Minnesota Session Laws - 2010, Regular Session

CHAPTER 383--S.F.No. 2725

An act

relating to public safety; establishing a certification process for multijurisdictional gang and drug task forces; establishing a Violent Crime Coordinating Council; modifying criminal gang investigative data system audit requirements; delineating uses of data in the comprehensive incident-based reporting system; providing for application of forfeiture requirements; establishing a work group;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 299C.091, subdivision 4; 299C.40, subdivision 2; 609.531, subdivision 1; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 299A; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 299A.641.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [299A.642] VIOLENT CRIME COORDINATING COUNCIL. new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Coordinating council established. new text end

new text begin The Violent Crime Coordinating Council is established to provide guidance related to the investigation and prosecution of gang and drug crime. For the purposes of this section, "gang and drug crime" includes violent crimes associated with gang activity. new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Membership. new text end

new text begin The coordinating council shall consist of the following individuals or their designees: new text end

new text begin (1) the director of the Office of Special Investigations as the representative of the commissioner of corrections; new text end

new text begin (2) the superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension as the representative of the commissioner of public safety; new text end

new text begin (3) the attorney general; new text end

new text begin (4) four chiefs of police, selected by the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, of which one must be employed by the city of Minneapolis, one must be employed by the city of St. Paul, one must be employed by a municipality located in the seven-county metropolitan area excluding Minneapolis and St. Paul, and one must be employed in greater Minnesota; new text end

new text begin (5) four sheriffs, selected by the Minnesota Sheriffs' Association, of which, one must work in Hennepin County, one must work in Ramsey County, one must work in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Scott, or Washington county, and one must work in greater Minnesota; new text end

new text begin (6) the United States attorney for the district of Minnesota; new text end

new text begin (7) two county attorneys, selected by the Minnesota County Attorneys Association, one who must work in the seven-county metropolitan area and one who must work in greater Minnesota; new text end

new text begin (8) four citizen members appointed by the commissioner of public safety in consultation with representatives from the councils created in sections 3.922, 3.9223, 3.9225, and 3.9226; and new text end

new text begin (9) a tribal peace officer, selected by the commissioner of public safety, in consultation with the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council. new text end

new text begin The coordinating council shall adopt procedures to govern its conduct as necessary and shall select a chair from among its members. The chair shall serve a two-year term and the appointment of the chair shall alternate between a person who works in greater Minnesota and a person who works in the seven-county metropolitan area. new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Coordinating council's duties. new text end

new text begin The coordinating council shall develop an overall strategy to ameliorate the harm caused to the public by gang and drug crime within the state of Minnesota. Additionally, the coordinating council shall: new text end

new text begin (1) subject to approval by the commissioner of public safety, develop an operating procedures and policies manual to investigate gang and drug crime in a multijurisdictional manner; new text end

new text begin (2) identify and recommend a candidate or candidates for statewide coordinator to the commissioner of public safety; new text end

new text begin (3) assist the Department of Public Safety in developing grant eligibility criteria and operating an objective and conflict-free grant review application process; new text end

new text begin (4) make recommendations to the commissioner of public safety to terminate grant funding for multijurisdictional entities if an entity no longer operates in accordance with subdivision 4, or no longer functions in a manner consistent with the best interests of the state or public; new text end

new text begin (5) assist in developing a process to collect and share information to improve the investigation and prosecution of gang and drug offenses; new text end

new text begin (6) develop and approve an operational budget for the coordinating council; new text end

new text begin (7) develop policies that prohibit the improper use of personal characteristics such as race, color, national origin, gender, or religion to target individuals for law enforcement action, prosecution, or forfeiture action; and new text end

new text begin (8) subject to approval by the commissioner of public safety, adopt narrowly tailored, objective criteria and identifying characteristics for use in determining whether individuals are or may be members of gangs involved in criminal activity. The council shall review and update the criteria and characteristics adopted under this clause every two years with the objective to ensure effectiveness and relevance to the accurate identification of subjects actively involved in criminal gang activity. As part of its review process, the council shall obtain input from members of communities that are impacted by criminal gang activity. Before adopting any changes under this clause, the council must submit its recommendations to the commissioner of public safety for approval. new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Duties and authority of commissioner. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of public safety shall certify multijurisdictional entities, and their designated fiscal agents, that are established pursuant to this section to combat gang and drug crime and receive grant funding under subdivision 9. To certify an entity and its designated fiscal agent, the commissioner shall require that a multijurisdictional entity: new text end

