1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to public safety; establishing the Office of Animal Protection and providing
1.3 for its duties; expanding the definition of crime of violence; appropriating money;
1.4 amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 624.712, subdivision 5; proposing
1.5 coding for new law as Minnesota Statutes, chapter 299P.
1.6BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.7 Section 1. [299P.01] DEFINITIONS.
1.8 Subdivision 1.Application.As used in this chapter, the following terms have the
1.9meanings given.
1.10 Subd. 2.Animal."Animal" has the meaning given in section 343.20, subdivision 2.
1.11 Subd. 3.Animal cruelty."Animal cruelty" has the meaning given to cruelty in section
1.12343.20, subdivision 3.
1.13 Subd. 4.Commissioner."Commissioner" means the commissioner of public safety.
1.14 Subd. 5.Director."Director" means the director of the Office of Animal Protection.
1.15 Subd. 6.Office."Office" means the Office of Animal Protection.
1.16 Sec. 2. [299P.02] OFFICE OF ANIMAL PROTECTION; CREATION; POWERS
1.17AND DUTIES; ANNUAL REPORTING.
1.18 Subdivision 1.Creation.The Office of Animal Protection is created within the Bureau
1.19of Criminal Apprehension of the Department of Public Safety.
1.20 Subd. 2.Function of the office.Animal cruelty is an ongoing occurrence throughout
1.21Minnesota and is also linked to human violence and criminal activity. The Office of Animal
1Sec. 2.
25-02963 as introduced02/03/25 REVISOR KLL/HL
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 1163NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: MARTY, Housley, Gustafson, Lang and Pappas)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading02/10/2025
Referred to Judiciary and Public Safety 2.1Protection is responsible for addressing animal cruelty in a more comprehensive and
2.2centralized manner in order to protect the public's health and safety.
2.3 Subd. 3.Powers and duties.The office has the following powers and duties:
2.4 (1) promote a comprehensive and measurable approach for the prevention of animal
2.5cruelty, protection of animals, enforcement of animal cruelty statutes, and education across
2.6multiple disciplines throughout the state, including but not limited to:
2.7 (i) investigations;
2.8 (ii) prosecution;
2.9 (iii) forensic veterinary medicine;
2.10 (iv) animal care, transport, and housing; and
2.11 (v) human welfare, as it relates to offenders or victims of animal cruelty;
2.12 (2) foster partnerships and collaborations with other criminal justice partners and related
2.13disciplines, as described in clause (1), items (i) to (v), to identify community and enforcement
2.14needs and challenges related to the crime of animal cruelty; establish effective enforcement
2.15practices and initiatives based on these needs; and, if needed, seek changes to laws or
2.16administrative rules;
2.17 (3) build capacity to assist local, state, Tribal, and federal authorities and other criminal
2.18justice partners in the investigation and prosecution of animal cruelty, including providing
2.19information, education, advice, services, and resources and engaging communities in the
2.20prevention of animal cruelty;
2.21 (4) provide standards, training, and certification for authorities and criminal justice
2.22partners in the enforcement of animal cruelty laws;
2.23 (5) educate, train, and build public awareness of the importance of the humane treatment
2.24of animals with the goals of demonstrating why animal cruelty is harmful to society, including
2.25the link to human violence, and increasing knowledge about how to recognize and report
2.26suspected animal cruelty;
2.27 (6) support the advisory committee established in section 299P.03 and coordinate the
2.28office's mission with the committee's guidance;
2.29 (7) conduct case reviews involving the investigation, prosecution, and sentencing of
2.30selected closed animal cruelty cases and provide feedback to the entities involved;
2.31 (8) collect, maintain, analyze, and report on data relating to animal cruelty cases;
2Sec. 2.
25-02963 as introduced02/03/25 REVISOR KLL/HL 3.1 (9) conduct and compile research into animal cruelty and publicize the results of the
3.2research; and
3.3 (10) award grants as provided in section 299P.06.
3.4 Subd. 4.Annual performance report.On or before January 15 of each year, the director
3.5shall submit an annual report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative
3.6committees having jurisdiction over public safety finance and policy on the office's operations
3.7and any recommendations for changes in law relating to animal protection.
3.8 Sec. 3. [299P.03] ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
3.9 Subdivision 1.Advisory committee.The commissioner shall establish and appoint the
3.10members of an advisory committee pursuant to section 15.059. The committee shall adopt
3.11procedures to govern the committee's conduct as necessary and select a chair from among
3.12its members. The committee shall act in an advisory capacity, providing assistance and
3.13advice to the office in the development and execution of its duties, including outreach to
3.14communities and stakeholders.
3.15 Subd. 2.Committee members.Committee members shall possess knowledge, skills,
3.16or experiences in the prevention, investigation, or prosecution of animal cruelty and the
3.17care of animals, reflecting the five disciplines described in section 299P.02, subdivision 3,
3.18clause (1), items (i) to (v). The committee shall also include members of the public with
3.19knowledge of animal law and animal cruelty or experiences with animal cruelty as a victim,
3.20including trauma of victims.
