1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to crime; creating Task Force on Mandatory Minimum Sentences.
1.3BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.4 Section 1. TASK FORCE ON MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCES.
1.5 Subdivision 1.Definition.As used in this section, "mandatory minimum" refers to
1.6legislatively defined, predetermined sentencing requirements, including but not limited to
1.7sentencing requirements under Minnesota Statutes, sections 152.021, 152.022, and 609.11,
1.8that mandate a minimum period of commitment to the commissioner of corrections upon
1.9conviction for certain offenses.
1.10 Subd. 2.Establishment.The Task Force on Mandatory Minimum Sentences is
1.11established to collect and analyze data on the charging, convicting, and sentencing of persons
1.12to mandatory minimum sentences; assess whether current laws and practices promote public
1.13safety and equity in sentencing; and make recommendations to the legislature.
1.14 Subd. 3.Membership.(a) The task force consists of the following members:
1.15 (1) the commissioner of corrections, or a designee;
1.16 (2) the executive director of the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission, or a
1.17designee;
1.18 (3) the state public defender, or a designee;
1.19 (4) the statewide coordinator of the Violent Crime Coordinating Council, or a designee;
1.20 (5) one defense attorney, appointed by the Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense
1.21Lawyers;
1Section 1.
25-02978 as introduced02/03/25 REVISOR KLL/KR
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 1719NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: LATZ)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading02/20/2025
Referred to Judiciary and Public Safety 2.1 (6) two county attorneys, one from Hennepin or Ramsey County and one from outside
2.2the seven-county metropolitan area, appointed by the Minnesota County Attorneys
2.3Association;
2.4 (7) a peace officer familiar with shooting investigations, appointed jointly by the
2.5Minnesota Sheriffs' Association and the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association;
2.6 (8) one member representing a victims' rights organization, appointed by the senate
2.7majority leader;
2.8 (9) one member of a statewide civil rights organization, appointed by the speaker of the
2.9house of representatives;
2.10 (10) one impacted person who is directly related to a person who has been convicted of
2.11a mandatory minimum sentence or who has themselves been convicted of a mandatory
2.12minimum sentence and has completed the sentence, appointed by the governor; and
2.13 (11) one person with academic expertise regarding the laws and practices of other states
2.14relating to mandatory minimum sentences, appointed by the governor.
2.15 (b) Appointments must be made no later than July 30, 2025.
2.16 (c) Members shall serve without compensation.
2.17 (d) Members of the task force serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority or until
2.18the task force expires. Vacancies shall be filled by the appointing authority consistent with
2.19the qualifications of the vacating member required by this subdivision.
2.20 Subd. 4.Officers; meetings.(a) The task force shall elect a chair and vice-chair and
2.21may elect other officers as necessary.
2.22 (b) The commissioner of corrections shall convene the first meeting of the task force no
2.23later than August 1, 2025, and shall provide meeting space and administrative assistance
2.24as necessary for the task force to conduct its work.
2.25 (c) The task force shall meet at least monthly or upon the call of its chair. The task force
2.26shall meet sufficiently enough to accomplish the tasks identified in this section. Meetings
2.27of the task force are subject to Minnesota Statutes, chapter 13D.
2.28 (d) To compile and analyze data, the task force shall request the cooperation and
2.29assistance of local law enforcement agencies, the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines
2.30Commission, the judicial branch, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, county attorneys,
2.31and Tribal governments and may request the cooperation of academics and others with
2.32experience and expertise in researching the impact of mandatory minimum sentences.
2Section 1.
25-02978 as introduced02/03/25 REVISOR KLL/KR 3.1 Subd. 5.Duties.(a) The task force shall, at a minimum:
3.2 (1) collect and analyze data on charges, convictions, and sentences that involve mandatory
3.3minimum sentences;
3.4 (2) collect and analyze data on mandatory minimum sentences in which a person received
3.5a mitigated durational departure because the mandatory minimum sentence was seen as
3.6inappropriate by a judge or county attorney, or both;
3.7 (3) collect and analyze data on mandatory minimum sentences in which a person likely
3.8would have received a mitigated durational departure but for the enforcement of a mandatory
3.9minimum sentence;
3.10 (4) collect and analyze data on charges, convictions, and sentences for codefendants of
3.11persons sentenced to a mandatory minimum sentence;
3.12 (5) review relevant state statutes and state and federal court decisions;
3.13 (6) receive input from persons who were convicted of a crime with a mandatory minimum
3.14sentence;
3.15 (7) receive input from family members of persons who were convicted of a crime with
3.16a mandatory minimum sentence;
3.17 (8) analyze the benefits and unintended consequences of state statutes and practices
3.18related to the charging, convicting, and sentencing of persons of crimes with mandatory
3.19minimum sentences, including but not limited to an analysis of whether current statutes and
3.20practices:
3.21 (i) promote public safety; and
3.22 (ii) properly punish a person for that person's role in an offense; and
3.23 (9) make recommendations for legislative action, if any, on laws affecting:
3.24 (i) the collection and reporting of data; and
3.25 (ii) the charging, convicting, and sentencing of persons for crimes with mandatory
3.26minimum sentences.
3.27 (b) At its discretion, the task force may examine, as necessary, other related issues
3.28consistent with this section.
3.29 Subd. 6.Report.On or before January 15, 2026, the task force shall submit a report to
3.30the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees and divisions with
3.31jurisdiction over criminal sentencing on the findings and recommendations of the task force.
3Section 1.
25-02978 as introduced02/03/25 REVISOR KLL/KR 4.1 Subd. 7.Expiration.The task force expires the day after submitting its report under
4.2subdivision 6.
4.3 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
4Section 1.
25-02978 as introduced02/03/25 REVISOR KLL/KR