Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Minnesota Senate Bill SF1163 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1.1 A bill for an act
2	2	1.2 relating to public safety; establishing the Office of Animal Protection and providing
3	3	1.3 for its duties; expanding the definition of crime of violence; appropriating money;
4	4	1.4 amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 624.712, subdivision 5; proposing
5	5	1.5 coding for new law as Minnesota Statutes, chapter 299P.
6	6	1.6BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
7	7	1.7 Section 1. [299P.01] DEFINITIONS.
8	8	1.8 Subdivision 1.Application.As used in this chapter, the following terms have the
9	9	1.9meanings given.
10	10	1.10 Subd. 2.Animal."Animal" has the meaning given in section 343.20, subdivision 2.
11	11	1.11 Subd. 3.Animal cruelty."Animal cruelty" has the meaning given to cruelty in section
12	12	1.12343.20, subdivision 3.
13	13	1.13 Subd. 4.Commissioner."Commissioner" means the commissioner of public safety.
14	14	1.14 Subd. 5.Director."Director" means the director of the Office of Animal Protection.
15	15	1.15 Subd. 6.Office."Office" means the Office of Animal Protection.
16	16	1.16 Sec. 2. [299P.02] OFFICE OF ANIMAL PROTECTION; CREATION; POWERS
17	17	1.17AND DUTIES; ANNUAL REPORTING.
18	18	1.18 Subdivision 1.Creation.The Office of Animal Protection is created within the Bureau
19	19	1.19of Criminal Apprehension of the Department of Public Safety.
20	20	1.20 Subd. 2.Function of the office.Animal cruelty is an ongoing occurrence throughout
21	21	1.21Minnesota and is also linked to human violence and criminal activity. The Office of Animal
22	22	1Sec. 2.
23	23	25-02963 as introduced02/03/25 REVISOR KLL/HL
24	24	SENATE
25	25	STATE OF MINNESOTA
26	26	S.F. No. 1163NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
27	27	(SENATE AUTHORS: MARTY, Housley, Gustafson, Lang and Pappas)
28	28	OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
29	29	Introduction and first reading02/10/2025
30	30	Referred to Judiciary and Public Safety 2.1Protection is responsible for addressing animal cruelty in a more comprehensive and
31	31	2.2centralized manner in order to protect the public's health and safety.
32	32	2.3 Subd. 3.Powers and duties.The office has the following powers and duties:
33	33	2.4 (1) promote a comprehensive and measurable approach for the prevention of animal
34	34	2.5cruelty, protection of animals, enforcement of animal cruelty statutes, and education across
35	35	2.6multiple disciplines throughout the state, including but not limited to:
36	36	2.7 (i) investigations;
37	37	2.8 (ii) prosecution;
38	38	2.9 (iii) forensic veterinary medicine;
39	39	2.10 (iv) animal care, transport, and housing; and
40	40	2.11 (v) human welfare, as it relates to offenders or victims of animal cruelty;
41	41	2.12 (2) foster partnerships and collaborations with other criminal justice partners and related
42	42	2.13disciplines, as described in clause (1), items (i) to (v), to identify community and enforcement
43	43	2.14needs and challenges related to the crime of animal cruelty; establish effective enforcement
44	44	2.15practices and initiatives based on these needs; and, if needed, seek changes to laws or
45	45	2.16administrative rules;
46	46	2.17 (3) build capacity to assist local, state, Tribal, and federal authorities and other criminal
47	47	2.18justice partners in the investigation and prosecution of animal cruelty, including providing
48	48	2.19information, education, advice, services, and resources and engaging communities in the
49	49	2.20prevention of animal cruelty;
50	50	2.21 (4) provide standards, training, and certification for authorities and criminal justice
51	51	2.22partners in the enforcement of animal cruelty laws;
52	52	2.23 (5) educate, train, and build public awareness of the importance of the humane treatment
53	53	2.24of animals with the goals of demonstrating why animal cruelty is harmful to society, including
54	54	2.25the link to human violence, and increasing knowledge about how to recognize and report
55	55	2.26suspected animal cruelty;
56	56	2.27 (6) support the advisory committee established in section 299P.03 and coordinate the
57	57	2.28office's mission with the committee's guidance;
58	58	2.29 (7) conduct case reviews involving the investigation, prosecution, and sentencing of
59	59	2.30selected closed animal cruelty cases and provide feedback to the entities involved;
60	60	2.31 (8) collect, maintain, analyze, and report on data relating to animal cruelty cases;
61	61	2Sec. 2.