3.21 Subd. 3.Subcommittees.The committee may establish subcommittees to identify,
3.22discuss, and make recommendations on specific topics related to animal cruelty and effective
3.23enforcement efforts of animal cruelty statutes, including but not limited to animal cruelty
3.24reporting, victim services, crime data collection, cross-reporting, courtroom advocates, and
3.25crime prevention.
3.26 Sec. 4. [299P.04] DIRECTOR; OTHER STAFF.
3.27 (a) The commissioner shall appoint a director for the office. The director shall have
3.28qualifications that include or are similar to the following:
3.29 (1) experience or knowledge in criminal law;
3.30 (2) experience or knowledge in the many facets of animal cruelty and the five disciplines
3.31described in section 299P.02, subdivision 3, clause (1), items (i) to (v), that contribute to
3.32the protection of animals and humans and successful outcomes; and
3Sec. 4.
25-02963 as introduced02/03/25 REVISOR KLL/HL 4.1 (3) expertise in leadership with planning and communication skills to foster change
4.2management techniques and define, develop, and implement office priorities, policies, and
4.3operations.
4.4 (b) The director may hire additional staff to assist in performing the duties of the office.
4.5Office staff shall be in the classified service of the state and their compensation shall be
4.6established pursuant to chapter 43A.
4.7 Sec. 5. [299P.05] AGREEMENTS AND CONTRACTS; LOCAL AUTHORITY.
4.8 Subdivision 1.Agreements and contracts.The director may enter into contracts with
4.9parties to assist with fulfilling the office's powers and duties under this chapter.
4.10 Subd. 2.Authority of local governing bodies.This chapter shall not be construed to
4.11limit or preempt additional requirements imposed on or possessed by any city, town, or
4.12county.
4.13 Sec. 6. [299P.06] ANIMAL PROTECTION ACCOUNT; GRANTS.
4.14 Subdivision 1.Money received from other sources.The director may accept money
4.15received as gifts, grants, or contributions from any source to support the purposes of the
4.16office under this chapter. The director may apply for and accept grants of money from the
4.17federal government, the state, any foundation, or any person to support the purposes of the
4.18office.
4.19 Subd. 2.Animal protection account.An animal protection account is created in the
4.20special revenue fund. All money received under subdivision 1 shall be deposited into the
4.21account. Money in the account, including interest, is annually appropriated to the
4.22commissioner to administer this chapter.
4.23 Subd. 3.Grants authorized.The commissioner may use money in the animal protection
4.24account to make grants to state and local units of government and nonprofit organizations
4.25to promote animal protection efforts as described in this chapter.
4.26 Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 624.712, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
4.27 Subd. 5.Crime of violence."Crime of violence" means: felony convictions of the
4.28following offenses: sections 609.185 (murder in the first degree); 609.19 (murder in the
4.29second degree); 609.195 (murder in the third degree); 609.20 (manslaughter in the first
4.30degree); 609.205 (manslaughter in the second degree); 609.215 (aiding suicide and aiding
4.31attempted suicide); 609.221 (assault in the first degree); 609.222 (assault in the second
4Sec. 7.
25-02963 as introduced02/03/25 REVISOR KLL/HL 5.1degree); 609.223 (assault in the third degree); 609.2231 (assault in the fourth degree);
5.2609.224 (assault in the fifth degree); 609.2242 (domestic assault); 609.2247 (domestic
5.3assault by strangulation); 609.229 (crimes committed for the benefit of a gang); 609.235
5.4(use of drugs to injure or facilitate crime); 609.24 (simple robbery); 609.245 (aggravated
5.5robbery); 609.247 (carjacking); 609.25 (kidnapping); 609.255 (false imprisonment); 609.322
5.6(solicitation, inducement, and promotion of prostitution; sex trafficking); 609.342 (criminal
5.7sexual conduct in the first degree); 609.343 (criminal sexual conduct in the second degree);
5.8609.344 (criminal sexual conduct in the third degree); 609.345 (criminal sexual conduct in
5.9the fourth degree); 609.377 (malicious punishment of a child); 609.378 (neglect or
5.10endangerment of a child); 609.486 (commission of crime while wearing or possessing a
5.11bullet-resistant vest); 609.52 (involving theft of a firearm and theft involving the theft of a
5.12controlled substance, an explosive, or an incendiary device); 609.561 (arson in the first
5.13degree); 609.562 (arson in the second degree); 609.582, subdivision 1 or 2 (burglary in the
5.14first and second degrees); 609.66, subdivision 1e (drive-by shooting); 609.67 (unlawfully
5.15owning, possessing, operating a machine gun or short-barreled shotgun); 609.71 (riot);
5.16609.713 (terroristic threats); 609.749 (harassment); 609.855, subdivision 5 (shooting at a
5.17public transit vehicle or facility); and chapter chapters 152 (drugs, controlled substances);
5.18and 343 (prevention of cruelty to animals); and an attempt to commit any of these offenses.
5.19 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective August 1, 2025, and applies to crimes
5.20committed on or after that date.
5.21 Sec. 8. OFFICE OF ANIMAL PROTECTION; APPROPRIATION.
5.22 $....... in fiscal year 2026 and $....... in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated from the general
5.23fund to the commissioner of public safety to establish and operate the Office of Animal
5.24Protection established under this act.
5Sec. 8.
25-02963 as introduced02/03/25 REVISOR KLL/HL