Research data protection for data on individuals provided, and terminology and reference updates for domestic abuse programs and battered women provided.

A bill for an act

relating to public safety; providing research data protection for data on individuals;

providing for certain terminology and reference updates for domestic abuse

programs and battered women; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 13.69,

subdivision 1; 13.6905, by adding subdivisions; 13.871, subdivision 5; 116L.362,

subdivision 1; 119A.37, subdivision 4; 142G.12, subdivision 2; 142G.53; 203B.06,

subdivision 3; 203B.11, subdivision 1; 256D.02, subdivision 12a; 256G.02,

subdivision 6; 257.75, subdivision 6; 260E.02, subdivision 1; 299A.85, subdivision

4; 299A.90, subdivision 3; 518B.02, subdivision 2; 609.605, subdivision 2;

609.7495, subdivision 1; 611A.31, subdivision 5; 629.72, subdivision 2a; Minnesota

Statutes 2025 Supplement, sections 120B.22, subdivision 1; 201.061, subdivision

3; 256G.03, subdivision 2; 609.101, subdivision 2.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 13.69, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Classifications.

(a) The following government data of the Department

of Public Safety are private data:

(1) medical data on driving instructors, licensed drivers, and applicants for parking

certificates and special license plates issued to physically disabled persons;

(2) other data on holders of a disability certificate under section
169.345
, except that (i)

data that are not medical data may be released to law enforcement agencies, and (ii) data

necessary for enforcement of sections
169.345
and
169.346
may be released to parking

enforcement employees or parking enforcement agents of statutory or home rule charter

cities and towns;

(3) Social Security numbers in driver's license and motor vehicle registration records,

except that Social Security numbers must be provided to the Department of Revenue for

purposes of tax administration, the Department of Labor and Industry for purposes of

workers' compensation administration and enforcement, the judicial branch for purposes of

debt collection, and the Department of Natural Resources for purposes of license application

administration, and except that the last four digits of the Social Security number must be

provided to the Department of Human Services for purposes of recovery of Minnesota health

care program benefits paid;

(4) data on persons listed as standby or temporary custodians under section
171.07,

subdivision 11
, except that the data must be released to:

(i) law enforcement agencies for the purpose of verifying that an individual is a designated

caregiver; or

(ii) law enforcement agencies who state that the license holder is unable to communicate

at that time and that the information is necessary for notifying the designated caregiver of

the need to care for a child of the license holder;
deleted text begin
and
deleted text end

(5) race and ethnicity data on driver's license holders and identification card holders

under section
171.06, subdivision 3
. The Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic

Safety is authorized to receive race and ethnicity data from Driver and Vehicle Services for

only the purposes of research, evaluation, and public reports
deleted text begin
.
deleted text end
new text begin
; and
new text end

new text begin

(6) the following data on individuals created, collected, received, stored, used, or

maintained by the Office of Justice Programs: the name, address, email address, telephone

number, date of birth, or employer of a research participant; a unique identification number

assigned to a research participant; and any other data that could reasonably identify a research

participant.

new text end

The department may release the Social Security number only as provided in clause (3) and

must not sell or otherwise provide individual Social Security numbers or lists of Social

Security numbers for any other purpose.

(b) The following government data of the Department of Public Safety are confidential

data: data concerning an individual's driving ability when that data is received from a member

of the individual's family.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 13.6905, is amended by adding a subdivision to

read:

new text begin

Subd. 39.

new text end

new text begin

Office for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives.

new text end

new text begin

Data related to

victim and family support are governed by section 299A.85, subdivision 4, paragraph (c).

new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 13.6905, is amended by adding a subdivision to

read:

new text begin

Subd. 40.

new text end

new text begin

Office for Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls.

new text end

new text begin

Data related

to victim and family support are governed by section 299A.90, subdivision 3, paragraph

(c).

new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 13.871, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Crime victims.

(a)
Crime victim notice of release.
Data on crime victims who

request notice of an offender's release are classified under section
611A.06
.

(b)
Sex offender HIV tests.
Results of HIV tests of sex offenders under section
611A.19,

subdivision 2
, are classified under that section.

deleted text begin

(c)
Battered women.
Data on battered women maintained by grantees for emergency

shelter and support services for battered women are governed by section
611A.32, subdivision

5
.

deleted text end

deleted text begin

(d)
deleted text end
new text begin
(c)
new text end

Victims of domestic abuse.
Data on
deleted text begin
battered women and
deleted text end
victims of domestic

abuse maintained by grantees
deleted text begin
and recipients of per diem payments
deleted text end
for emergency shelter
deleted text begin

for battered women
deleted text end
and support services
deleted text begin
for battered women and victims of domestic abuse
deleted text end

are governed by sections
611A.32, subdivision 5
, and
611A.371, subdivision 3
.

deleted text begin

(e)
deleted text end
new text begin
(d)
new text end

Personal history; internal auditing.
Certain personal history and internal auditing

data is classified by section
611A.46
.

deleted text begin

(f)
deleted text end
new text begin
(e)
new text end

Crime victim claims for reimbursement.
Claims and supporting documents

filed by crime victims seeking reimbursement are classified under section
611A.57,

subdivision 6
.

deleted text begin

(g)
deleted text end
new text begin
(f)
new text end

Crime Victim Oversight Act.
Data maintained by the commissioner of public

safety under the Crime Victim Oversight Act are classified under section
611A.74,

subdivision 2
.

deleted text begin

(h)
deleted text end
new text begin
(g)
new text end

Victim identity data.
Data relating to the identity of the victims of certain criminal

sexual conduct is governed by section
609.3471
.

deleted text begin

(i)
deleted text end
new text begin
(h)
new text end

Victim notification.
Data on victims requesting a notice of release of an arrested

or detained person are classified under sections
629.72
and
629.73
.

deleted text begin

(j)
deleted text end
new text begin
(i)
new text end

Immigration status certification.
Disclosure of the immigration status of a crime

victim and the classification of that data is governed by section
611A.95, subdivision 4
.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 116L.362, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Generally.

