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Key: (1) language to be deleted (2) new language

CHAPTER 215--S.F.No. 2915

An act

relating to judicial process; modifying certain civil and criminal penalties;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 363A.29, subdivision 4; Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 609.822, subdivision 3.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 363A.29, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Civil penalty; punitive damages.

(a) The administrative law judge shall order any respondent found to be in violation of any provision of sections 363A.08 to 363A.19 and 363A.28, subdivision 10, to pay a civil penalty to the state. This penalty is in addition to compensatory and punitive damages to be paid to an aggrieved party. The administrative law judge shall determine the amount of the civil penalty to be paid, taking into account the seriousness and extent of the violation, the public harm occasioned by the violation, whether the violation was intentional, and the financial resources of the respondent. Any penalties imposed under this provision shall be paid into the general fund of the state. In all cases where the administrative law judge finds that the respondent has engaged in an unfair discriminatory practice, the administrative law judge shall order the respondent to pay an aggrieved party, who has suffered discrimination, compensatory damages in an amount up to three times the actual damages sustained. In all cases, the administrative law judge may also order the respondent to pay an aggrieved party, who has suffered discrimination, damages for mental anguish or suffering and reasonable attorney's fees, in addition to punitive damages in an amount not more than deleted text begin $8,500deleted text end new text begin $25,000new text end deleted text begin . Punitive damages shall be awardeddeleted text end pursuant to section 549.20.

(b) In any case where a political subdivision is a respondent, the total of punitive damages awarded an aggrieved party may not exceed deleted text begin $8,500deleted text end new text begin $25,000new text end and in that case if there are two or more respondents the punitive damages may be apportioned among them. Punitive damages may only be assessed against a political subdivision in its capacity as a corporate entity and no regular or ex officio member of a governing body of a political subdivision shall be personally liable for payment of punitive damages pursuant to subdivisions 3 to 6.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 609.822, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Sentence.

Whoever violates this section shall be sentenced as provided in section 609.52, subdivision 3, based on the aggregate economic loss suffered by any person as a result of the violation. However, the maximum sentence of imprisonment for the offense may not exceed two years. A person convicted of a violation of this section shall be ordered to pay restitution to persons aggrieved by the violation. Restitution shall be ordered in addition to a fine or imprisonment but not in lieu of a fine or imprisonment.new text begin Nothing in this section limits the power of the state to punish any person for conduct which constitutes a crime under any other statute.new text end

Presented to the governor April 21, 2008

Signed by the governor April 24, 2008, 3:04 p.m.

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes