2004 Minnesota Statutes

     611A.56 Powers and duties of the board. 

    Subdivision 1.    Duties.  In addition to carrying out 
 any duties specified elsewhere in sections 611A.51 to 611A.68 or 
 in other law, the board shall: 

    (a) provide all claimants with an opportunity for hearing 
 pursuant to chapter 14; 

    (b) adopt rules to implement and administer sections 
 611A.51 to 611A.68, including rules governing the method of 
 practice and procedure before the board, prescribing the manner 
 in which applications for reparations shall be made, and 
 providing for discovery proceedings; 

    (c) publicize widely the availability of reparations and 
 the method of making claims; and 

    (d) prepare and transmit annually to the governor and the 
 commissioner of public safety a report of its activities 
 including the number of claims awarded, a brief description of 
 the facts in each case, the amount of reparation awarded, and a 
 statistical summary of claims and awards made and denied.  

    Subd. 2.    Powers.  In addition to exercising any 
 powers specified elsewhere in sections 611A.51 to 611A.68 or 
 other law, the board upon its own motion or the motion of a 
 claimant or the attorney general may: 

    (a) issue subpoenas for the appearance of witnesses and the 
 production of books, records, and other documents; 

    (b) administer oaths and affirmations and cause to be taken 
 affidavits and depositions within and without this state; 

    (c) take notice of judicially cognizable facts and general, 
 technical, and scientific facts within their specialized 
 knowledge; 

    (d) order a mental or physical examination of a victim or 
 an autopsy of a deceased victim provided that notice is given to 
 the person to be examined and that the claimant and the attorney 
 general receive copies of any resulting report; 

    (e) suspend or postpone the proceedings on a claim if a 
 criminal prosecution arising out of the incident which is the 
 basis of the claim has been commenced or is imminent; 

    (f) request from prosecuting attorneys and law enforcement 
 officers investigations and data to enable the board to perform 
 its duties under sections 611A.51 to 611A.68; 

    (g) grant emergency reparations pending the final 
 determination of a claim if it is one with respect to which an 
 award will probably be made and undue hardship will result to 
 the claimant if immediate payment is not made; and 

    (h) reconsider any decision granting or denying reparations 
 or determining their amount.  

    HIST: 1974 c 463 s 6; 1982 c 424 s 130; 1983 c 262 art 1 s 6; 
 1Sp1985 c 4 s 15; 1986 c 463 s 17; 1988 c 638 s 6; 1997 c 7 art 
 2 s 64