Public safety omnibus bill

Calling it “the most significant crime bill in a decade,” Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed the omnibus public safety law during a press conference on the steps of the State Capitol.

The law focuses on tougher penalties for violent sex offenders and includes several measures meant to halt the state’s methamphetamine epidemic.

It calls for $1.65 billion for the biennium, approximately a 16 percent increase for law enforcement, public safety, the courts and corrections.

Nearly one-third of the law involves sex offenders. A life penalty without the possibility of release would be imposed on certain first- and second-degree criminal sexual conduct offenders where one or more aggravating factors are present.

The bill will put Minnesota at the forefront of efforts to control methamphetamine manufacturing by limiting access to precursor key ingredients. The first effect most people will notice is that cold and allergy medications containing pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient of meth, will be placed behind the counter at pharmacies. Purchasers will have to ask for the products and sign a log.

Rep. Steve Smith (R-Mound), who sponsored the law with Sen. Jane B. Ranum (DFL-Mpls), said the law is truly a bipartisan effort and includes all or part of 80 bills.

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