1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to crimes; providing a penalty for leaving a child unattended in a motor 
1.3 	vehicle;amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 609.378, subdivision 1.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 609.378, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.6 		Subdivision 1.Persons guilty of neglect or endangerment. (a)(1) A parent, legal 
1.7 	guardian, or caretaker who willfully deprives a child of necessary food, clothing, shelter, 
1.8 	health care, or supervision appropriate to the child's age, when the parent, guardian, or 
1.9 	caretaker is reasonably able to make the necessary provisions and the deprivation harms or 
1.10 	is likely to substantially harm the child's physical, mental, or emotional health is guilty 
1.11 	of neglect of a child and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than one year 
1.12 	or to payment of a fine of not more than $3,000, or both. If the deprivation results in 
1.13 	substantial harm to the child's physical, mental, or emotional health, the person may be 
1.14 	sentenced to imprisonment for not more than five years or to payment of a fine of not 
1.15 	more than $10,000, or both. If a parent, guardian, or caretaker responsible for the child's 
1.16 	care in good faith selects and depends upon spiritual means or prayer for treatment or 
1.17 	care of disease or remedial care of the child, this treatment or care is "health care," for 
1.18 	purposes of this clause.
1.19 	(2) A parent, legal guardian, or caretaker who knowingly permits the continuing 
1.20 	physical or sexual abuse of a child is guilty of neglect of a child and may be sentenced 
1.21 	to imprisonment for not more than one year or to payment of a fine of not more than 
1.22 	$3,000, or both.
2.1 	(3) A parent, legal guardian, or caretaker who is responsible for a child who is eight 
2.2 	years of age or younger shall not leave that child in a motor vehicle where the child is not 
2.3 	supervised by a person who is at least 14 years of age, if:
2.4 	(i) the conditions present a risk to the child's health or safety; or
2.5 	(ii) the engine of the motor vehicle is running or the keys to the motor vehicle are 
2.6 	anywhere in the passenger compartment of the vehicle.
2.7 	A person who violates this paragraph is guilty of neglect of a child and may be sentenced 
2.8 	to imprisonment for not more than 90 days or to payment of a fine of not more than 
2.9 	$1,000, or both.
2.10 	(b) A parent, legal guardian, or caretaker who endangers the child's person or 
2.11 	health by:
2.12 	(1) intentionally or recklessly causing or permitting a child to be placed in a situation 
2.13 	likely to substantially harm the child's physical, mental, or emotional health or cause 
2.14 	the child's death; or
2.15 	(2) knowingly causing or permitting the child to be present where any person is 
2.16 	selling, manufacturing, possessing immediate precursors or chemical substances with 
2.17 	intent to manufacture, or possessing a controlled substance, as defined in section 152.01, 
2.18 	subdivision 4, in violation of section 152.021, 152.022, 152.023, 152.024, or 152.0262; is 
2.19 	guilty of child endangerment and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than 
2.20 	one year or to payment of a fine of not more than $3,000, or both.
2.21 	If the endangerment results in substantial harm to the child's physical, mental, or 
2.22 	emotional health, the person may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than five 
2.23 	years or to payment of a fine of not more than $10,000, or both.
2.24 	This paragraph does not prevent a parent, legal guardian, or caretaker from causing 
2.25 	or permitting a child to engage in activities that are appropriate to the child's age, stage of 
2.26 	development, and experience, or from selecting health care as defined in subdivision 1, 
2.27 	paragraph (a).
2.28 	(c) A person who intentionally or recklessly causes a child under 14 years of age to 
2.29 	be placed in a situation likely to substantially harm the child's physical health or cause 
2.30 	the child's death as a result of the child's access to a loaded firearm is guilty of child 
2.31 	endangerment and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than one year or to 
2.32 	payment of a fine of not more than $3,000, or both.
2.33 	If the endangerment results in substantial harm to the child's physical health, the 
2.34 	person may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than five years or to payment of 
2.35 	a fine of not more than $10,000, or both.

3.1 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2009, and applies to crimes 
3.2 	committed on or after that date.