new text begin (1) be subject to the operational command and supervision of one of the participating agencies; new text end

new text begin (2) be subject to a biennial operational and financial audit contracted out to an external organization not associated with the multijurisdictional entity and designed to ensure that the entity and its designated fiscal agent are in compliance with applicable legal requirements, proper law enforcement standards and practices, and effective financial controls; new text end

new text begin (3) have adequate staffing and funding to support law enforcement, prosecutorial, and financial operations, including bookkeeping, evidence handling, and inventory recording; and new text end

new text begin (4) be subject to any other conditions the commissioner deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this section. new text end

new text begin The commissioner may use grant funds authorized under subdivision 9 to pay for costs incurred in conducting audits under clause (2). new text end

new text begin (b) A multijurisdictional entity, and its designated fiscal agent, must be certified annually by the commissioner and may not operate under this section unless it is certified. If the commissioner revokes an entity's or fiscal agent's certification, the commissioner may order, for purposes relating to this section, any or all of the following: new text end

new text begin (1) dissolution of the entity, its governing boards, or both; new text end

new text begin (2) transfer of duties of the entity, its governing boards, or both, to the Department of Public Safety; and new text end

new text begin (3) any other action deemed necessary by the commissioner. new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding any action taken by the commissioner, any outstanding obligations or liabilities of the entity remain with the entity and the parties of the agreement and do not transfer. new text end

new text begin (c) An agreement entered into pursuant to section 471.59 and this section shall provide that the parties to the agreement are subject to the provisions in this subdivision and shall provide for the disposition of property and allocation of obligations upon voluntary or mandated dissolution of the entity or upon termination of the agreement. new text end

new text begin (d) Except as provided in section 5, a multijurisdictional entity that is operating on the effective date of this section pursuant to section 299A.641 shall have until December 31, 2010, to be certified under this section. new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Statewide coordinator. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of public safety shall appoint a statewide coordinator. The coordinator serving in the unclassified service shall: new text end

new text begin (1) coordinate and monitor all multijurisdictional gang and drug enforcement activities; new text end

new text begin (2) facilitate local efforts and ensure statewide coordination with efforts to combat gang and drug crime; new text end

new text begin (3) facilitate training for personnel; new text end

new text begin (4) monitor compliance with investigative protocols; and new text end

new text begin (5) review audits conducted under subdivision 4, take corrective actions based on audit results, and submit a summary report of the audits and any corrective actions to the commissioner of public safety. new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Participating officers; employment status. new text end

new text begin All participating law enforcement officers must be licensed peace officers as defined in section 626.84, subdivision 1, or qualified federal law enforcement officers as defined in section 626.8453. Participating officers remain employees of the same entity that employed them before joining any multijurisdictional entity established under this section. Participating officers are not employees of the state. Participating officers shall be subject to annual performance reviews conducted by the entity's operational supervisor. new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Jurisdiction and powers. new text end

new text begin Law enforcement officers participating in any multijurisdictional entity established under this section have statewide jurisdiction to conduct criminal investigations and have the same powers of arrest as those possessed by a sheriff. new text end

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Evidence handling. new text end

new text begin A multijurisdictional entity established pursuant to this section shall process all seized cash, physical assets, and evidence through the standard evidence handling procedures established by the participating agencies. new text end

new text begin Subd. 9. new text end

new text begin Grants authorized. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of public safety may make grants to state and local units of government to combat gang and drug crime. When awarding grants, the commissioner shall consider awarding grants under this section to fund community-based gang intervention and prevention efforts for youth. new text end

new text begin Subd. 10. new text end

new text begin Coordinating council is permanent. new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding section 15.059, this section does not expire. new text end

new text begin Subd. 11. new text end

new text begin Governing board; prosecutor's role. new text end

new text begin (a) A multijurisdictional entity established under this section shall create a governing board consisting of the chief law enforcement officer, or designee, from each participating agency, a prosecutor from one of the participating agencies, and up to three additional members selected by the governing board. A governing board shall have no less than six members. new text end

new text begin (b) The prosecutor on the governing board shall have the following responsibilities: new text end

new text begin (1) to recommend to the governing board the nature and frequency of training for officers assigned to a multijurisdictional entity in order to increase successful prosecutions; new text end

new text begin (2) to advise on the lawful handling and processing of seized property and evidence and forfeited property and money; and new text end

new text begin (3) to ensure that seizures and forfeitures are reported in accordance with section 609.5315, subdivision 6. new text end

new text begin Subd. 12. new text end

new text begin Funding. new text end

new text begin Participating agencies may accept lawful grants or contributions from any federal source or legal business or entity. new text end

new text begin Subd. 13. new text end

new text begin Role of attorney general. new text end

new text begin The attorney general or a designee shall generally advise on any matters that the coordinating council deems appropriate. new text end

new text begin Subd. 14. new text end

new text begin Attorney general; community liaison. new text end

new text begin (a) The attorney general or a designee shall serve as a liaison between the coordinating council and the councils created in sections 3.922, 3.9223, 3.9225, and 3.9226. The attorney general or designee will be responsible for: new text end

new text begin (1) informing the councils of the plans, activities, and decisions and hearing their reactions to those plans, activities, and decisions; and new text end

new text begin (2) providing the coordinating council with the position of the councils on the coordinating council's plan, activities, and decisions. new text end

new text begin (b) In no event is the coordinating council required to disclose the names of individuals identified by it to the councils referenced in this subdivision. new text end

new text begin (c) Nothing in this subdivision changes the data classification of any data held by the coordinating council. new text end

new text begin Subd. 15. new text end

new text begin Required reports. new text end

new text begin By February 1 of each year, the commissioner of public safety shall submit the following reports 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: new text end

new text begin (1) a report containing a summary of all audits conducted on multijurisdictional entities under subdivision 4; new text end

new text begin (2) a report on the results of audits conducted on data submitted to the criminal gang investigative data system under section 299C.091; and new text end

new text begin (3) a report on the activities and goals of the coordinating council. new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 299C.091, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Audit of data submitted to system new text begin ; reports new text end .

new text begin (a) At least once every three years, new text end the bureau shall conduct deleted text begin periodic deleted text end random audits of data under subdivision 2 that documents inclusion of an individual in new text begin , and removal of an individual from, new text end the criminal gang investigative data system for the purpose of determining the validity, completeness, and accuracy of data submitted to the system. The bureau has access to the documenting data for purposes of conducting an audit. new text begin By October 1 of each year, the bureau shall submit a report on the results of the audits to the commissioner of public safety. new text end

new text begin (b) If any audit requirements under federal rule or statute overlap with requirements in paragraph (a), the audit required by paragraph (a) may be done in conjunction with the federal audit to the extent they overlap. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to eliminate any audit requirements specified in this subdivision. new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 299C.40, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Purpose.

CIBRS is a statewide system containing data from law enforcement agencies. Data in CIBRS must be made available to law enforcement agencies deleted text begin in order deleted text end to new text begin : new text end

new text begin (1) new text end prepare a case against a person, whether known or unknown, for the commission of a crime or other offense for which the agency has investigative authority deleted text begin , deleted text end new text begin ; new text end

new text begin (2) serve process in a criminal case; new text end

new text begin (3) inform law enforcement officers of possible safety issues before service of process; new text end

new text begin (4) enforce no contact orders; new text end

new text begin (5) locate missing persons; new text end or

deleted text begin for purposes of deleted text end new text begin (6) conduct new text end background investigations required by section 626.87.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 609.531, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Definitions.

For the purpose of sections 609.531 to 609.5318, the following terms have the meanings given them.

(a) "Conveyance device" means a device used for transportation and includes, but is not limited to, a motor vehicle, trailer, snowmobile, airplane, and vessel and any equipment attached to it. The term "conveyance device" does not include property which is, in fact, itself stolen or taken in violation of the law.

(b) "Weapon used" means a dangerous weapon as defined under section 609.02, subdivision 6, that the actor used or had in possession in furtherance of a crime.

(c) "Property" means property as defined in section 609.52, subdivision 1, clause (1).

(d) "Contraband" means property which is illegal to possess under Minnesota law.

(e) "Appropriate agency" means the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Department of Commerce Division of Insurance Fraud Prevention, the Minnesota Division of Driver and Vehicle Services, the Minnesota State Patrol, a county sheriff's department, the Three Rivers Park District park rangers, the Department of Natural Resources Division of Enforcement, the University of Minnesota Police Department, the Department of Corrections Fugitive Apprehension Unit, deleted text begin or deleted text end a city, metropolitan transit, or airport police department new text begin ; or a multijurisdictional entity established under section 299A.642 or 299A.681 new text end .