(a) The commissioner shall make grants to eligible

organizations for programs to provide education and training services to targeted youth.

The purpose of these programs is to provide specialized training and work experience for

targeted youth who have not been served effectively by the current educational system. The

programs are to include a work experience component with work projects that result in the

rehabilitation, improvement, or construction of (1) residential units for the homeless; (2)

improvements to the energy efficiency and environmental health of residential units and

other green jobs purposes; (3) facilities to support community garden projects; or (4)

education, social service, or health facilities which are owned by a public agency or a private

nonprofit organization.

(b) Eligible facilities must principally provide services to homeless or low income

individuals and families, and include the following:

(1) Head Start or day care centers, including playhouses or similar incidental structures;

(2) homeless,
deleted text begin
battered women
deleted text end
new text begin
domestic abuse
new text end
, or other shelters;

(3) transitional housing and tiny houses;

(4) youth or senior citizen centers;

(5) community health centers; and

(6) community garden facilities.

Two or more eligible organizations may jointly apply for a grant. The commissioner

shall administer the grant program.

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 119A.37, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Additional services.

Each parenting time center may provide parenting and

child development classes, and offer support groups to participating custodial parents and

hold regular classes designed to assist children who have experienced domestic violence

and abuse. Each parenting time center must have available an individual knowledgeable

about or experienced in the provision of services to
deleted text begin
battered women and
deleted text end
domestic abuse

victims on its staff, its board of directors, or otherwise available to it for consultation.

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 120B.22, subdivision 1, is amended

to read:

Subdivision 1.

Violence prevention curriculum.

(a) The commissioner of education,

in consultation with the commissioners of health and human services, state minority councils,
deleted text begin

battered women's and
deleted text end
domestic abuse programs
deleted text begin
, battered women's
deleted text end
new text begin
and
new text end
shelters, sexual

assault centers,
new text begin
and
new text end
representatives of religious communities,
deleted text begin
and the assistant commissioner

of the Office of Drug Policy and Violence Prevention,
deleted text end
shall assist districts on request in

developing or implementing a violence prevention program for students in kindergarten to

grade 12 that can be integrated into existing curriculum. The purpose of the program is to

help students learn how to resolve conflicts within their families and communities in

nonviolent, effective ways.

(b) Each district is encouraged to integrate into its existing curriculum a program for

violence prevention that includes at least:

(1) a comprehensive, accurate, and age appropriate curriculum on violence prevention,

nonviolent conflict resolution, sexual, racial, and cultural harassment, self-protection, and

student hazing that promotes equality, respect, understanding, effective communication,

individual responsibility, thoughtful decision making, positive conflict resolution, useful

coping skills, critical thinking, listening and watching skills, and personal safety;

(2) planning materials, guidelines, and other accurate information on preventing physical

and emotional violence, identifying and reducing the incidence of sexual, racial, and cultural

harassment, and reducing child abuse, including physical abuse, and neglect;

(3) a special parent education component of early childhood family education programs

to prevent child abuse and neglect and to promote positive parenting skills, giving priority

to services and outreach programs for at-risk families;

(4) involvement of parents and other community members, including the clergy, business

representatives, civic leaders, local elected officials, law enforcement officials, and the

county attorney;

(5) collaboration with local community services, agencies, and organizations that assist

in violence intervention or prevention, including family-based services, crisis services, life

management skills services, case coordination services, mental health services, and early

intervention services;

(6) collaboration among districts and service cooperatives;

(7) targeting early adolescents for prevention efforts, especially early adolescents whose

personal circumstances may lead to violent or harassing behavior;

(8) opportunities for teachers to receive in-service training or attend other programs on

strategies or curriculum designed to assist students in intervening in or preventing violence

in school and at home; and

(9) administrative policies that reflect, and a staff that models, nonviolent behaviors that

do not display or condone sexual, racial, or cultural harassment or student hazing.

(c) The department may provide assistance at a neutral site to a nonpublic school

participating in a district's program.

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142G.12, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

30-day residency requirement.

An assistance unit is considered to have

established residency in this state only when a child or caregiver has resided in this state

for at least 30 consecutive days with the intention of making the person's home here and

not for any temporary purpose. The birth of a child in Minnesota to a member of the

assistance unit does not automatically establish the residency in this state under this

subdivision of the other members of the assistance unit. Time spent in a shelter for
deleted text begin
battered

women
deleted text end
new text begin
domestic abuse victims
new text end
shall count toward satisfying the 30-day residency

requirement.

