Minnesota House of Representatives
Republican Caucus

(ST. PAUL) The Minnesota House of Representatives on Monday passed a wide-ranging bill funding the state's criminal information network, domestic abuse shelters, faith-based prison programing, and fighting meth labs, rural violence, and gang crime. The bill was passed by a wide 107-21 margin.

"This is a fair and aggressive bill that meets the public safety needs of the State of Minnesota," said Judiciary Finance Chair Rich Stanek (R-Maple Grove), chief author of the legislation. "I'm pleased with this bill because it strikes a balance between metro and rural areas, and is the end product of a bipartisan effort with Minnesotans needs foremost."

"The committee had the difficult challenge of funding a number of major initiatives this year, while trying to maintain spending limits," he added. "For several years now, we have been taking a hard look at programs that are not meeting the expectations of this legislature and provided roughly $8 million in cuts to programs where the agencies have taken no action."

Chronic Drunk Drivers. A House Republican priority, a felony-level DWI penalty is allowed upon a fourth conviction within 10 years. Proponents of the felony-level penalty suggest the increase in deaths in Minnesota due to drunk drivers should lead to the conclusion that stronger penalties are necessary. The driver's license reinstatement fee would be increased and used to fund the provision.

Better information. One of the Committee's top priorities, the Criminal Justice Integrated Information Network, "CriMNet", is funded at $27 million. This year's efforts build on legislation passed during the 1999-2000 session--"Katie's Law"-- where concern over the disappearance of a 19-year-old Minnesota woman raised awareness to the problem law enforcement agencies, state criminal justice agencies, and the courts have in tracking criminals.

The bill requires that law enforcement officers collect fingerprints at times beyond arrest and for court appearances for a charge of, conviction of, or delinquency adjudication. To address the problem of overlooked arrest record "suspense" files, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) will report them to police departments, sheriff's offices, and others required to take

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fingerprints. Additionally, courts will be permitted to access CriMNet data related to the conditions of an offender's release. Currently, only law enforcement agencies have access to this data.

Racial Profiling. Growing out of an interim study and months of input from various groups, this provision seeks to address perceived racial inequity in traffic stops by requiring departments statewide to implement a profiling policy and model training procedures. It also funds public education and awareness program.

This provisions takes the discussion of racial profiling well past the study point, Stanek said. "It says that racial profiling is wrong, and provides law enforcement agencies across the state with model policies and training objectives necessary to prevent and stop profiling from occurring. "

Sex Offenders. The bill expands the DNA specimens submissions requirement to individuals convicted of felony level fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct and felony-level indecent exposure (committing a second offense in the presence of a minor under 16).

Domestic Abuse. This year's omnibus bill increases funding for domestic abuse shelters, and gives one- time finding to increase services for abused men. It provides treatment options for domestic abusers as part of a court sentence and enhances the criminal penalties for abusers.

Faith-Based Programs. A proposal developed by House Crime Prevention Chairman John Tuma would create a faith-based pre-release program for Department of Corrections inmates at Minnesota correctional facilities. The 18-month program includes a structured curriculum while in prison, a period of twelve months in a halfway house with small group support, and a period in the community with a mentor, church membership, and assistance with employment and re-establishing community relationships.

"Minnesota citizens are demanding that government better respond to the issue of crime. At the same time, we are fighting rising costs of building prisons and maintaining inmates, with little overall impact on crime and repeat offenders," Tuma said. "Undoubtedly, we need to punish criminals, but there's much more to solving the crime problem."

Meth Labs. Because ease of production and the danger involved in its clean-up, House leaders are backing grants for small local law enforcement agencies to address this widespread problem. Grant money could be used to cover increased law enforcement costs, public awareness programs, peace officer training and certification, and reimbursements to law enforcement agencies for overtime and investigative expenses.

Other. The judiciary funding bill also:

funds new law clerks, judicial salaries and public defender salaries; adds a new judge to accommodate the new oversight provisions in child support laws; establishes the offense of harming or killing a pet or companion animal; curbs the use of false identification in Minnesota by going after the manufacturers of IDs; increases penalties for possession of child pornography; lays the groundwork for electronic search warrants to thwart the spread of internet pornography; increasing penalties for fleeing a police officer resulting in the death of the officer; adds to the penalty for aiding a suspected felon and serving as an accomplice; gives new life to the Auto Theft Prevention Board and redirects the auto theft surcharge to public education on the issue; and, gives grants for training peace officers to respond to calls involving a mentally ill individual.

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