as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 02/18/2022 09:53am
A bill for an act
relating to crime; prohibiting the dissemination of personal information about a
child; amending Minnesota Statutes 2021 Supplement, section 609.5151.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Minnesota Statutes 2021 Supplement, section 609.5151, is amended to read:
As used in this section:
new text begin
(1) "child" means an individual under the age of 18 years;
new text end
deleted text begin (1)deleted text end new text begin (2)new text end "family or household member" has the meaning given in section 518B.01,
subdivision 2;
deleted text begin (2)deleted text end new text begin (3)new text end "law enforcement official" means both peace officers as defined in section 626.84,
subdivision 1, and persons employed by a law enforcement agency; and
deleted text begin (3)deleted text end new text begin (4)new text end "personal information" means a home address, directions to a home, or
photographs of a home.
(a) It is a misdemeanor for a person to knowingly and without
consent make publicly available, including but not limited to through the Internet, personal
information about a new text begin child, new text end law enforcement officialnew text begin ,new text end or new text begin a child's or new text end an official's family or
household member, if:
(1) the dissemination poses an imminent and serious threat to the new text begin child's safety, new text end official's
safetynew text begin ,new text end or the safety of new text begin a child's or new text end an official's family or household member; and
(2) the person making the information publicly available knows or reasonably should
know of the imminent and serious threat.
(b) A person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor if the person violates paragraph (a) and
a new text begin child, new text end law enforcement officialnew text begin ,new text end or new text begin a child's or new text end an official's family or household member
suffers great bodily harm or death as a result of the violation.
(c) A person who is convicted of a second or subsequent violation of this section is guilty
of a gross misdemeanor.
new text begin
This section is effective August 1, 2022, and applies to crimes
committed on or after that date.
new text end