Sec. 9.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142G.53, is amended to read:

142G.53 FAMILY VIOLENCE WAIVER CRITERIA.

(a) In order to qualify for a family violence waiver, an individual must provide

documentation of past or current family violence which may prevent the individual from

participating in certain employment activities.

(b) The following items may be considered acceptable documentation or verification of

family violence:

(1) police, government agency, or court records;

(2) a statement from
deleted text begin
a battered women's
deleted text end
new text begin
domestic abuse
new text end
shelter staff with knowledge

of the circumstances;

(3) a statement from a sexual assault or domestic violence advocate with knowledge of

the circumstances; or

(4) a statement from professionals from whom the applicant or recipient has sought

assistance for the abuse.

(c) A claim of family violence may also be documented by a sworn statement from the

applicant or participant and a sworn statement from any other person with knowledge of

the circumstances or credible evidence that supports the client's statement.

Sec. 10.

Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 201.061, subdivision 3, is amended

to read:

Subd. 3.

Election day registration.

(a) An individual who is eligible to vote may register

or update a registration on election day by appearing in person at the polling place for the

precinct in which the individual maintains residence, by completing a registration application,

making an oath in the form prescribed by the secretary of state and providing proof of

residence. An individual may prove residence for purposes of registering or updating a

registration by:

(1) presenting a driver's license or Minnesota identification card issued pursuant to

section
171.07
;

(2) presenting any document approved by the secretary of state as proper identification;

(3) presenting a current student fee statement that contains the student's valid address

in the precinct together with a picture identification card; or

(4) having a voter who is registered to vote in the precinct, or an employee who provides

proof that they are employed by and working in a residential facility in the precinct and

vouching for a resident in the facility, sign an oath in the presence of the election judge

vouching that the voter or employee personally knows that the individual is a resident of

the precinct. A voter who has been vouched for on election day may not sign a proof of

residence oath vouching for any other individual on that election day. An election judge

may not sign a proof of residence oath vouching for any individual who appears in the

precinct where the election judge is working unless the election judge personally knows the

individual is a resident of the precinct. A voter who is registered to vote in the precinct may

sign up to eight proof-of-residence oaths on any election day. This limitation does not apply

to an employee of a residential facility described in this clause. The secretary of state shall

provide a form for election judges to use in recording the number of individuals for whom

a voter signs proof-of-residence oaths on election day. The form must include space for the

maximum number of individuals for whom a voter may sign proof-of-residence oaths. For

each proof-of-residence oath, the form must include a statement that the individual: (i) is

registered to vote in the precinct or is an employee of a residential facility in the precinct,

(ii) personally knows that the voter is a resident of the precinct, and (iii) is making the

statement on oath. The form must include a space for the voter's printed name, signature,

telephone number, and address.

The oath required by this subdivision and Minnesota Rules, part
8200.9939
, must be

attached to the voter registration application.

(b) The secretary of state must publish guidance for residential facilities and residential

facility employees on the vouching process and the requirements of this subdivision.

(c) "Residential facility" means transitional housing as defined in section
256K.48,

subdivision 1
; a supervised living facility licensed by the commissioner of health under

section
144.50, subdivision 6
; a nursing home as defined in section
144A.01, subdivision

5
; an assisted living facility licensed by the commissioner of health under chapter 144G; a

veterans home operated by the board of directors of the Minnesota Veterans Homes under

chapter 198; a residence licensed by the commissioner of human services to provide a

residential program as defined in section
245A.02, subdivision 14
; a residential facility for

persons with a developmental disability licensed by the commissioner of human services

under section
252.28
; setting authorized to provide housing support as defined in section

256I.03, subdivision 10a
;
deleted text begin
a shelter for battered women
deleted text end
new text begin
emergency shelter services for

domestic abuse victims
new text end
as defined in section
deleted text begin
611A.37, subdivision 4
deleted text end
new text begin
611A.31, subdivision

3
new text end
; a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter or dwelling designed to provide

temporary living accommodations for the homeless; a facility where a provider operates a

residential treatment program as defined in section
245.462, subdivision 23
; or a facility

where a provider operates an adult foster care program as defined in section
245A.02,

subdivision 6c
.

(d) For tribal band members, an individual may prove residence for purposes of

registering or updating a registration by:

(1) presenting an identification card issued by the tribal government of a tribe recognized

by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, United States Department of the Interior, that contains the

name, address, signature, and picture of the individual; or

(2) presenting an identification card issued by the tribal government of a tribe recognized

by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, United States Department of the Interior, that contains the

name, signature, and picture of the individual and also presenting one of the documents

listed in Minnesota Rules, part
8200.5100
, subpart 2, item B.

(e) A county, school district, or municipality may require that an election judge

responsible for election day registration initial each completed registration application.

Sec. 11.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 203B.06, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Delivery of ballots.

(a) The county auditor, municipal clerk, school district

clerk, or full-time clerk of any city or town administering an election pursuant to section

203B.05
, shall mail absentee ballots to voters on the permanent absentee ballot list pursuant

to section
203B.04, subdivision 5
, on the following timelines:

(1) except as otherwise provided by this section, at least 46 days before each regularly

scheduled primary and general election and each special primary and special election;

(2) as soon as practicable for a special election held pursuant to section
204D.19
,

subdivisions 2 and 3; and

(3) at least 30 days before a town general election held in March.

