Public safety omnibus

Ramped-up penalties for sex offenders are the cornerstone of HF1, which has become the omnibus bill of the House Public Safety Policy and Finance Committee. Approved by the committee, it next goes to the House Ways and Means Committee.

The omnibus bill, now with Committee Chair Rep. Steve Smith (R-Mound) as its sponsor, imposes a life penalty without the possibility of release for first-degree criminal sexual conduct offenders whose crimes involve force, violence, a dangerous weapon, personal injury to the victim or abuse involving multiple acts over an extended period of time.

The bill also creates an indeterminate sentencing structure that applies to certain first-degree criminal sexual offenders; the most serious second-, third- and fourth-degree criminal sexual offenders and criminal sexual predatory conduct offenders.

A five-member Minnesota Sex Offender Review Board would be established to evaluate whether offenders subject to indeterminate sentencing are appropriate for conditional release.

Other provisions of the bill include DNA testing of all people arrested for felonies, expansion of harassment and stalking crimes to include the use of technology, employment protection of victims or close relatives of victims, and suspension of drivers licenses for theft of gasoline.