Bill Text: MN SF1586 | 2011-2012 | 87th Legislature | Chaptered
Bill Title: Vulnerable adult neglect crime felony deprivation penalty creation; unreasonable restraint of a child provision modification
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 9-5)
Status: (Passed) 2012-04-20 - Secretary of State Chapter 175 04/18/12 [SF1586 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2011-SF1586-Chaptered.html
CHAPTER 175--S.F.No. 1586
An act
relating to public safety; adding a felony-level penalty and affirmative defenses to the vulnerable adult neglect crime;amending Minnesota Statutes
2010, sections 609.233; 609.255, subdivision 3.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 609.233, is amended to read:
609.233 CRIMINAL NEGLECT.
Subdivision 1. Gross misdemeanor crime. A caregiver or operator who
intentionally neglects a vulnerable adult or knowingly permits conditions to exist that
result in the abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult is guilty of a gross misdemeanor. For
purposes of this section, "abuse" has the meaning given in section
2
clothing, shelter, health care, or supervision.
Subd. 1a. Felony deprivation. A caregiver or operator who intentionally deprives a
vulnerable adult of necessary food, clothing, shelter, health care, or supervision, when the
caregiver or operator is reasonably able to make the necessary provisions, is guilty of a
felony and may be sentenced as provided in subdivision 2a, if:
(1) the caregiver or operator knows or has reason to know the deprivation could
likely result in substantial bodily harm or great bodily harm to the vulnerable adult; or
(2) the deprivation occurred over an extended period of time.
Subd. 2. Exemptions. A vulnerable adult is not neglected or deprived under
subdivision 1 or 1a for the sole reason that:
(1) the vulnerable adult or a person with authority to make health care decisions
for the vulnerable adult under sections
consistent with that authority and within the boundary of reasonable medical practice, to
any therapeutic conduct, including any care, service, or procedure to diagnose, maintain,
or treat the physical or mental condition of the vulnerable adult or, where permitted under
law, to provide nutrition and hydration parenterally or through intubation; this paragraph
does not enlarge or diminish rights otherwise held under law by:
(i) a vulnerable adult or a person acting on behalf of a vulnerable adult, including an
involved family member, to consent to or refuse consent for therapeutic conduct; or
(ii) a caregiver to offer or provide or refuse to offer or provide therapeutic conduct;
(2) the vulnerable adult, a person with authority to make health care decisions for the
vulnerable adult, or a caregiver in good faith selects and depends upon spiritual means
or prayer for treatment or care of disease or remedial care of the vulnerable adult in lieu
of medical care, provided that this is consistent with the prior practice or belief of the
vulnerable adult or with the expressed intentions of the vulnerable adult; or
(3) the vulnerable adult, who is not impaired in judgment or capacity by mental or
emotional dysfunction or undue influence, engages in consensual sexual contact with: (i) a
person including a facility staff person when a consensual sexual personal relationship
existed prior to the caregiving relationship; or (ii) a personal care attendant, regardless
of whether the consensual sexual personal relationship existed prior to the caregiving
relationship.
Subd. 2a. Penalties. A person who violates subdivision 1a may be sentenced as
follows:
(1) if the conduct results in great bodily harm to the vulnerable adult, imprisonment
for not more than ten years or payment of a fine of not more than $10,000, or both; or
(2) if the conduct results in substantial bodily harm to the vulnerable adult,
imprisonment for not more than five years or payment of a fine of not more than $5,000,
or both.
Subd. 2b. Affirmative defenses. It shall be an affirmative defense to a prosecution
under subdivision 1 or 1a, if proven by a preponderance of evidence, that:
(1) the defendant is an individual employed by a facility or operator and does
not have managerial or supervisory authority, and was unable to reasonably make the
necessary provisions because of inadequate staffing levels, inadequate supervision, or
institutional policies;
(2) the defendant is a facility, an operator, or an employee of a facility or operator in
a position of managerial or supervisory authority, and did not knowingly, intentionally,
or recklessly permit criminal acts by its employees or agents that resulted in the harm to
the vulnerable adult; or
(3) the defendant is a caregiver and failed to perform acts necessary to prevent the
applicable level of harm, if any, to the vulnerable adult because the caregiver was acting
reasonably and necessarily to provide care to another identified vulnerable adult.
For these affirmative defenses, a defendant bears only the burden of production. A
defendant's failure to meet the burden of production does not relieve the state of its burden
of persuasion as to all elements of the offense.
EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective August 1, 2012, and applies to crimes
committed on or after that date.
Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 609.255, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3. Unreasonable restraint of children. (a) A parent, legal guardian, or
caretaker who intentionally subjects a child under the age of 18 years to unreasonable
physical confinement or restraint by means including but not limited to, tying, locking,
caging, or chaining for a prolonged period of time and in a cruel manner which is
excessive under the circumstances, is guilty of unreasonable restraint of a child and,
except as provided in paragraph (b) or (c), may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more
than one year or to payment of a fine of not more than $3,000, or both.
(b) If the confinement or restraint results in demonstrable bodily harm, the person
may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than two years or to payment of a fine of
not more than $4,000, or both.
(c) If the confinement or restraint results in substantial bodily harm,
may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than five years or to payment of a fine of
not more than $10,000, or both.
EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective August 1, 2012, and applies to crimes
committed on or after that date.