(b) The commissioner of corrections must provide the secretary of state with a list of

the names and mailing addresses of state adult correctional facilities. An application for an

absentee ballot that provides an address included on the list provided by the commissioner

of corrections must not be accepted and an absentee ballot must not be provided to the

applicant. The county auditor or municipal clerk must promptly transmit a copy of the

application to the county attorney. The Department of Corrections must implement procedures

to ensure that absentee ballots issued under this chapter are not received or mailed by

offenders incarcerated at state adult correctional facilities.

(c) If an application for absentee ballots is accepted at a time when absentee ballots are

not yet available for distribution, the county auditor, or municipal clerk accepting the

application shall file it and as soon as absentee ballots are available for distribution shall

mail them to the address specified in the application. If an application for absentee ballots

is accepted when absentee ballots are available for distribution, the county auditor or

municipal clerk accepting the application shall promptly:

(1) mail the ballots to the voter whose signature appears on the application if the

application is submitted by mail and does not request commercial shipping under clause

(2);

(2) ship the ballots to the voter using a commercial shipper requested by the voter at the

voter's expense;

(3) deliver the absentee ballots directly to the voter if the application is submitted in

person; or

(4) deliver the absentee ballots in a sealed transmittal envelope to an agent who has been

designated to bring the ballots, as provided in section
203B.11, subdivision 4
, to a voter

who would have difficulty getting to the polls because of incapacitating health reasons, or

who is disabled, or who is a patient in a health care facility, a resident of an assisted living

facility licensed under chapter 144G, a participant in a residential program for adults licensed

under section
245A.02, subdivision 14
, or a resident of a shelter for
deleted text begin
battered women
deleted text end
new text begin
domestic

abuse victims
new text end
as defined in section
deleted text begin
611A.37, subdivision 4
deleted text end
new text begin
611A.31, subdivision 2
new text end
.

(d) If an application does not indicate the election for which absentee ballots are sought,

the county auditor or municipal clerk shall mail or deliver only the ballots for the next

election occurring after receipt of the application. Only one set of ballots may be mailed,

shipped, or delivered to an applicant for any election, except as provided in section
203B.121,

subdivision 2
, or when a replacement ballot has been requested by the voter for a ballot that

has been spoiled or lost in transit.

Sec. 12.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 203B.11, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Generally.

(a) Each full-time municipal clerk or school district clerk

who has authority under section
203B.05
to administer absentee voting laws must designate

election judges to deliver absentee ballots in accordance with this section. The county auditor

must also designate election judges to perform the duties in this section. A ballot may be

delivered only to an eligible voter who is a temporary or permanent resident or patient in

one of the following facilities located in the municipality in which the voter maintains

residence: a health care facility, hospital, or veterans home operated by the board of directors

of the Minnesota veterans homes under chapter 198. The ballots must be delivered by two

election judges, each of whom is affiliated with a different major political party. When the

election judges deliver or return ballots as provided in this section, they must travel together

in the same vehicle. Both election judges must be present when an applicant completes the

certificate of eligibility and marks the absentee ballots, and may assist an applicant as

provided in section
204C.15
. The election judges must deposit the return envelopes containing

the marked absentee ballots in a sealed container and return them to the clerk on the same

day that they are delivered and marked.

(b) At the discretion of a full-time municipal clerk, school district clerk, or county auditor,

absentee ballots may be delivered in the same manner as prescribed in paragraph (a) to a

shelter for
deleted text begin
battered women
deleted text end
new text begin
domestic abuse victims
new text end
as defined in section
deleted text begin
611A.37, subdivision

4
deleted text end
new text begin
611A.31, subdivision 2
new text end
, or to an assisted living facility licensed under chapter 144G.

Sec. 13.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256D.02, subdivision 12a, is amended to read:

Subd. 12a.

Resident.

(a) For purposes of eligibility for general assistance, a person must

be a resident of this state.

(b) A "resident" is a person living in the state for at least 30 days with the intention of

making the person's home here and not for any temporary purpose. Time spent in a shelter

for
deleted text begin
battered women
deleted text end
new text begin
domestic abuse victims
new text end
shall count toward satisfying the 30-day residency

requirement. All applicants for these programs are required to demonstrate the requisite

intent and can do so in any of the following ways:

(1) by showing that the applicant maintains a residence at a verified address, other than

a place of public accommodation. An applicant may verify a residence address by presenting

a valid state driver's license, a state identification card, a voter registration card, a rent

receipt, a statement by the landlord, apartment manager, or homeowner verifying that the

individual is residing at the address, or other form of verification approved by the

commissioner; or

(2) by verifying residence according to Minnesota Rules, part
9500.1219
, subpart 3,

item C.

(c) For general assistance, a county shall waive the 30-day residency requirement where

unusual hardship would result from denial of general assistance. For purposes of this

subdivision, "unusual hardship" means the applicant is without shelter or is without available

resources for food.

The county agency must report to the commissioner within 30 days on any waiver granted

under this section. The county shall not deny an application solely because the applicant

does not meet at least one of the criteria in this subdivision, but shall continue to process

the application and leave the application pending until the residency requirement is met or

until eligibility or ineligibility is established.

