1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to crimes; establishing a task force to comprehensively review the 
1.3 	enforcement of animal anticruelty laws and practices and make recommendations 
1.4 	for improvements; appropriating money.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. LAW ENFORCEMENT TASK FORCE ON ANIMAL CRUELTY.
 1.7 		Subdivision 1.Membership. (a) The Animal Law Enforcement Task Force consists 
1.8 	of the following 20 voting members:
1.9 	(1) the commissioner of public safety, or designee;
1.10 	(2) two sheriffs, or their designees, appointed by the Minnesota Sheriffs Association;
1.11 	(3) two police chiefs, or their designees, appointed by the Minnesota Chiefs of 
1.12 	Police Association;
1.13 	(4) two peace officers, or their designees, appointed by the Minnesota Police and 
1.14 	Peace Officers Association;
1.15 	(5) two county attorneys, or their designees, appointed by the Minnesota County 
1.16 	Attorneys Association;
1.17 	(6) one city attorney, appointed by the League of Minnesota Cities;
1.18 	(7) one individual, appointed by the Judicial Council;
1.19 	(8) the executive director, or designee, of the Board of Peace Officer Standards 
1.20 	and Training;
1.21 	(9) the executive director of Animal Law Resources Minnesota, or a board member 
1.22 	designated by the executive director;
1.23 	(10) one probation officer, appointed by the Minnesota Association of County 
1.24 	Probation Officers;
2.1 	(11) the executive director of the Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine; and
2.2 	(12) five individuals, appointed by the governor.
2.3 	(b) When making appointments to the task force, the appointing authorities shall 
2.4 	attempt to appoint individuals with a demonstrated interest in and knowledge of animal 
2.5 	anticruelty laws and issues. In addition, the appointing authorities shall attempt to appoint 
2.6 	individuals from all geographic areas of the state. The cochairs of the task force may 
2.7 	appoint additional nonvoting members to the task force or its subcommittees.
2.8 	(c) The appointments described in paragraph (a) must be made by July 15, 2014.
2.9 		Subd. 2.Task force duties. (a) The task force shall comprehensively review the 
2.10 	enforcement of animal anticruelty laws and practices and make recommendations for 
2.11 	improvements. At a minimum, the task force shall do the following:
2.12 	(1) evaluate animal cruelty in Minnesota, including an analysis of types of crimes 
2.13 	against animals and a review of types of cruelty cases, including the link between human 
2.14 	and animal violence;
2.15 	(2) examine and analyze best practices and policies pertaining to the enforcement 
2.16 	of animal anticruelty law and prevention of these crimes, including structure and 
2.17 	accountability, collaboration between sectors and agencies, training and resources, and 
2.18 	data collection and dissemination;
2.19 	(3) examine and analyze current funding for the enforcement of animal anticruelty 
2.20 	laws and the funding needed to implement best practices; and
2.21 	(4) make recommendations on changes and improvements to any of the items 
2.22 	reviewed under clauses (1) to (3) and on recommended funding and revenue sources to 
2.23 	implement these recommendations.
2.24 	(b) To the degree feasible, the task force shall hold meetings in various areas of 
2.25 	the state and shall solicit the opinions and perspectives of a wide range of people. The 
2.26 	cochairs of the task force may establish subcommittees to assist the task force in carrying 
2.27 	out its duties. If this occurs, the cochairs shall consider supplementing a subcommittee's 
2.28 	membership by appointing individuals from entities not represented on the task force with 
2.29 	expertise in areas within the subcommittee's jurisdiction.
2.30 		Subd. 3.First meeting; cochairs. The commissioner of public safety shall convene 
2.31 	the first meeting of the the task force by August 1, 2014. The task force shall elect two 
2.32 	cochairs from among its members.
2.33 		Subd. 4.Support staff; additional resources and support. The commissioner 
2.34 	of public safety shall provide support staff and meeting space for the task force. The 
2.35 	commissioner may solicit resources from other entities to support the task force. The 
3.1 	task force may collaborate with and solicit advice and support from other state agencies 
3.2 	when needed.
3.3 		Subd. 5.Outside funding. The task force may solicit and accept supplemental 
3.4 	financal assistance from private sources. Any assistance received shall be administered by 
3.5 	the commissioner of public safety for the benefit of the task force.
3.6 		Subd. 6.Grants. Upon recommendation of the task force, and within the limits 
3.7 	of appropriated funds, the commissioner may award grants to further the purpose of 
3.8 	the task force and its recommendations.
3.9 		Subd. 7.Member expenses. Task force members may not receive compensation 
3.10 	but may be reimbursed for expenses as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059, 
3.11 	subdivision 3.
3.12 		Subd. 8.Report. By February 15, 2015, the task force shall report to the chairs and 
3.13 	ranking minority members of the legislative committees and divisions having jurisdiction 
3.14 	over civil and criminal law. The report must summarize the activities of the task force 
3.15 	and detail its recommendations.
3.16 		Subd. 9.Sunset. The task force expires when the report described in subdivision 
3.17 	8 is submitted.

3.18 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

3.19 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 3.20 	$....... is appropriated to the commissioner of public safety from the general fund for 
3.21 	the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, to implement section 1.