HF 4052

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 02/22/2024 02:56pm

A bill for an act
relating to licensed professionals; prohibiting licensed professionals from joining
or supporting hate or extremist groups or criminal gangs; providing for revocation,
suspension, or denial of a professional license for hate or extremist group or
criminal gang activity; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter
214.

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

Section 1.

[214.003] HATE OR EXTREMIST GROUPS.

Subdivision 1.

Prohibition.

(a) An attorney at law licensed in the state and a person
who holds a license issued by a board subject to this chapter may not join, support, advocate
for, maintain membership, or participate in the activities of:

(1) a hate or extremist group; or

(2) a criminal gang as defined in section 609.229, subdivision 1.

(b) This section does not apply when the conduct is sanctioned by the licensee's employer
as part of the licensee's official duties.

Subd. 2.

Definitions.

(a) "Hate or extremist group" means a group that, as demonstrated
by its official statements or principles, the statements of its leaders or members, or its
activities:

(1) promotes the use of threats, force, violence, or criminal activity:

(i) against a local, state, or federal entity, or the officials of such an entity;

(ii) to deprive, or attempt to deprive, individuals of their civil rights under the Minnesota
or United States Constitution; or

(iii) to achieve goals that are political, religious, discriminatory, or ideological in nature;

(2) promotes seditious activities; or

(3) advocates for differences in the right to vote, speak, assemble, travel, or maintain
citizenship based on a person's perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin,
disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, public assistance status, or any protected
class as defined in Minnesota Statutes or federal law.

(b) For the purposes of this section, advocacy, membership, or participation in a hate or
extremist group or criminal gang is demonstrated by:

(1) dissemination of material that promotes:

(i) the use of threats, force, violence, or criminal activity;

(ii) seditious activities; or

(iii) the objectives described in paragraph (a), clause (3);

(2) engagement in cyber or social media posts, chats, forums, and other forms of
promotion of the group's activities;

(3) display or use of insignia, colors, tattoos, hand signs, slogans, or codes associated
with the group;

(4) direct financial or in-kind contributions to the group;

(5) a physical or cyber presence in the group's events; or

(6) other conduct that could reasonably be considered support, advocacy, or participation
in the group's activities.