Bill Text: MN HF738 | 2011-2012 | 87th Legislature | Engrossed

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Public notice provided for the release hearing for killers of peace officers, and harassment restraining order provisions modified.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-2)

Status: (Passed) 2012-04-24 - Secretary of State Chapter 218 04/23/12 [HF738 Detail]

Download: Minnesota-2011-HF738-Engrossed.html

1.1A bill for an act
1.2relating to public safety; providing public notice for release hearing for killers
1.3of peace officers; modifying certain harassment restraining order provisions;
1.4amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 244.05, by adding a subdivision;
1.5609.748, subdivisions 4, 5, 6.
1.6BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7    Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 244.05, is amended by adding a
1.8subdivision to read:
1.9    Subd. 9. Public notice of release hearing for killers of peace officers. (a) At
1.10least 30 days before a hearing to consider the release of an inmate sentenced to life
1.11imprisonment for committing murder in the first degree involving the killing of a peace
1.12officer or a guard employed at a Minnesota or local correctional facility, the commissioner
1.13shall post on the department's Web site information about the hearing. The information
1.14posted may include only public information about the inmate, the circumstances of the
1.15case, and the scheduled hearing.
1.16(b) A member of the public may submit a written statement at the review hearing.
1.17Nothing in this subdivision may be interpreted to circumvent or limit the rights of
1.18the victim, the victim's family, the inmate, or the criminal justice community specified
1.19elsewhere in law to notice of the hearing or the right to participate in it.

1.20    Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 609.748, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
1.21    Subd. 4. Temporary restraining order; relief by court. (a) The court may issue a
1.22temporary restraining order ordering that provides any or all of the following:
1.23(1) orders the respondent to cease or avoid the harassment of another person or to; or
1.24(2) orders the respondent to have no contact with that another person.
2.1(b) The court may issue an order under paragraph (a) if the petitioner files a petition
2.2in compliance with subdivision 3 and if the court finds reasonable grounds to believe that
2.3the respondent has engaged in harassment. When a petition alleges harassment as defined
2.4by subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clause (1), the petition must further allege an immediate
2.5and present danger of harassment before the court may issue a temporary restraining order
2.6under this section. When signed by a referee, the temporary order becomes effective
2.7upon the referee's signature.
2.8(b) (c) Notice need not be given to the respondent before the court issues a temporary
2.9restraining order under this subdivision. A copy of the restraining order must be served on
2.10the respondent along with the order for hearing and petition, as provided in subdivision 3.
2.11If the respondent is a juvenile, whenever possible, a copy of the restraining order, along
2.12with notice of the pendency of the case and the time and place of the hearing, shall also
2.13be served by mail at the last known address upon any parent or guardian of the juvenile
2.14respondent who is not the petitioner. A temporary restraining order may be entered only
2.15against the respondent named in the petition.
2.16(c) (d) The temporary restraining order is in effect until a hearing is held on the
2.17issuance of a restraining order under subdivision 5. The court shall hold the hearing on
2.18the issuance of a restraining order if the petitioner requests a hearing. The hearing may
2.19be continued by the court upon a showing that the respondent has not been served with a
2.20copy of the temporary restraining order despite the exercise of due diligence or if service
2.21is made by published notice under subdivision 3 and the petitioner files the affidavit
2.22required under that subdivision.
2.23(d) (e) If the temporary restraining order has been issued and the respondent requests
2.24a hearing, the hearing shall be scheduled by the court upon receipt of the respondent's
2.25request. Service of the notice of hearing must be made upon the petitioner not less than
2.26five days prior to the hearing. The court shall serve the notice of the hearing upon the
2.27petitioner by mail in the manner provided in the Rules of Civil Procedure for pleadings
2.28subsequent to a complaint and motions and shall also mail notice of the date and time of
2.29the hearing to the respondent. In the event that service cannot be completed in time to
2.30give the respondent or petitioner the minimum notice required under this subdivision, the
2.31court may set a new hearing date.
2.32(e) (f) A request for a hearing under this subdivision must be made within 45 days
2.33after the temporary restraining order is issued.