(d) For purposes of paragraph (c), the following definitions apply (1) "metropolitan

statistical area" is as defined by the United States Census Bureau; (2) "shelter" includes any

shelter that is located within the metropolitan statistical area containing the county and for

which the applicant is eligible, provided the applicant does not have to travel more than 20

miles to reach the shelter and has access to transportation to the shelter. Clause (2) does not

apply to counties in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan statistical area.

(e) Migrant workers as defined in section
142G.02
are exempt from the residency

requirements of this section, provided the migrant worker provides verification that the

migrant family worked in this state within the last 12 months and earned at least $1,000 in

gross wages during the time the migrant worker worked in this state.

(f) For purposes of eligibility for emergency general assistance, the 30-day residency

requirement under this section shall not be waived.

(g) If any provision of this subdivision is enjoined from implementation or found

unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall

remain valid and shall be given full effect.

Sec. 14.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256G.02, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Excluded time.

"Excluded time" means:

(1) any period an applicant spends in a hospital, sanitarium, nursing home, shelter other

than an emergency shelter, halfway house, foster home, community residential setting

licensed under chapter 245D, semi-independent living domicile or services program,

residential facility offering care, board and lodging facility or other institution for the

hospitalization or care of human beings, as defined in section
144.50
,
144A.01
, or
245A.02,

subdivision 14
; maternity home,
deleted text begin
battered women's
deleted text end
shelter
new text begin
for domestic abuse victims
new text end
, or

correctional facility; or any facility based on an emergency hold under section 253B.05,

subdivisions 1 and 2;

(2) any period an applicant spends on a placement basis in a training and habilitation

program, including: a rehabilitation facility or work or employment program as defined in

section
268A.01
; semi-independent living services provided under section
252.275
, and

chapter 245D; or day training and habilitation programs;

(3) any period an applicant is receiving assisted living services, integrated community

supports, or day support services; and

(4) any placement for a person with an indeterminate commitment, including independent

living.

Sec. 15.

Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 256G.03, subdivision 2, is amended

to read:

Subd. 2.

No durational test.

Except as otherwise provided in sections
142G.12
;
142G.78
;

256B.056, subdivision 1
; and
256D.02, subdivision 12a
, for purposes of this chapter, no

waiting period is required before securing county or state residence. A person cannot,

however, gain residence while physically present in an excluded time facility unless otherwise

specified in this chapter or in a federal regulation controlling a federally funded human

service; children, youth, and families; or direct care and treatment program. Interstate

migrants who enter a shelter for
deleted text begin
battered women
deleted text end
new text begin
domestic abuse victims
new text end
directly from

another state can gain residency while in the facility provided the person can provide

documentation that the person is a victim of domestic abuse and the county determines that

the placement is appropriate.

Sec. 16.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 257.75, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Paternity educational materials.

The commissioner of children, youth, and

families shall prepare educational materials for new and prospective parents that describe

the benefits and effects of establishing paternity. The materials must include a description

and comparison of the procedures for establishment of paternity through a recognition of

parentage under this section and an adjudication of paternity under sections
257.51
to
257.74
.

The commissioner shall consider the use of innovative audio or visual approaches to the

presentation of the materials to facilitate understanding and presentation. In preparing the

materials, the commissioner shall consult with child advocates and support workers,
deleted text begin
battered

women's advocates and
deleted text end
advocates for domestic abuse victims, social service providers,

educators, attorneys, hospital representatives, and people who work with parents in making

decisions related to paternity. The commissioner shall consult with representatives of

communities of color. On and after January 1, 1994, the commissioner shall make the

materials available without cost to hospitals, requesting agencies, and other persons for

distribution to new parents.

Sec. 17.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 260E.02, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Establishment of team.

A county shall establish a multidisciplinary

child protection team that may include but is not limited to the director of the local welfare

agency or designees, the county attorney or designees, the county sheriff or designees,

representatives of health and education, representatives of mental health, representatives of

agencies providing specialized services or responding to youth who experience or are at

risk of experiencing sex or labor trafficking or sexual exploitation, or other appropriate

human services, children's services, or community-based agencies, and parent groups. As

used in this section, a "community-based agency" may include, but is not limited to, schools,

social services agencies, family service and mental health collaboratives, children's advocacy

centers, early childhood and family education programs, Head Start, or other agencies

serving children and families. A member of the team must be designated as the lead person

of the team responsible for the planning process to develop standards for the team's activities

with
deleted text begin
battered women's and
deleted text end
domestic abuse programs and services.

Sec. 18.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 299A.85, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Duties.

new text begin
(a)
new text end
The office has the following duties:

(1) advocate in the legislature for legislation that will facilitate the accomplishment of

the mandates identified in the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force report;

(2) advocate for state agencies to take actions to facilitate the accomplishment of the

mandates identified in the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force report;

(3) develop recommendations for legislative and agency actions to address injustice in

the criminal justice system's response to the cases of missing and murdered Indigenous

relatives;

(4) facilitate research to refine the mandates in the Missing and Murdered Indigenous

Women Task Force report and to assess the potential efficacy, feasibility, and impact of the

recommendations;

(5) develop tools and processes to evaluate the implementation and impact of the efforts

of the office;

(6) track and collect Minnesota data on missing and murdered indigenous women,

children, and relatives, and provide statistics upon public or legislative inquiry;

(7) facilitate technical assistance for local and Tribal law enforcement agencies during

active missing and murdered Indigenous relatives cases;

(8) conduct case reviews and report on the results of case reviews for the following types

of missing and murdered Indigenous relatives cases: cold cases for missing Indigenous

people and death investigation review for cases of Indigenous people ruled as suicide or

overdose under suspicious circumstances;

(9) conduct case reviews of the prosecution and sentencing for cases where a perpetrator

committed a violent or exploitative crime against an Indigenous person. These case reviews

should identify those cases where the perpetrator is a repeat offender;

(10) prepare draft legislation as necessary to allow the office access to the data required

for the office to conduct the reviews required in this section and advocate for passage of

that legislation;

(11) review sentencing guidelines for missing and murdered Indigenous women-related

crimes, recommend changes if needed, and advocate for consistent implementation of the

guidelines across Minnesota courts;

(12) develop and maintain communication with relevant divisions in the Department of

Public Safety regarding any cases involving missing and murdered Indigenous relatives and

on procedures for investigating cases involving missing and murdered Indigenous relatives;
deleted text begin

and
deleted text end

(13) coordinate, as relevant, with the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Cold Case Office through

Operation Lady Justice and other federal efforts, as well as efforts in neighboring states and

Canada. This recommendation pertains to state efforts. Tribes are sovereign nations that

have the right to determine if and how they will coordinate with these other efforts
deleted text begin
.
deleted text end
new text begin
; and
new text end

new text begin

(14) provide case support to victims and families of missing or murdered Indigenous

relatives or their designated family representative or the reporting person. Case support

includes but is not limited to providing support and guidance during the law enforcement

investigation; facilitating communication with criminal justice agencies and other government

entities; compiling relevant information about ongoing cases; and providing information,

referrals, and other types of support.

new text end

new text begin

(b) As used in this subdivision:

new text end

new text begin

(1) "reporting person" means the relative or nonrelative person who completed a case

intake form with the office; and

new text end

new text begin

(2) "victim" has the meaning given in section 611A.01.

new text end

new text begin

(c) Data created, collected, received, stored, used, or maintained by the office related to

paragraph (a), clause (14), are private data on individuals as defined in section 13.02,

subdivision 12.

new text end

Sec. 19.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 299A.90, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Duties.

(a) The office has the following duties:

(1) advocate in the legislature for legislation that will facilitate the accomplishment of

mandates identified in the report of the Task Force on Missing and Murdered African

American Women;

(2) advocate for state agencies to take actions to facilitate the accomplishment of mandates

identified in the report of the Task Force on Missing and Murdered African American

Women;

(3) develop recommendations for legislative and agency actions to address injustice in

the criminal justice system's response to cases of missing and murdered Black women and

girls;

(4) facilitate research to refine the mandates in the report of the Task Force on Missing

and Murdered African American Women and to assess the potential efficacy, feasibility,

and impact of the recommendations;

(5) collect data on missing person and homicide cases involving Black women and girls,

including the total number of cases, the rate at which the cases are solved, the length of time

the cases remain open, and a comparison to similar cases involving different demographic

groups;

(6) collect data on Amber Alerts, including the total number of Amber Alerts issued,

the total number of Amber Alerts that involve Black girls, and the outcome of cases involving

Amber Alerts disaggregated by the child's race and sex;

(7) collect data on reports of missing Black girls, including the number classified as

voluntary runaways, and a comparison to similar cases involving different demographic

groups;

(8) analyze and assess the intersection between cases involving missing and murdered

Black women and girls and labor trafficking and sex trafficking;

(9) develop recommendations for legislative, agency, and community actions to address

the intersection between cases involving missing and murdered Black women and girls and

labor trafficking and sex trafficking;

(10) analyze and assess the intersection between cases involving murdered Black women

and girls and domestic violence, including prior instances of domestic violence within the

family or relationship, whether an offender had prior convictions for domestic assault or

related offenses, and whether the offender used a firearm in the murder or any prior instances

of domestic assault;

(11) develop recommendations for legislative, agency, and community actions to address

the intersection between cases involving murdered Black women and girls and domestic

violence;

(12) develop tools and processes to evaluate the implementation and impact of the efforts

of the office;

(13) track and collect Minnesota data on missing and murdered Black women and girls,

and provide statistics upon public or legislative inquiry;

(14) facilitate technical assistance for local and Tribal law enforcement agencies during

active cases involving missing and murdered Black women and girls;

(15) conduct case reviews and report on the results of case reviews for the following

types of cases involving missing and murdered Black women and girls: cold cases for

missing Black women and girls and death investigation review for cases of Black women

and girls ruled as suicide or overdose under suspicious circumstances;

(16) conduct case reviews of the prosecution and sentencing for cases where a perpetrator

committed a violent or exploitative crime against a Black woman or girl. These case reviews

must identify those cases where the perpetrator is a repeat offender;

(17) prepare draft legislation as necessary to allow the office access to the data necessary

for the office to conduct the reviews required in this section and advocate for passage of

that legislation;

(18) review sentencing guidelines for crimes related to missing and murdered Black

women and girls, recommend changes if needed, and advocate for consistent implementation

of the guidelines across Minnesota courts;

(19) develop and maintain communication with relevant divisions in the Department of

