SF 2435

2nd Engrossment - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 03/25/2014 09:12am

A bill for an act
relating to crimes; establishing a task force to comprehensively review the
enforcement of animal anticruelty laws and practices and make recommendations
for improvements; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin LAW ENFORCEMENT TASK FORCE ON ANIMAL CRUELTY.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Membership. new text end

new text begin (a) The Animal Law Enforcement Task Force consists
of the following 19 voting members:
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new text begin (1) the commissioner of public safety, or designee;
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new text begin (2) two sheriffs, or their designees, appointed by the Minnesota Sheriffs Association;
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new text begin (3) two police chiefs, or their designees, appointed by the Minnesota Chiefs of
Police Association;
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new text begin (4) two peace officers, or their designees, appointed by the Minnesota Police and
Peace Officers Association;
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new text begin (5) two county attorneys, or their designees, appointed by the Minnesota County
Attorneys Association;
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new text begin (6) one city attorney, appointed by the League of Minnesota Cities;
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new text begin (7) one individual, appointed by the Judicial Council;
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new text begin (8) the executive director, or designee, of the Board of Peace Officer Standards
and Training;
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new text begin (9) the executive director of Animal Law Resources Minnesota, or a board member
designated by the executive director;
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new text begin (10) the executive director of the Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine; and
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new text begin (11) five individuals, appointed by the governor.
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new text begin (b) When making appointments to the task force, the appointing authorities shall
attempt to appoint individuals with a demonstrated interest in and knowledge of animal
anticruelty laws and issues. Two of the individuals appointed by the governor shall
represent statewide farm organizations. In addition, the appointing authorities shall attempt
to appoint individuals from all geographic areas of the state. The cochairs of the task force
may appoint additional nonvoting members to the task force or its subcommittees.
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new text begin (c) The appointments described in paragraph (a) must be made by July 15, 2014.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Task force duties. new text end

new text begin (a) The task force shall comprehensively review the
enforcement of animal anticruelty laws and practices and make recommendations for
improvements. At a minimum, the task force shall do the following:
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new text begin (1) evaluate animal cruelty in Minnesota, including an analysis of types of crimes
against animals and a review of types of cruelty cases, including the link between human
and animal violence;
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new text begin (2) examine and analyze best practices and policies pertaining to the enforcement
of animal anticruelty law and prevention of these crimes, including structure and
accountability, collaboration between sectors and agencies, training and resources, and
data collection and dissemination;
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new text begin (3) examine and analyze current funding for the enforcement of animal anticruelty
laws and the funding needed to implement best practices; and
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new text begin (4) make recommendations on changes and improvements to any of the items
reviewed under clauses (1) to (3) and on recommended funding and revenue sources to
implement these recommendations.
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new text begin (b) To the degree feasible, the task force shall hold meetings in various areas of
the state and shall solicit the opinions and perspectives of a wide range of people. The
cochairs of the task force may establish subcommittees to assist the task force in carrying
out its duties. If this occurs, the cochairs shall consider supplementing a subcommittee's
membership by appointing individuals from entities not represented on the task force with
expertise in areas within the subcommittee's jurisdiction.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin First meeting; cochairs. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of public safety shall convene
the first meeting of the task force by August 1, 2014. The task force shall elect two
cochairs from among its members.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Support staff; additional resources and support. new text end

new text begin The commissioner
of public safety shall provide support staff and meeting space for the task force. The
commissioner may solicit resources from other entities to support the task force. The
task force may collaborate with and solicit advice and support from other state agencies
when needed.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Outside funding. new text end

new text begin The task force may solicit and accept supplemental
financial assistance from private sources which are accepted on behalf of the state and
constitute donations to the state. Funds received under this subdivision are appropriated to
the commissioner of public safety for purposes of the task force. Any assistance received
shall be administered by the commissioner of public safety for the benefit of the task force.
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new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Grants. new text end

new text begin Upon recommendation of the task force, and within the limits
of appropriated funds, the commissioner may award grants to further the purpose of
the task force and its recommendations.
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new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Member expenses. new text end

new text begin Task force members may not receive compensation
but may be reimbursed for expenses as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059,
subdivision 3.
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new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin By February 15, 2015, the task force shall report to the chairs and
ranking minority members of the legislative committees and divisions having jurisdiction
over civil and criminal law. The report must summarize the activities of the task force
and detail its recommendations.
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new text begin Subd. 9. new text end

new text begin Sunset. new text end

new text begin The task force expires when the report described in subdivision
8 is submitted.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $....... is appropriated to the commissioner of public safety from the general fund for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, to implement section 1.
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