in
any event no later than 180 days following the filing of the demand by the claimant. If a
related criminal proceeding is pending, the hearing shall not be held until the conclusion
of the criminal proceedings. The district court administrator shall schedule the hearing as
soon as practicable after, and in any event no later than 90 days following, the conclusion
of the criminal prosecution. The proceedings are governed by the Rules of Civil Procedure.

(b) The complaint must be captioned in the name of the claimant as plaintiff and
the seized property as defendant, and must state with specificity the grounds on which
the claimant alleges the property was improperly seized and the plaintiff's interest in the
property seized. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, an action for the return of
property seized under this section may not be maintained by or on behalf of any person
who has been served with a notice of seizure and forfeiture unless the person has complied
with this subdivision.

(c) If the claimant makes a timely demand for judicial determination under this
subdivision, the appropriate agency must conduct the forfeiture under section 609.531,
subdivision 6a. The limitations and defenses set forth in section 609.5311, subdivision 3,
apply to the judicial determination.

(d) If a demand for judicial determination of an administrative forfeiture is filed
under this subdivision and the court orders the return of the seized property, the court shall
order that filing fees be reimbursed to the person who filed the demand. In addition, the
court may order sanctions under section 549.211. If the court orders payment of these
costs, they must be paid from forfeited money or proceeds from the sale of forfeited
property from the appropriate law enforcement and prosecuting agencies in the same
proportion as they would be distributed under section 609.5315, subdivision 5.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective August 1, 2014, and applies to crimes
committed on or after that date.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 609.5316, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Weapons, telephone cloning paraphernalia, and bullet-resistant vests.

Weapons used are contraband and must be summarily forfeited to the appropriate agency
upon conviction of the weapon's owner or possessor for a controlled substance crime; for
any offense of this chapter or chapter 624, or for a violation of an order for protection under
section 518B.01, subdivision 14. Bullet-resistant vests, as defined in section 609.486, worn
or possessed during the commission or attempted commission of a crime are contraband
and must be summarily forfeited to the appropriate agency upon conviction of the owner
or possessor for a controlled substance crime or for any offense of this chapter. Telephone
cloning paraphernalia used in a violation of section 609.894 are contraband and must be
summarily forfeited to the appropriate agency upon a conviction. Notwithstanding this
subdivision, weapons used, bullet-resistant vests worn or possessed, and telephone cloning
paraphernalia may be forfeited without a conviction under sections 609.531 to 609.5315.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective August 1, 2014, and applies to crimes
committed on or after that date.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 609.5318, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Motor vehicles subject to forfeiture.

(a) A motor vehicle is subject
to forfeiture under this section If the prosecuting authority establishes by clear and
convincing evidence that the a motor vehicle was used in a violation of section 609.66,
subdivision 1e. The prosecuting authority need not establish that any individual was
convicted of the violation, but a conviction of the owner for a violation of section 609.66,
subdivision 1e, creates a presumption that the vehicle was used in the violation, the vehicle
is subject to forfeiture under this section upon a conviction for the same offense.

(b) The Department of Corrections Fugitive Apprehension Unit shall not seize a
motor vehicle for the purposes of forfeiture under paragraph (a).

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective August 1, 2014, and applies to crimes
committed on or after that date.