Minnesota Session Laws - 2012, Regular Session

CHAPTER 175--S.F.No. 1586

An act

relating to public safety; adding a felony-level penalty and affirmative defenses to the vulnerable adult neglect crime;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 609.233; 609.255, subdivision 3.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 609.233, is amended to read:

609.233 CRIMINAL NEGLECT.

Subdivision 1.

new text begin Gross misdemeanor new text end crime.

A caregiver or operator who intentionally neglects a vulnerable adult or knowingly permits conditions to exist that result in the abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult is guilty of a gross misdemeanor. For purposes of this section, "abuse" has the meaning given in section 626.5572, subdivision 2, and "neglect" means a failure to provide a vulnerable adult with necessary food, clothing, shelter, health care, or supervision.

new text begin Subd. 1a. new text end

new text begin Felony deprivation. new text end

new text begin A caregiver or operator who intentionally deprives a vulnerable adult of necessary food, clothing, shelter, health care, or supervision, when the caregiver or operator is reasonably able to make the necessary provisions, is guilty of a felony and may be sentenced as provided in subdivision 2a, if: new text end

new text begin (1) the caregiver or operator knows or has reason to know the deprivation could likely result in substantial bodily harm or great bodily harm to the vulnerable adult; or new text end

new text begin (2) the deprivation occurred over an extended period of time. new text end

Subd. 2.

Exemptions.

A vulnerable adult is not neglected new text begin or deprived under subdivision 1 or 1a new text end for the sole reason that:

(1) the vulnerable adult or a person with authority to make health care decisions for the vulnerable adult under sections 144.651, 144A.44, 253B.03, or 524.5-101 to 524.5-502, or chapter 145B, 145C, or 252A, refuses consent or withdraws consent, consistent with that authority and within the boundary of reasonable medical practice, to any therapeutic conduct, including any care, service, or procedure to diagnose, maintain, or treat the physical or mental condition of the vulnerable adult or, where permitted under law, to provide nutrition and hydration parenterally or through intubation; this paragraph does not enlarge or diminish rights otherwise held under law by:

(i) a vulnerable adult or a person acting on behalf of a vulnerable adult, including an involved family member, to consent to or refuse consent for therapeutic conduct; or

(ii) a caregiver to offer or provide or refuse to offer or provide therapeutic conduct;

(2) the vulnerable adult, a person with authority to make health care decisions for the vulnerable adult, or a caregiver in good faith selects and depends upon spiritual means or prayer for treatment or care of disease or remedial care of the vulnerable adult in lieu of medical care, provided that this is consistent with the prior practice or belief of the vulnerable adult or with the expressed intentions of the vulnerable adult; or

(3) the vulnerable adult, who is not impaired in judgment or capacity by mental or emotional dysfunction or undue influence, engages in consensual sexual contact with: (i) a person including a facility staff person when a consensual sexual personal relationship existed prior to the caregiving relationship; or (ii) a personal care attendant, regardless of whether the consensual sexual personal relationship existed prior to the caregiving relationship.

new text begin Subd. 2a. new text end

new text begin Penalties. new text end

new text begin A person who violates subdivision 1a may be sentenced as follows: new text end

new text begin (1) if the conduct results in great bodily harm to the vulnerable adult, imprisonment for not more than ten years or payment of a fine of not more than $10,000, or both; or new text end

new text begin (2) if the conduct results in substantial bodily harm to the vulnerable adult, imprisonment for not more than five years or payment of a fine of not more than $5,000, or both. new text end

new text begin Subd. 2b. new text end

new text begin Affirmative defenses. new text end

new text begin It shall be an affirmative defense to a prosecution under subdivision 1 or 1a, if proven by a preponderance of evidence, that: new text end

new text begin (1) the defendant is an individual employed by a facility or operator and does not have managerial or supervisory authority, and was unable to reasonably make the necessary provisions because of inadequate staffing levels, inadequate supervision, or institutional policies; new text end

new text begin (2) the defendant is a facility, an operator, or an employee of a facility or operator in a position of managerial or supervisory authority, and did not knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly permit criminal acts by its employees or agents that resulted in the harm to the vulnerable adult; or new text end

new text begin (3) the defendant is a caregiver and failed to perform acts necessary to prevent the applicable level of harm, if any, to the vulnerable adult because the caregiver was acting reasonably and necessarily to provide care to another identified vulnerable adult. new text end

new text begin For these affirmative defenses, a defendant bears only the burden of production. A defendant's failure to meet the burden of production does not relieve the state of its burden of persuasion as to all elements of the offense. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective August 1, 2012, and applies to crimes committed on or after that date. new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 609.255, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Unreasonable restraint of children.

new text begin (a) new text end A parent, legal guardian, or caretaker who intentionally subjects a child under the age of 18 years to unreasonable physical confinement or restraint by means including but not limited to, tying, locking, caging, or chaining for a prolonged period of time and in a cruel manner which is excessive under the circumstances, is guilty of unreasonable restraint of a child and new text begin , except as provided in paragraph (b) or (c), new text end may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than one year or to payment of a fine of not more than $3,000, or both.

new text begin (b) If the confinement or restraint results in demonstrable bodily harm, the person may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than two years or to payment of a fine of not more than $4,000, or both. new text end

new text begin (c) new text end If the confinement or restraint results in substantial bodily harm, deleted text begin that deleted text end new text begin the new text end person may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than five years or to payment new text begin of a fine new text end of not more than $10,000, or both.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective August 1, 2012, and applies to crimes committed on or after that date. new text end

Presented to the governor April 16, 2012

Signed by the governor April 18, 2012, 10:15 a.m.