1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to public transit; authorizing Metropolitan Council to issue administrative
1.3 citations; requiring Metropolitan Council to implement transit safety measures,
1.4 including a transit rider code of conduct; establishing a transit service intervention
1.5 project; imposing civil penalties; establishing criminal penalties; establishing a
1.6 surcharge; making technical and clarifying changes; requiring reports; appropriating
1.7 money;amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections 151.37, subdivision 12;
1.8 357.021, subdivisions 6, 7; 609.855, subdivisions 1, 3, 7, by adding a subdivision;
1.9 proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 473.
1.10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.11 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 151.37, subdivision 12, is amended to read:
1.12 Subd. 12.Administration of opiate antagonists for drug overdose. (a) A licensed
1.13 physician, a licensed advanced practice registered nurse authorized to prescribe drugs
1.14 pursuant to section 148.235, or a licensed physician assistant may authorize the following
1.15 individuals to administer opiate antagonists, as defined in section 604A.04, subdivision 1:
1.16 (1) an emergency medical responder registered pursuant to section 144E.27;
1.17 (2) a peace officer as defined in section 626.84, subdivision 1, paragraphs (c) and (d);
1.18 (3) correctional employees of a state or local political subdivision;
1.19 (4) staff of community-based health disease prevention or social service programs;
1.20 (5) a volunteer firefighter; and
1.21 (6) a licensed school nurse or certified public health nurse employed by, or under contract
1.22 with, a school board under section 121A.21; and
1.23 (7) TRIP personnel authorized under section 473.4075.
2.1 (b) For the purposes of this subdivision, opiate antagonists may be administered by one
2.2 of these individuals only if:
2.3 (1) the licensed physician, licensed physician assistant, or licensed advanced practice
2.4 registered nurse has issued a standing order to, or entered into a protocol with, the individual;
2.5 and
2.6 (2) the individual has training in the recognition of signs of opiate overdose and the use
2.7 of opiate antagonists as part of the emergency response to opiate overdose.
2.8 (c) Nothing in this section prohibits the possession and administration of naloxone
2.9 pursuant to section 604A.04.
2.10 EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2023.
2.11 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 357.021, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
2.12 Subd. 6.Surcharges on criminal and traffic offenders. (a) Except as provided in this
2.13 subdivision, the court shall impose and the court administrator shall collect a $75 surcharge
2.14 on every person convicted of any felony, gross misdemeanor, misdemeanor, or petty
2.15 misdemeanor offense, other than a violation of: (1) a law or ordinance relating to vehicle
2.16 parking, for which there shall be is a $12 surcharge; and (2) section 609.855, subdivision
2.17 1, 3, or 3a, for which there is a $25 surcharge. When a defendant is convicted of more than
2.18 one offense in a case, the surcharge shall be imposed only once in that case. In the Second
2.19 Judicial District, the court shall impose, and the court administrator shall collect, an additional
2.20 $1 surcharge on every person convicted of any felony, gross misdemeanor, misdemeanor,
2.21 or petty misdemeanor offense, including a violation of a law or ordinance relating to vehicle
2.22 parking, if the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners authorizes the $1 surcharge. The
2.23 surcharge shall be imposed whether or not the person is sentenced to imprisonment or the
2.24 sentence is stayed. The surcharge shall not be imposed when a person is convicted of a petty
2.25 misdemeanor for which no fine is imposed.
2.26 (b) The court may reduce the amount or waive payment of the surcharge required under
2.27 this subdivision on a showing of indigency or undue hardship upon the convicted person
2.28 or the convicted person's immediate family. Additionally, the court may permit the defendant
2.29 to perform community work service in lieu of a surcharge.
2.30 (c) The court administrator or other entity collecting a surcharge shall forward it to the
2.31 commissioner of management and budget.
2.32 (d) If the convicted person is sentenced to imprisonment and has not paid the surcharge
2.33 before the term of imprisonment begins, the chief executive officer of the correctional
3.1 facility in which the convicted person is incarcerated shall collect the surcharge from any
3.2 earnings the inmate accrues from work performed in the facility or while on conditional
3.3 release. The chief executive officer shall forward the amount collected to the court
3.4 administrator or other entity collecting the surcharge imposed by the court.
