Key: (1) language to be deleted (2) new language
An act
relating to commerce; regulating insurance fraud; modifying certain penalties and notices; defining a term; clarifying the authority of the Commerce Fraud Bureau to apply for or execute search warrants;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2016, sections 13.82, subdivision 17; 45.0135, subdivision 9; 60A.27, subdivision 1; 65B.84, by adding a subdivision; 626.05, subdivision 2.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
A law enforcement agency or a law enforcement dispatching agency working under direction of a law enforcement agency shall withhold public access to data on individuals to protect the identity of individuals in the following circumstances:
(a) when access to the data would reveal the identity of an undercover law enforcement officer, as provided in section 13.43, subdivision 5;
(b) when access to the data would reveal the identity of a victim or alleged victim of criminal sexual conduct or sex trafficking under section 609.322, 609.341 to 609.3451, or 617.246, subdivision 2;
(c) when access to the data would reveal the identity of a paid or unpaid informant being used by the agency if the agency reasonably determines that revealing the identity of the informant would threaten the personal safety of the informant;
(d) when access to the data would reveal the identity of a victim of or witness to a crime if the victim or witness specifically requests not to be identified publicly, unless the agency reasonably determines that revealing the identity of the victim or witness would not threaten the personal safety or property of the individual;
(e) when access to the data would reveal the identity of a deceased person whose body was unlawfully removed from a cemetery in which it was interred;
(f) when access to the data would reveal the identity of a person who placed a call to a 911 system or the identity or telephone number of a service subscriber whose phone is used to place a call to the 911 system and: (1) the agency determines that revealing the identity may threaten the personal safety or property of any person; or (2) the object of the call is to receive help in a mental health emergency. For the purposes of this paragraph, a voice recording of a call placed to the 911 system is deemed to reveal the identity of the caller;
(g) when access to the data would reveal the identity of a juvenile witness and the agency reasonably determines that the subject matter of the investigation justifies protecting the identity of the witness; or
(h) when access to the data would reveal the identity of a mandated reporter under section new text begin 60A.952, subdivision 2, new text end 609.456, 626.556, or 626.557.
Data concerning individuals whose identities are protected by this subdivision are private data about those individuals. Law enforcement agencies shall establish procedures to acquire the data and make the decisions necessary to protect the identity of individuals described in clauses (c), (d), (f), and (g).
(a) The commissioner may:
(1) impose an administrative penalty against any person in an amount as set forth in paragraph (b) for each intentional act of insurance fraudnew text begin or substantiated acts of attempted insurance fraud as defined in section 60A.951, subdivision 4,new text end committed by that person; deleted text begin anddeleted text end
(2) order restitution to any person suffering loss as a result of the insurance frauddeleted text begin .deleted text end new text begin ; andnew text end
new text begin (3) order restitution to a company for the reasonable documented cost of any investigation in connection with the insurance fraud. new text end
(b) The administrative penalty for each violation described in paragraph (a) may be no more than:
(1) $20,000 if the funds or the value of the property or services wrongfully obtained exceeds $5,000;
(2) $10,000 if the funds or value of the property or services wrongfully obtained exceeds $1,000, but not more than $5,000;
(3) $3,000 if the funds or value of the property or services wrongfully obtained is more than $500, but not more than $1,000; and
(4) $1,000 if the funds or value of the property or services wrongfully obtained is $500 or less.
(c) If an administrative penalty is not paid after all rights of appeal have been waived or exhausted, the commissioner may bring a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction to collect the administrative penalty, including expenses and litigation costs, reasonable attorney fees, and interest.
(d) This section does not affect a person's right to seek recovery, including expenses and litigation costs, reasonable attorney fees, and interest, against any person that commits insurance fraud.
(e) For purposes of this subdivision, "insurance fraud" has the meaning given in section 60A.951, subdivision 4.
(f) Hearings under this subdivision must be conducted in accordance with chapter 14 and any other applicable law.
(g) All revenues from penalties, expenses, costs, fees, and interest collected under paragraphs (a) to (c) shall be deposited in the insurance fraud prevention account under subdivision 6.
An insurance company licensed to transact business in this state is hereby required to notify the commissioner of commerce within ten business days of the happening of any one or more of the following:
(1) the suspension or revocation of its right to transact business in another state;new text begin ornew text end
(2) the receipt by the insurance company of an order to show why its license should not be suspended or revokeddeleted text begin ; ordeleted text end new text begin .new text end
deleted text begin (3) the imposition of a penalty by any other state for any violation of the insurance laws of such other state. deleted text end
new text begin For purposes of this section, "automobile theft" includes automobile-related theft. new text end
The term "peace officer," as used in sections 626.04 to 626.17, means a person who is licensed as a peace officer in accordance with section 626.84, subdivision 1, and who serves as a sheriff, deputy sheriff, police officer, conservation officer, agent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, agent of the Division of Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement,new text begin peace officer of the Commerce Fraud Bureau, new text end University of Minnesota peace officer, Metropolitan Transit police officer, Minnesota Department of Corrections Fugitive Apprehension Unit member, or State Patrol trooper as authorized by section 299D.03.
new text begin Sections 1 to 5 are effective the day following final enactment. new text end
Presented to the governor May 26, 2017
Signed by the governor May 30, 2017, 6:16 p.m.
Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes