Bill Text: MN SF2435 | 2013-2014 | 88th Legislature | Engrossed
Bill Title: Animal law enforcement task force establishment and appropriation
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-03-24 - Comm report: To pass as amended and re-refer to Jobs, Agriculture and Rural Development [SF2435 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2013-SF2435-Engrossed.html
1.2relating to crimes; establishing a task force to comprehensively review the
1.3enforcement of animal anticruelty laws and practices and make recommendations
1.4for improvements; appropriating money.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. LAW ENFORCEMENT TASK FORCE ON ANIMAL CRUELTY.
1.7 Subdivision 1. Membership. (a) The Animal Law Enforcement Task Force consists
1.8of the following 19 voting members:
1.9(1) the commissioner of public safety, or designee;
1.10(2) two sheriffs, or their designees, appointed by the Minnesota Sheriffs Association;
1.11(3) two police chiefs, or their designees, appointed by the Minnesota Chiefs of
1.12Police Association;
1.13(4) two peace officers, or their designees, appointed by the Minnesota Police and
1.14Peace Officers Association;
1.15(5) two county attorneys, or their designees, appointed by the Minnesota County
1.16Attorneys Association;
1.17(6) one city attorney, appointed by the League of Minnesota Cities;
1.18(7) one individual, appointed by the Judicial Council;
1.19(8) the executive director, or designee, of the Board of Peace Officer Standards
1.20and Training;
1.21(9) the executive director of Animal Law Resources Minnesota, or a board member
1.22designated by the executive director;
1.23(10) the executive director of the Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine; and
1.24(11) five individuals, appointed by the governor.
2.1(b) When making appointments to the task force, the appointing authorities shall
2.2attempt to appoint individuals with a demonstrated interest in and knowledge of animal
2.3anticruelty laws and issues. Two of the individuals appointed by the governor shall
2.4represent statewide farm organizations. In addition, the appointing authorities shall attempt
2.5to appoint individuals from all geographic areas of the state. The cochairs of the task force
2.6may appoint additional nonvoting members to the task force or its subcommittees.
2.7(c) The appointments described in paragraph (a) must be made by July 15, 2014.
2.8 Subd. 2. Task force duties. (a) The task force shall comprehensively review the
2.9enforcement of animal anticruelty laws and practices and make recommendations for
2.10improvements. At a minimum, the task force shall do the following:
2.11(1) evaluate animal cruelty in Minnesota, including an analysis of types of crimes
2.12against animals and a review of types of cruelty cases, including the link between human
2.13and animal violence;
2.14(2) examine and analyze best practices and policies pertaining to the enforcement
2.15of animal anticruelty law and prevention of these crimes, including structure and
2.16accountability, collaboration between sectors and agencies, training and resources, and
2.17data collection and dissemination;
2.18(3) examine and analyze current funding for the enforcement of animal anticruelty
2.19laws and the funding needed to implement best practices; and
2.20(4) make recommendations on changes and improvements to any of the items
2.21reviewed under clauses (1) to (3) and on recommended funding and revenue sources to
2.22implement these recommendations.
2.23(b) To the degree feasible, the task force shall hold meetings in various areas of
2.24the state and shall solicit the opinions and perspectives of a wide range of people. The
2.25cochairs of the task force may establish subcommittees to assist the task force in carrying
2.26out its duties. If this occurs, the cochairs shall consider supplementing a subcommittee's
2.27membership by appointing individuals from entities not represented on the task force with
2.28expertise in areas within the subcommittee's jurisdiction.
2.29 Subd. 3. First meeting; cochairs. The commissioner of public safety shall convene
2.30the first meeting of the task force by August 1, 2014. The task force shall elect two
2.31cochairs from among its members.
2.32 Subd. 4. Support staff; additional resources and support. The commissioner
2.33of public safety shall provide support staff and meeting space for the task force. The
2.34commissioner may solicit resources from other entities to support the task force. The
2.35task force may collaborate with and solicit advice and support from other state agencies
2.36when needed.
3.1 Subd. 5. Outside funding. The task force may solicit and accept supplemental
3.2financial assistance from private sources which are accepted on behalf of the state and
3.3constitute donations to the state. Funds received under this subdivision are appropriated to
3.4the commissioner of public safety for purposes of the task force. Any assistance received
3.5shall be administered by the commissioner of public safety for the benefit of the task force.
3.6 Subd. 6. Grants. Upon recommendation of the task force, and within the limits
3.7of appropriated funds, the commissioner may award grants to further the purpose of
3.8the task force and its recommendations.
3.9 Subd. 7. Member expenses. Task force members may not receive compensation
3.10but may be reimbursed for expenses as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059,
3.11subdivision 3.
3.12 Subd. 8. Report. By February 15, 2015, the task force shall report to the chairs and
3.13ranking minority members of the legislative committees and divisions having jurisdiction
3.14over civil and criminal law. The report must summarize the activities of the task force
3.15and detail its recommendations.
3.16 Subd. 9. Sunset. The task force expires when the report described in subdivision
3.178 is submitted.
3.18EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
3.19 Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
3.20$....... is appropriated to the commissioner of public safety from the general fund for
3.21the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, to implement section 1.
1.3enforcement of animal anticruelty laws and practices and make recommendations
1.4for improvements; appropriating money.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. LAW ENFORCEMENT TASK FORCE ON ANIMAL CRUELTY.
1.7 Subdivision 1. Membership. (a) The Animal Law Enforcement Task Force consists
1.8of the following 19 voting members:
1.9(1) the commissioner of public safety, or designee;
1.10(2) two sheriffs, or their designees, appointed by the Minnesota Sheriffs Association;
1.11(3) two police chiefs, or their designees, appointed by the Minnesota Chiefs of
1.12Police Association;
1.13(4) two peace officers, or their designees, appointed by the Minnesota Police and
1.14Peace Officers Association;
1.15(5) two county attorneys, or their designees, appointed by the Minnesota County
1.16Attorneys Association;
1.17(6) one city attorney, appointed by the League of Minnesota Cities;
1.18(7) one individual, appointed by the Judicial Council;
1.19(8) the executive director, or designee, of the Board of Peace Officer Standards
1.20and Training;
1.21(9) the executive director of Animal Law Resources Minnesota, or a board member
1.22designated by the executive director;
1.23(10) the executive director of the Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine; and
1.24(11) five individuals, appointed by the governor.
2.1(b) When making appointments to the task force, the appointing authorities shall
2.2attempt to appoint individuals with a demonstrated interest in and knowledge of animal
2.3anticruelty laws and issues. Two of the individuals appointed by the governor shall
2.4represent statewide farm organizations. In addition, the appointing authorities shall attempt
2.5to appoint individuals from all geographic areas of the state. The cochairs of the task force
2.6may appoint additional nonvoting members to the task force or its subcommittees.
2.7(c) The appointments described in paragraph (a) must be made by July 15, 2014.
2.8 Subd. 2. Task force duties. (a) The task force shall comprehensively review the
2.9enforcement of animal anticruelty laws and practices and make recommendations for
2.10improvements. At a minimum, the task force shall do the following:
2.11(1) evaluate animal cruelty in Minnesota, including an analysis of types of crimes
2.12against animals and a review of types of cruelty cases, including the link between human
2.13and animal violence;
2.14(2) examine and analyze best practices and policies pertaining to the enforcement
2.15of animal anticruelty law and prevention of these crimes, including structure and
2.16accountability, collaboration between sectors and agencies, training and resources, and
2.17data collection and dissemination;
2.18(3) examine and analyze current funding for the enforcement of animal anticruelty
2.19laws and the funding needed to implement best practices; and
2.20(4) make recommendations on changes and improvements to any of the items
2.21reviewed under clauses (1) to (3) and on recommended funding and revenue sources to
2.22implement these recommendations.
2.23(b) To the degree feasible, the task force shall hold meetings in various areas of
2.24the state and shall solicit the opinions and perspectives of a wide range of people. The
2.25cochairs of the task force may establish subcommittees to assist the task force in carrying
2.26out its duties. If this occurs, the cochairs shall consider supplementing a subcommittee's
2.27membership by appointing individuals from entities not represented on the task force with
2.28expertise in areas within the subcommittee's jurisdiction.
2.29 Subd. 3. First meeting; cochairs. The commissioner of public safety shall convene
2.30the first meeting of the task force by August 1, 2014. The task force shall elect two
2.31cochairs from among its members.
2.32 Subd. 4. Support staff; additional resources and support. The commissioner
2.33of public safety shall provide support staff and meeting space for the task force. The
2.34commissioner may solicit resources from other entities to support the task force. The
2.35task force may collaborate with and solicit advice and support from other state agencies
2.36when needed.
3.1 Subd. 5. Outside funding. The task force may solicit and accept supplemental
3.2financial assistance from private sources which are accepted on behalf of the state and
3.3constitute donations to the state. Funds received under this subdivision are appropriated to
3.4the commissioner of public safety for purposes of the task force. Any assistance received
3.5shall be administered by the commissioner of public safety for the benefit of the task force.
3.6 Subd. 6. Grants. Upon recommendation of the task force, and within the limits
3.7of appropriated funds, the commissioner may award grants to further the purpose of
3.8the task force and its recommendations.
3.9 Subd. 7. Member expenses. Task force members may not receive compensation
3.10but may be reimbursed for expenses as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059,
3.11subdivision 3.
3.12 Subd. 8. Report. By February 15, 2015, the task force shall report to the chairs and
3.13ranking minority members of the legislative committees and divisions having jurisdiction
3.14over civil and criminal law. The report must summarize the activities of the task force
3.15and detail its recommendations.
3.16 Subd. 9. Sunset. The task force expires when the report described in subdivision
3.178 is submitted.
3.18EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
3.19 Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
3.20$....... is appropriated to the commissioner of public safety from the general fund for
3.21the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, to implement section 1.