62	62	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
63	63	3.2research; and
64	64	3.3 (10) award grants as provided in section 299P.06.
65	65	3.4 Subd. 4.Annual performance report.On or before January 15 of each year, the director
66	66	3.5shall submit an annual report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative
67	67	3.6committees having jurisdiction over public safety finance and policy on the office's operations
68	68	3.7and any recommendations for changes in law relating to animal protection.
69	69	3.8 Sec. 3. [299P.03] ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
70	70	3.9 Subdivision 1.Advisory committee.The commissioner shall establish and appoint the
71	71	3.10members of an advisory committee pursuant to section 15.059. The committee shall adopt
72	72	3.11procedures to govern the committee's conduct as necessary and select a chair from among
73	73	3.12its members. The committee shall act in an advisory capacity, providing assistance and
74	74	3.13advice to the office in the development and execution of its duties, including outreach to
75	75	3.14communities and stakeholders.
76	76	3.15 Subd. 2.Committee members.Committee members shall possess knowledge, skills,
77	77	3.16or experiences in the prevention, investigation, or prosecution of animal cruelty and the
78	78	3.17care of animals, reflecting the five disciplines described in section 299P.02, subdivision 3,
79	79	3.18clause (1), items (i) to (v). The committee shall also include members of the public with
80	80	3.19knowledge of animal law and animal cruelty or experiences with animal cruelty as a victim,
81	81	3.20including trauma of victims.
82	82	3.21 Subd. 3.Subcommittees.The committee may establish subcommittees to identify,
83	83	3.22discuss, and make recommendations on specific topics related to animal cruelty and effective
84	84	3.23enforcement efforts of animal cruelty statutes, including but not limited to animal cruelty
85	85	3.24reporting, victim services, crime data collection, cross-reporting, courtroom advocates, and
86	86	3.25crime prevention.
87	87	3.26 Sec. 4. [299P.04] DIRECTOR; OTHER STAFF.
88	88	3.27 (a) The commissioner shall appoint a director for the office. The director shall have
89	89	3.28qualifications that include or are similar to the following:
90	90	3.29 (1) experience or knowledge in criminal law;
91	91	3.30 (2) experience or knowledge in the many facets of animal cruelty and the five disciplines
92	92	3.31described in section 299P.02, subdivision 3, clause (1), items (i) to (v), that contribute to
93	93	3.32the protection of animals and humans and successful outcomes; and
94	94	3Sec. 4.
95	95	25-02963 as introduced02/03/25 REVISOR KLL/HL 4.1 (3) expertise in leadership with planning and communication skills to foster change
96	96	4.2management techniques and define, develop, and implement office priorities, policies, and
97	97	4.3operations.
98	98	4.4 (b) The director may hire additional staff to assist in performing the duties of the office.
99	99	4.5Office staff shall be in the classified service of the state and their compensation shall be
100	100	4.6established pursuant to chapter 43A.
101	101	4.7 Sec. 5. [299P.05] AGREEMENTS AND CONTRACTS; LOCAL AUTHORITY.
102	102	4.8 Subdivision 1.Agreements and contracts.The director may enter into contracts with
103	103	4.9parties to assist with fulfilling the office's powers and duties under this chapter.
104	104	4.10 Subd. 2.Authority of local governing bodies.This chapter shall not be construed to
105	105	4.11limit or preempt additional requirements imposed on or possessed by any city, town, or
106	106	4.12county.
