Minnesota Session Laws - 1987, Regular Session

  

                         Laws of Minnesota 1987 

                        CHAPTER 208-S.F.No. 853 
           An act relating to public safety; establishing the 
          "McGruff" symbol as the sign for a safe house for 
          children; creating a safe house program; providing 
          penalties; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
          Statutes, chapter 299A. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
    Section 1.  [299A.28] [MCGRUFF SAFE HOUSE PROGRAM.] 
    Subdivision 1.  [SYMBOL.] The symbol of "McGruff" with the 
phrase "McGruff House" is the symbol to designate a house in 
this state where a child may seek help when threatened. 
    Subd. 2.  [DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC SAFETY.] The 
commissioner of public safety shall:  
    (1) design or adopt a standard symbol to designate a safe 
house that is the "McGruff" symbol used in other states; 
    (2) make available written information about the safe house 
program and "McGruff" symbols to school districts and law 
enforcement agencies;  
    (3) publicize the safe house program in as many ways as is 
reasonably practical;  
    (4) require the appropriate local law enforcement agency to 
maintain a register of safe houses; 
    (5) either directly or through cooperation with the 
appropriate law enforcement agencies conduct background checks 
on persons who apply to have their house be a safe house.  
     Subd. 3.  [DISPLAY OF SYMBOL.] A person displaying the 
"McGruff" symbol so that it is visible from the outside of their 
house must be approved as a safe house by the appropriate local 
law enforcement agency.  The appropriate law enforcement agency 
must supply the symbol to the person.  The symbol is the 
property of the law enforcement agency, and a person must return 
the symbol to the law enforcement agency if the agency 
determines that the house no longer qualifies as a "McGruff" 
house.  Violation of this subdivision is a misdemeanor. 
    Subd. 4.  [SAFE HOUSES; REQUIREMENTS.] The appropriate law 
enforcement agency must provide "McGruff" symbols to persons who 
apply for symbols if they agree in writing to follow the terms 
of the safe house program and pass a background check by the 
appropriate local law enforcement agency.  
    Subd. 5.  [EXCLUSIVE SYMBOL.] The safe house symbol 
provided by this section is the exclusive symbol for safe houses 
in this state.  
    Subd. 6.  [RULES.] The commissioner of public safety may 
adopt rules necessary to implement this section. 
    Approved May 26, 1987