1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to public safety; establishing enhanced penalties for theft from a vulnerable
1.3 adult; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.52, subdivision 3a.
1.4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.52, subdivision 3a, is amended to read:
1.6 Subd. 3a.Enhanced penalty penalties; risk of harm; vulnerable adult. (a) If a violation
1.7 of this section creates a reasonably foreseeable risk of bodily harm to another, the penalties
1.8 described in subdivision 3 are enhanced as follows:
1.9 (1) if the penalty is a misdemeanor or a gross misdemeanor, the person is guilty of a
1.10 felony and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than three years or to payment
1.11 of a fine of not more than $5,000, or both; and
1.12 (2) if the penalty is a felony, the statutory maximum sentence for the offense is 50 percent
1.13 longer than for the underlying crime.
1.14 (b) If a person violates this section knowing or having reason to know that the victim
1.15 of the offense is a vulnerable adult as defined in section 609.232, subdivision 11, the penalties
1.16 described in subdivision 3 are enhanced as follows:
1.17 (1) if the penalty is a misdemeanor, the person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor;
1.18 (2) if the penalty is a gross misdemeanor, the person is guilty of a felony and may be
1.19 sentenced to imprisonment for not more than two years or to payment of a fine of not more
1.20 than $5,000, or both; and
2.1 (3) if the penalty is a felony, the statutory maximum sentence for the offense is 25 percent
2.2 longer than for the underlying crime.
2.3 EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2026, and applies to crimes
2.4 committed on or after that date.