3.5 (e) A person who enters a diversion program, continuance without prosecution,
3.6 continuance for dismissal, or stay of adjudication for a violation of chapter 169 must pay
3.7 the surcharge described in this subdivision. A surcharge imposed under this paragraph shall
3.8 be imposed only once per case.
3.9 (f) The surcharge does not apply to administrative citations issued pursuant to section
3.10 169.999.
3.11 EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2023, and applies to violations
3.12 committed on or after that date.
3.13 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 357.021, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
3.14 Subd. 7.Disbursement of surcharges by commissioner of management and
3.15 budget. (a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) to (d), the commissioner of management
3.16 and budget shall disburse surcharges received under subdivision 6 as follows:
3.17 (1) one percent shall be credited to the peace officer training account in the game and
3.18 fish fund to provide peace officer training for employees of the Department of Natural
3.19 Resources who are licensed under sections 626.84 to 626.863, and who possess peace officer
3.20 authority for the purpose of enforcing game and fish laws; and
3.21 (2) 99 percent shall be credited to the general fund.
3.22 (b) The commissioner of management and budget shall credit $3 of each surcharge
3.23 received under subdivision 6 to the general fund.
3.24 (c) In addition to any amounts credited under paragraph (a), the commissioner of
3.25 management and budget shall credit the following to the general fund: $47 of each surcharge
3.26 received under subdivision 6 and; the $12 parking surcharge, to the general fund; and the
3.27 $25 surcharge for a violation of section 609.855, subdivision 1, 3, or 3a.
3.28 (d) If the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners authorizes imposition of the additional
3.29 $1 surcharge provided for in subdivision 6, paragraph (a), the court administrator in the
3.30 Second Judicial District shall transmit the surcharge to the commissioner of management
3.31 and budget. The $1 special surcharge is deposited in a Ramsey County surcharge account
3.32 in the special revenue fund and amounts in the account are appropriated to the trial courts
4.1 for the administration of the petty misdemeanor diversion program operated by the Second
4.2 Judicial District Ramsey County Violations Bureau.
4.3 EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2023, and applies to violations
4.4 committed on or after that date.
4.5 Sec. 4. [473.4065] TRANSIT RIDER ACTIVITY.
4.6 Subdivision 1.Code of conduct; establishment. (a) The council must adopt a rider
4.7 code of conduct for transit passengers. The council must post a copy of the code of conduct
4.8 in a prominent location at each light rail transit station, bus rapid transit station, and transit
4.9 center.
4.10 (b) The code of conduct must not prohibit sleeping in a manner that does not otherwise
4.11 violate conduct requirements.
4.12 Subd. 2.Code of conduct; violations. An authorized transit representative, as defined
4.13 in section 609.855, subdivision 7, paragraph (g), may order a person to depart a transit
4.14 vehicle or transit facility for a violation of the rider code of conduct established under
4.15 subdivision 1 if the person continues to act in violation of the code of conduct after being
4.16 warned once to stop.
4.17 Subd. 3.Paid fare zones. The council must establish and clearly designate paid fare
4.18 zones at each light rail transit station where the council utilizes self-service barrier-free fare
4.19 collection.
4.20 Subd. 4.Light rail transit facility monitoring. (a) The council must maintain public
4.21 safety monitoring and response activities at light rail transit facilities that include:
4.22 (1) placement of security cameras and sufficient associated lighting that provide live
4.23 coverage for (i) the entire area at each light rail transit station, and (ii) each light rail transit
4.24 vehicle;
4.25 (2) installation of a public address system at each light rail transit station that is capable
4.26 of providing information and warnings to passengers; and
4.27 (3) real-time active monitoring of passenger activity and potential violations throughout
4.28 the light rail transit system.
4.29 (b) The monitoring activities must include timely maintenance or replacement of
4.30 malfunctioning cameras or public address systems.
5.1 EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION. This section is effective the day following
5.2 final enactment and applies in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey,
5.3 Scott, and Washington.
5.4 Sec. 5. [473.4075] TRANSIT RIDER INVESTMENT PROGRAM.
5.5 Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms and the
5.6 terms defined in section 609.855, subdivision 7, have the meanings given.
5.7 (b) "Transit official" means an individual who is authorized as TRIP personnel, a
5.8 community service officer, or a peace officer as defined in section 626.84, subdivision 1,
5.9 paragraph (c).
5.10 (c) "TRIP personnel" means persons specifically authorized by the council for the TRIP
5.11 program under this section, including but not limited to fare inspection and enforcement,
5.12 who are not peace officers or community service officers.
5.13 (d) "TRIP program" or "program" means the transit rider investment program established
5.14 in this section.
5.15 Subd. 2.Program established. (a) Subject to available funds, the council must implement
5.16 a transit rider investment program that provides for TRIP personnel deployment, fare payment
5.17 inspection, administrative citation issuance, rider education and assistance, and improvements
5.18 to the transit experience.
5.19 (b) As part of program implementation, the council must:
5.20 (1) adopt a resolution that establishes the program and establishes fine amounts in
5.21 accordance with subdivision 8;
5.22 (2) establish policies and procedures that govern authorizing and training TRIP personnel,
5.23 TRIP personnel uniforms, issuing an administrative citation, and contesting an administrative
5.24 citation;
5.25 (3) consult with stakeholders on the design of the program;
5.26 (4) develop a TRIP personnel recruitment plan that includes informing and supporting
5.27 potential applicants who are: (i) representative of transit users; and (ii) from cultural, ethnic,
5.28 and racial communities that are historically underrepresented in state or local public service;
5.29 (5) develop a TRIP personnel strategic deployment plan that: (i) requires teams of at
5.30 least two individuals; and (ii) targets deployment to times and locations with identified
5.31 concentrations of activity that are subject to an administrative citation, other citations, or
5.32 arrest or that negatively impact the rider experience; and
6.1 (6) provide for training on the program and issuance of administrative citations to peace
6.2 officers who provide law enforcement assistance under an agreement with the council.
6.3 Subd. 3.TRIP manager. The council must appoint a TRIP manager to manage the
6.4 program. The TRIP manager must have managerial experience in social services, transit
6.5 service, or law enforcement. The TRIP manager is a TRIP personnel staff member.
6.6 Subd. 4.TRIP personnel; duties; requirements. (a) The duties of the TRIP personnel
6.7 include:
6.8 (1) monitoring and responding to passenger activity, including:
6.9 (i) educating passengers and specifying expectations related to the council's rider code
6.10 of conduct; and
6.11 (ii) assisting passengers in obtaining social services, such as through information and
6.12 referrals;
6.13 (2) acting as a liaison to social service agencies;
6.14 (3) providing information to passengers on using the transit system;
6.15 (4) providing direct navigation assistance and accompaniment to passengers who have
6.16 a disability, are elderly, or request enhanced personal aid;
6.17 (5) performing fare payment inspections;
6.18 (6) issuing administrative citations as provided in subdivision 6; and
6.19 (7) obtaining assistance from peace officers or community service officers as necessary.
6.20 (b) An individual who is authorized as TRIP personnel must be an employee of the
6.21 council and must wear the uniform as established by the council at all times when on duty.
6.22 Subd. 5.TRIP personnel; training. Training for TRIP personnel must include the
6.23 following topics:
6.24 (1) early warning techniques, crisis intervention, conflict de-escalation, and conflict
6.25 resolution;
6.26 (2) identification of persons likely in need of social services;
6.27 (3) locally available social service providers, including services for homelessness, mental
6.28 health, and addiction;
6.29 (4) policies and procedures for administrative citations; and
7.1 (5) administration of opiate antagonists in a manner that meets the requirements under
7.2 section 151.37, subdivision 12.
7.3 Subd. 6.Administrative citations; authority; issuance. (a) A transit official has the
7.4 exclusive authority to issue an administrative citation to a person who commits a violation
7.5 under section 609.855, subdivision 1 or 3.
7.6 (b) An administrative citation must include notification that the person has the right to
7.7 contest the citation, basic procedures for contesting the citation, and information on the
7.8 timeline and consequences for failure to contest the citation or pay the fine.
7.9 (c) The council must not mandate or suggest a quota for the issuance of administrative
7.10 citations under this section.