Public Safety, including but not limited to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, regarding

any cases involving missing and murdered Black women and girls and on procedures for

investigating cases involving missing and murdered Black women and girls;

(20) consult with the Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage established in section

15.0145
;
deleted text begin
and
deleted text end

(21) coordinate, as relevant, with federal efforts, and efforts in neighboring states and

Canada
deleted text begin
.
deleted text end
new text begin
; and
new text end

new text begin

(22) provide case support to victims and families of missing or murdered Black women

and girls or their designated family representative or the reporting person. Case support

includes but is not limited to providing support and guidance during the law enforcement

investigation; facilitating communication with criminal justice agencies and other government

entities; compiling relevant information about ongoing cases; and providing information,

referrals, and other types of support.

new text end

(b) As used in this subdivision:

(1) "labor trafficking" has the meaning given in section
609.281, subdivision 5
;
deleted text begin
and
deleted text end

new text begin

(2) "reporting person" means the relative or nonrelative person who completed a case

intake form with the office;

new text end

deleted text begin

(2)
deleted text end
new text begin
(3)
new text end
"sex trafficking" has the meaning given in section
609.321, subdivision 7a
deleted text begin
.
deleted text end
new text begin
; and
new text end

new text begin

(4) "victim" has the meaning given in section 611A.01.

new text end

new text begin

(c) Data created, collected, received, stored, used, or maintained by the office related to

paragraph (a), clause (22), are private data on individuals as defined in section 13.02,

subdivision 12.

new text end

Sec. 20.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 518B.02, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Standards for domestic abuse counseling programs and domestic abuse

educational programs.

(a) Domestic abuse counseling or educational programs that provide

group or class sessions for court-ordered domestic abuse offenders must provide

documentation to the probation department or the court on program policies and how the

program meets the criteria contained in paragraphs (b) to (l).

(b) Programs shall require offenders and abusing parties to attend a minimum of 24

sessions or 36 hours of programming, unless a probation agent has recommended fewer

sessions. The documentation provided to the probation department or the court must specify

the length of the program that offenders are required to complete.

(c) Programs must have a written policy requiring that counselors and facilitators report

to the court and to the offender's probation or corrections officer any threats of violence

made by the offender or abusing party, acts of violence by the offender or abusing party,

violation of court orders by the offender or abusing party, and violation of program rules

that resulted in the offender's or abusing party's termination from the program. Programs

shall have written policies requiring that counselors and facilitators hold offenders and

abusing parties solely responsible for their behavior.

Programs shall have written policies requiring that counselors and facilitators be violence

free in their own lives.

(d) Each program shall conduct an intake process with each offender or abusing party.

This intake process shall look for chemical dependency problems and possible risks the

offender or abusing party might pose to self or others. The program must have policies

regarding referral of a chemically dependent offender or abusing party to a chemical

dependency treatment center. If the offender or abusing party poses a risk to self or others,

the program shall report this information to the court, the probation or corrections officer,

and the victim.

(e) If the offender or abusing party is reported back to the court or is terminated from

the program, the program shall notify the victim of the circumstances unless the victim

requests otherwise.

(f) Programs shall require court-ordered offenders and abusing parties to sign a release

of information authorizing communication regarding the offender's or abusing party's

progress in the program to the court, the offender's probation or corrections officer, other

providers, and the victim. The offender or abusing party may not enter the program if the

offender does not sign a release.

(g) If a counselor or facilitator contacts the victim, the counselor or facilitator must not

elicit any information that the victim does not want to provide. A counselor or facilitator

who contacts a victim shall (1) notify the victim of the right not to provide any information,

(2) notify the victim of how any information provided will be used and with whom it will

be shared, and (3) obtain the victim's permission before eliciting information from the victim

or sharing information with anyone other than staff of the counseling program.

Programs shall have written policies requiring that counselors and facilitators inform

victims of the confidentiality of information as provided by this subdivision. Programs must

maintain separate files for information pertaining to the offender or abusing party and to

the victim.

If a counselor or facilitator contacts a victim, the counselor or facilitator shall provide

the victim with referral information for support services.

(h) Programs shall have written policies forbidding program staff from disclosing any

confidential communication made by the offender or abusing party without the consent of

the offender or abusing party, except that programs must warn a potential victim of imminent

danger based upon information provided by an offender or abusing party.

(i) The counseling program or educational program must provide services in a group

setting, unless the offender or abusing party would be inappropriate in a group setting.

Programs must provide separate sessions for male and female offenders and abusing

parties.

(j) Programs shall have written policies forbidding program staff from offering or

referring marriage or couples counseling until the offender or abusing party has completed

a domestic abuse counseling program or educational program for the minimum number of

court-ordered sessions and the counselor or facilitator reasonably believes that the violence,

intimidation, and coercion has ceased and the victim feels safe to participate.

(k) Programs must have written policies requiring that the counselor or facilitator report

when the court-ordered offender or abusing party has completed the program to the court

and the offender's probation or corrections officer.

(l) Programs must have written policies to coordinate with the court, probation and

corrections officers,
deleted text begin
battered women's and
deleted text end
domestic abuse programs, child protection

services, and other providers on promotion of victim safety and offender accountability.

Sec. 21.

Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 609.101, subdivision 2, is amended

to read:

Subd. 2.

Minimum fines.

