1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to crime; prescribing criminal penalties for assaulting a transit operator;
1.3 	amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 609.2231, by adding a subdivision.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 609.2231, is amended by adding a 
1.6 	subdivision to read:
1.7 		Subd. 11.Transit operators. (a) A person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor if 
1.8 	(1) the person assaults a transit operator, or intentionally throws or otherwise transfers 
1.9 	bodily fluids onto a transit operator; and (2) the transit operator is acting in the course 
1.10 	of the operator's duties and is operating a transit vehicle, aboard a transit vehicle, or 
1.11 	otherwise responsible for a transit vehicle. A person convicted under this paragraph 
1.12 	may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than one year or to payment of a fine of 
1.13 	not more than $3,000, or both.
1.14 	(b) A person is guilty of a felony if the person commits an assault or engages in 
1.15 	the intentional conduct described in paragraph (a) and that assault or conduct inflicts 
1.16 	demonstrable bodily harm on a transit operator. A person convicted under this paragraph 
1.17 	may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than two years or to payment of a fine of 
1.18 	not more than $4,000, or both.
1.19 	(c) For the purposes of this subdivision, "transit operator" means a driver or operator 
1.20 	of a transit vehicle that is used to provide any of the following services:
1.21 	(1) public transit, as defined in section 174.22, subdivision 7, within the metropolitan 
1.22 	area, whether provided by the Metropolitan Council or by other providers of regional 
1.23 	public transit;
1.24 	(2) light rail transit service within the metropolitan area;
2.1 	(3) special transportation service under section 473.386, whether provided by the 
2.2 	council or by other providers under contract with the council; or
2.3 	(4) commuter rail service.
2.4 	(d) For the purposes of this subdivision, "metropolitan area" means the area defined 
2.5 	in section 473.121, subdivision 2.

2.6 	Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 2.7 	Section 1 is effective August 1, 2013, and applies to crimes committed on or after 
2.8 	that date.