Minnesota Session Laws - 2014, Regular Session

CHAPTER 201--S.F.No. 874

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 deleted text begin results in presumption deleted text end new text begin required new text end .

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

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

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

new text begin (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. new text end

new text begin 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. new text end

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

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

deleted text begin (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: deleted text end

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

deleted text begin (2) for real property, the owner of record; and deleted text end

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

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

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

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. deleted text begin 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. deleted text end The district court administrator shall schedule the hearing as soon as practicable after new text begin , and in any event no later than 90 days following, new text end 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.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

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

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. deleted text begin 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. deleted text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

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

Sec. 4.

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

Subdivision 1.

Motor vehicles subject to forfeiture.

(a) deleted text begin A motor vehicle is subject to forfeiture under this section deleted text end If the prosecuting authority establishes by clear and convincing evidence that deleted text begin the deleted text end new text begin a motor new text end vehicle was used in a violation of section 609.66, subdivision 1e deleted text begin . 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 deleted text end new text begin , the vehicle is subject to forfeiture under this section upon a conviction for the same offense new text end .

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

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

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

Presented to the governor May 5, 2014

Signed by the governor May 6, 2014, 10:09 a.m.