2.34    Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 609.748, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
3.1    Subd. 5. Restraining order. (a) The court may grant issue a restraining order
3.2ordering that provides any or all of the following:
3.3(1) orders the respondent to cease or avoid the harassment of another person or to; or
3.4(2) orders the respondent to have no contact with that another person.
3.5(b) The court may issue an order under paragraph (a) if all of the following occur:
3.6    (1) the petitioner has filed a petition under subdivision 3;
3.7    (2) the sheriff has served respondent with a copy of the temporary restraining order
3.8obtained under subdivision 4, and with notice of the right to request a hearing, or service
3.9has been made by publication under subdivision 3, paragraph (b); and
3.10    (3) the court finds at the hearing that there are reasonable grounds to believe that
3.11the respondent has engaged in harassment.
3.12A restraining order may be issued only against the respondent named in the petition;
3.13except that if the respondent is an organization, the order may be issued against and
3.14apply to all of the members of the organization. If the court finds that the petitioner has
3.15had two or more previous restraining orders in effect against the same respondent or the
3.16respondent has violated a prior or existing restraining order on two or more occasions,
3.17relief granted by the restraining order may be for a period of up to 50 years. In all other
3.18cases, relief granted by the restraining order must be for a fixed period of not more than
3.19two years. When a referee presides at the hearing on the petition, the restraining order
3.20becomes effective upon the referee's signature.
3.21    (b) (c) An order issued under this subdivision must be personally served upon the
3.22respondent.
3.23    (c) (d) If the court orders relief for a period of up to 50 years under paragraph (a),
3.24the respondent named in the restraining order may request to have the restraining order
3.25vacated or modified if the order has been in effect for at least five years and the respondent
3.26has not violated the order. Application for relief under this paragraph must be made in the
3.27county in which the restraining order was issued. Upon receipt of the request, the court
3.28shall set a hearing date. Personal service must be made upon the petitioner named in the
3.29restraining order not less than 30 days before the date of the hearing. At the hearing, the
3.30respondent named in the restraining order has the burden of proving by a preponderance
3.31of the evidence that there has been a material change in circumstances and that the reasons
3.32upon which the court relied in granting the restraining order no longer apply and are
3.33unlikely to occur. If the court finds that the respondent named in the restraining order has
3.34met the burden of proof, the court may vacate or modify the order. If the court finds that the
3.35respondent named in the restraining order has not met the burden of proof, the court shall
3.36deny the request and no request may be made to vacate or modify the restraining order
4.1until five years have elapsed from the date of denial. An order vacated or modified under
4.2this paragraph must be personally served on the petitioner named in the restraining order.

4.3    Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 609.748, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
4.4    Subd. 6. Violation of restraining order. (a) A person who violates a restraining
4.5order issued under this section is subject to the penalties provided in paragraphs (b) to (d).
4.6(b) Except as otherwise provided in paragraphs (c) and (d), when a temporary
4.7restraining order or a restraining order is granted under this section and the respondent
4.8knows of the order, violation of the order is a misdemeanor.
4.9(c) A person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor who knowingly violates the order
4.10within ten years of a previous qualified domestic violence-related offense conviction
4.11or adjudication of delinquency.
4.12(d) A person is guilty of a felony and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not
4.13more than five years or to payment of a fine of not more than $10,000, or both, if the
4.14person knowingly violates the order:
4.15(1) within ten years of the first of two or more previous qualified domestic
4.16violence-related offense convictions or adjudications of delinquency;
4.17(2) because of the victim's or another's actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex,
4.18sexual orientation, disability as defined in section 363A.03, age, or national origin;
4.19(3) by falsely impersonating another;
4.20(4) while possessing a dangerous weapon;
4.21(5) with an intent to influence or otherwise tamper with a juror or a judicial
4.22proceeding or with intent to retaliate against a judicial officer, as defined in section
4.23609.415 , or a prosecutor, defense attorney, or officer of the court, because of that person's
4.24performance of official duties in connection with a judicial proceeding; or
4.25(6) against a victim under the age of 18, if the respondent is more than 36 months
4.26older than the victim.
4.27(e) A person who commits violations in two or more counties may be prosecuted in
4.28any county in which one of the acts was committed for all acts in violation of this section.
4.29(f) A person may be prosecuted at the place where any call is made or received or, in
4.30the case of wireless or electronic communication or any communication made through
4.31any available technologies, where the actor or victim resides, or in the jurisdiction of
4.32the victim's designated address if the victim participates in the address confidentiality
4.33program established under chapter 5B.
5.1(g) A peace officer shall arrest without a warrant and take into custody a person
5.2whom the peace officer has probable cause to believe has violated an order issued under
5.3subdivision 4 or 5 if the existence of the order can be verified by the officer.
5.4(f) (h) A violation of a temporary restraining order or restraining order shall also
5.5constitute contempt of court.
5.6(g) (i) Upon the filing of an affidavit by the petitioner, any peace officer, or an
5.7interested party designated by the court, alleging that the respondent has violated an order
5.8issued under subdivision 4 or 5, the court may issue an order to the respondent requiring
5.9the respondent to appear within 14 days and show cause why the respondent should not
5.10be held in contempt of court. The court also shall refer the violation of the order to the
5.11appropriate prosecuting authority for possible prosecution under paragraph (b), (c), or (d).
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