(f) "Designated offense" includes:

(1) for weapons used: any violation of this chapter, chapter 152, or chapter 624;

(2) for driver's license or identification card transactions: any violation of section 171.22; and

(3) for all other purposes: a felony violation of, or a felony-level attempt or conspiracy to violate, section 325E.17; 325E.18; 609.185; 609.19; 609.195; 609.21; 609.221; 609.222; 609.223; 609.2231; 609.24; 609.245; 609.25; 609.255; 609.282; 609.283; 609.322; 609.342, subdivision 1, clauses (a) to (f); 609.343, subdivision 1, clauses (a) to (f); 609.344, subdivision 1, clauses (a) to (e), and (h) to (j); 609.345, subdivision 1, clauses (a) to (e), and (h) to (j); 609.352; 609.42; 609.425; 609.466; 609.485; 609.487; 609.52; 609.525; 609.527; 609.528; 609.53; 609.54; 609.551; 609.561; 609.562; 609.563; 609.582; 609.59; 609.595; 609.611; 609.631; 609.66, subdivision 1e; 609.671, subdivisions 3, 4, 5, 8, and 12; 609.687; 609.821; 609.825; 609.86; 609.88; 609.89; 609.893; 609.895; 617.246; 617.247; or a gross misdemeanor or felony violation of section 609.891 or 624.7181; or any violation of section 609.324.

(g) "Controlled substance" has the meaning given in section 152.01, subdivision 4.

Sec. 5.

new text begin MULTIJURISDICTIONAL GANG AND DRUG STRIKE FORCES. new text end

new text begin A joint powers entity established pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 299A.641, before the effective date of this section that included as parties to the joint powers agreement two counties with a population over 500,000 each is dissolved and any governing or advisory board established by the terms of the agreement is also dissolved. All current and future obligations and liabilities of the joint powers entity remain with the parties to the agreement and do not transfer to the state. new text end

new text begin For purposes of this section, "population" means the most recent population estimate made by the state demographer under Minnesota Statutes, section 4A.02. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2011. new text end

Sec. 6.

new text begin WORK GROUP. new text end

new text begin (a) The superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension shall convene a work group of stakeholders and interested parties to: (1) discuss issues and laws pertaining to criminal intelligence databases; and (2) make recommendations on proposed legislative changes for the classification, storage, dissemination, and use of criminal investigative data, including data from other states, and for guidelines governing usage and collection of criminal investigative data held by law enforcement agencies. The work group shall be chaired by a representative from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and a representative from the Minnesota Coalition on Government Information. The work group must include one representative from each of the following organizations: the Minnesota Sheriffs' Association; the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association; the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association; the American Civil Liberties Union – Minnesota; the Minnesota Newspaper Association; the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; the councils created in Minnesota Statutes, sections 3.922, 3.9223, 3.9225, and 3.9226; the Board of Public Defense; the Minnesota County Attorneys Association; and the Minnesota City Attorneys Association; and a citizen member who is knowledgeable in data privacy issues. The work group must be balanced between law enforcement and nonlaw enforcement representatives. The work group shall not exceed 20 members, including chairs. In its discussions, the work group shall balance public safety and privacy interests, state policy according to Minnesota Statutes, section 260B.002, oversight, minimization of discretion, and regulation of the collection of these data, including the individualized criteria for inclusion in a computerized gang database. new text end

new text begin (b) By February 1, 2011, the work group shall submit an executive summary document to the chairs and ranking minority members of the committees of the senate and house of representatives with jurisdiction over criminal justice and data practices issues. The document must summarize the work group meetings and outline proposed legislative changes to implement recommendations on which there is agreement. The Department of Public Safety shall provide administrative support to the work group. new text end

Sec. 7.

new text begin REVISOR INSTRUCTION. new text end

new text begin The revisor of statutes shall replace references to Minnesota Statutes, section 299A.641, in statutes and rules with a reference to Minnesota Statutes, section 299A.642, and shall make any other changes to statutory cross-references as necessitated by this bill. new text end

Sec. 8.

new text begin REPEALER. new text end

new text begin Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 299A.641, new text end new text begin is repealed. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective December 31, 2010. new text end

Presented to the governor May 18, 2010

Signed by the governor May 27, 2010, 10:42 a.m.