Notwithstanding any other law, when a court sentences a

person convicted of violating section
609.221
,
609.222
,
609.223
,
609.2231
,
609.224
,

609.2242
,
609.267
,
609.2671
,
609.2672
,
609.342
,
609.343
,
609.344
, or
609.345
, it must

impose a fine of not less than 30 percent of the maximum fine authorized by law nor more

than the maximum fine authorized by law.

The court shall collect the portion of the fine mandated by this subdivision and forward

70 percent of it to a local victim assistance program that provides services locally in the

county in which the crime was committed. The court shall forward the remaining 30 percent

to the commissioner of management and budget to be credited to the general fund. If more

than one victim assistance program serves the county in which the crime was committed,

the court may designate on a case-by-case basis which program will receive the fine proceeds,

giving consideration to the nature of the crime committed, the types of victims served by

the program, and the funding needs of the program. If no victim assistance program serves

that county, the court shall forward 100 percent of the fine proceeds to the commissioner

of management and budget to be credited to the general fund. Fine proceeds received by a

local victim assistance program must be used to provide direct services to crime victims.

The minimum fine required by this subdivision is in addition to the surcharge or

assessment required by section
357.021, subdivision 6
, and is in addition to any sentence

of imprisonment or restitution imposed or ordered by the court.

As used in this subdivision, "victim assistance program" means victim witness programs

within county attorney offices or any of the following programs: crime victim crisis centers,

victim-witness programs, domestic abuse
deleted text begin
victim
deleted text end
shelters and nonshelter programs, sexual

assault programs, and children's advocacy centers as defined in section
260E.02, subdivision

5
.

Sec. 22.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.605, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Gross misdemeanor.

Whoever trespasses upon the grounds of a facility

providing emergency shelter services for
deleted text begin
battered women
deleted text end
new text begin
domestic abuse victims
new text end
, as defined

under section
611A.31, subdivision 3
, or providing comparable services for sex trafficking

victims, as defined under section
609.321, subdivision 7b
, or of a facility providing

transitional housing for
deleted text begin
battered women
deleted text end
new text begin
domestic abuse victims
new text end
and their children or sex

trafficking victims and their children, without claim of right or consent of one who has right

to give consent, and refuses to depart from the grounds of the facility on demand of one

who has right to give consent, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

Sec. 23.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.7495, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Definitions.

For the purposes of this section, the following terms have

the meanings given
deleted text begin
them
deleted text end
.

(a) "Facility" means any of the following:

(1) a hospital or other health institution licensed under sections
144.50
to
144.56
;

(2) a medical facility as defined in section
144.561
;

(3) an agency, clinic, or office operated under the direction of or under contract with the

commissioner of health or a community health board, as defined in section
145A.02
;

(4) a facility providing counseling regarding options for medical services or recovery

from an addiction;

(5) a facility providing emergency shelter services for
deleted text begin
battered women
deleted text end
new text begin
domestic abuse

victims
new text end
, as defined in section
611A.31, subdivision 3
, or a facility providing transitional

housing for
deleted text begin
battered women
deleted text end
new text begin
domestic abuse victims
new text end
and their children;

(6) a facility as defined in section
260E.03
, subdivision 6;

(7) a facility as defined in section
626.5572, subdivision 6
, where the services described

in that paragraph are provided;

(8) a place to or from which ambulance service, as defined in section
144E.001
, is

provided or sought to be provided; and

(9) a hospice provider licensed under section
144A.753
.

(b) "Aggrieved party" means a person whose access to or egress from a facility is

obstructed in violation of subdivision 2, or the facility.

Sec. 24.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 611A.31, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Commissioner.

"Commissioner" means the commissioner of the Department

of
deleted text begin
Corrections
deleted text end
new text begin
Public Safety
new text end
or a designee.

Sec. 25.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 629.72, subdivision 2a, is amended to read:

Subd. 2a.

Electronic monitoring; condition of pretrial release.

(a) Until the

commissioner of corrections has adopted standards governing electronic monitoring devices

used to protect victims of domestic abuse, the court, as a condition of release, may not order

a person arrested for a crime described in section
609.135, subdivision 5a
, paragraph (b),

to use an electronic monitoring device to protect a victim's safety.

(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), the chief judge of a judicial district may appoint and

convene an advisory group comprised of representatives from law enforcement, prosecutors,

defense attorneys, corrections, court administrators, judges, and
deleted text begin
battered women's
deleted text end
new text begin
domestic

abuse
new text end
organizations to develop standards for the use of electronic monitoring and global

positioning system devices to protect victims of domestic abuse and for evaluating the

effectiveness of electronic monitoring. After the advisory group does this, the chief judge,

in consultation with the advisory group, may conduct a pilot project for implementation of

the electronic monitoring standards. A judicial district that conducts a pilot project shall

report on the standards and the pilot project to the chairs and ranking minority members of

the senate and house of representatives committees having jurisdiction over criminal justice

policy and the state court administrator's office.

Sec. 26.
new text begin
REVISOR INSTRUCTION.
new text end

new text begin

The revisor of statutes must change the term "battered women" to "domestic abuse

victims" or a similar term wherever the term or similar terms appear in Minnesota Statutes.

The revisor must make any necessary grammatical changes or changes to sentence structure

necessary to preserve the meaning of the text as a result of the changes.

new text end