107	107	4.13 Sec. 6. [299P.06] ANIMAL PROTECTION ACCOUNT; GRANTS.
108	108	4.14 Subdivision 1.Money received from other sources.The director may accept money
109	109	4.15received as gifts, grants, or contributions from any source to support the purposes of the
110	110	4.16office under this chapter. The director may apply for and accept grants of money from the
111	111	4.17federal government, the state, any foundation, or any person to support the purposes of the
112	112	4.18office.
113	113	4.19 Subd. 2.Animal protection account.An animal protection account is created in the
114	114	4.20special revenue fund. All money received under subdivision 1 shall be deposited into the
115	115	4.21account. Money in the account, including interest, is annually appropriated to the
116	116	4.22commissioner to administer this chapter.
117	117	4.23 Subd. 3.Grants authorized.The commissioner may use money in the animal protection
118	118	4.24account to make grants to state and local units of government and nonprofit organizations
119	119	4.25to promote animal protection efforts as described in this chapter.
120	120	4.26 Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 624.712, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
121	121	4.27 Subd. 5.Crime of violence."Crime of violence" means: felony convictions of the
122	122	4.28following offenses: sections 609.185 (murder in the first degree); 609.19 (murder in the
123	123	4.29second degree); 609.195 (murder in the third degree); 609.20 (manslaughter in the first
124	124	4.30degree); 609.205 (manslaughter in the second degree); 609.215 (aiding suicide and aiding
125	125	4.31attempted suicide); 609.221 (assault in the first degree); 609.222 (assault in the second
126	126	4Sec. 7.
127	127	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);
128	128	5.2609.224 (assault in the fifth degree); 609.2242 (domestic assault); 609.2247 (domestic
129	129	5.3assault by strangulation); 609.229 (crimes committed for the benefit of a gang); 609.235
130	130	5.4(use of drugs to injure or facilitate crime); 609.24 (simple robbery); 609.245 (aggravated
131	131	5.5robbery); 609.247 (carjacking); 609.25 (kidnapping); 609.255 (false imprisonment); 609.322
132	132	5.6(solicitation, inducement, and promotion of prostitution; sex trafficking); 609.342 (criminal
133	133	5.7sexual conduct in the first degree); 609.343 (criminal sexual conduct in the second degree);
134	134	5.8609.344 (criminal sexual conduct in the third degree); 609.345 (criminal sexual conduct in
135	135	5.9the fourth degree); 609.377 (malicious punishment of a child); 609.378 (neglect or
136	136	5.10endangerment of a child); 609.486 (commission of crime while wearing or possessing a
137	137	5.11bullet-resistant vest); 609.52 (involving theft of a firearm and theft involving the theft of a
138	138	5.12controlled substance, an explosive, or an incendiary device); 609.561 (arson in the first
139	139	5.13degree); 609.562 (arson in the second degree); 609.582, subdivision 1 or 2 (burglary in the
140	140	5.14first and second degrees); 609.66, subdivision 1e (drive-by shooting); 609.67 (unlawfully
141	141	5.15owning, possessing, operating a machine gun or short-barreled shotgun); 609.71 (riot);
142	142	5.16609.713 (terroristic threats); 609.749 (harassment); 609.855, subdivision 5 (shooting at a
143	143	5.17public transit vehicle or facility); and chapter chapters 152 (drugs, controlled substances);
144	144	5.18and 343 (prevention of cruelty to animals); and an attempt to commit any of these offenses.
145	145	5.19 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective August 1, 2025, and applies to crimes
146	146	5.20committed on or after that date.
147	147	5.21 Sec. 8. OFFICE OF ANIMAL PROTECTION; APPROPRIATION.
148	148	5.22 $....... in fiscal year 2026 and $....... in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated from the general
149	149	5.23fund to the commissioner of public safety to establish and operate the Office of Animal
150	150	5.24Protection established under this act.
151	151	5Sec. 8.
152	152	25-02963 as introduced02/03/25 REVISOR KLL/HL