7.11 (d) Issuance and resolution of an administrative citation is a bar to prosecution under
7.12 section 609.855, subdivision 1 or 3, or for any other violation arising from the same conduct.
7.13 Subd. 7.Administrative citations; disposition. (a) A person who commits a violation
7.14 under section 609.855, subdivision 1 or 3, and is issued an administrative citation under
7.15 this section must, within 90 days of issuance, pay the fine as specified or contest the citation.
7.16 A person who fails to either pay the fine or contest the citation within the specified period
7.17 is considered to have waived the contested citation process and is subject to collections.
7.18 (b) The council must provide a civil process for a person to contest the administrative
7.19 citation before a neutral third party. The council may employ a council employee not
7.20 associated with its transit operations to hear and rule on challenges to administrative citations
7.21 or may contract with another unit of government or a private entity to provide the service.
7.22 (c) The council may contract with credit bureaus, public and private collection agencies,
7.23 the Department of Revenue, and other public or private entities providing collection services
7.24 as necessary for the collection of fine debts under this section. As determined by the council,
7.25 collection costs are added to the debts referred to a public or private collection entity for
7.26 collection. Collection costs include the fees of the collection entity and may include, if
7.27 separately provided, skip tracing fees, credit bureau reporting charges, and fees assessed
7.28 by any public entity for obtaining information necessary for debt collection. If the collection
7.29 entity collects an amount less than the total due, the payment is applied proportionally to
7.30 collection costs and the underlying debt.
7.31 Subd. 8.Administrative citations; penalties. (a) The amount of a fine under this section
7.32 must be set at no less than $35 and no more than $100.
8.1 (b) Subject to paragraph (a), the council may adopt a graduated structure that increases
8.2 the fine amount for second and subsequent violations.
8.3 (c) The council may adopt an alternative resolution procedure under which a person
8.4 may resolve an administrative citation in lieu of paying a fine by complying with terms
8.5 established by the council for community service, prepayment of future transit fares, or
8.6 both. The alternative resolution procedure must be available only to a person who has
8.7 committed a violation under section 609.855, subdivision 1 or 3, for the first time, unless
8.8 the person demonstrates financial hardship under criteria established by the council.
8.9 EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION. This section is effective July 1, 2023, except
8.10 that subdivisions 1 and 3 are effective the day following final enactment. This section applies
8.11 in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington.
8.12 Sec. 6. [473.4077] LEGISLATIVE REPORT; TRANSIT SAFETY AND RIDER
8.13 EXPERIENCE.
8.14 Subdivision 1.Definitions. For purposes of this section, the terms defined in section
8.15 473.4075 have the meanings given.
8.16 Subd. 2.Legislative report. (a) Annually by February 15, the council must submit a
8.17 report on transit safety and rider experience to the chairs and ranking minority members of
8.18 the legislative committees with jurisdiction over transportation policy and finance.
8.19 (b) At a minimum, the report must:
8.20 (1) provide an overview of transit safety issues and actions taken by the council to
8.21 improve safety, including improvements made to equipment and infrastructure;
8.22 (2) provide an overview of the rider code of conduct and measures required under section
8.23 473.4065;
8.24 (3) provide an overview of the transit rider investment program under section 473.4075
8.25 and the program's structure and implementation;
8.26 (4) provide an overview of the activities of TRIP personnel, including specifically
8.27 describing the activities of uniformed transit safety officials;
8.28 (5) provide a description of all policies adopted pursuant to section 473.4075, the need
8.29 for each policy, and a copy of each policy;
8.30 (6) if the council adopted an alternative resolution procedure pursuant to section 473.4075,
8.31 subdivision 8, provide:
9.1 (i) a description of that procedure;
9.2 (ii) the criteria used to determine financial hardship; and
9.3 (iii) for each of the previous three calendar years, how frequently the procedure was
9.4 used, the number of community service hours performed, and the total amount paid as
9.5 prepayment of transit fares;
9.6 (7) for each of the previous three calendar years:
9.7 (i) identify the number of fare compliance inspections that were completed, including
9.8 the total number and the number as a percentage of total rides;
9.9 (ii) state the number of warnings and citations issued by the Metro Transit Police
9.10 Department and transit agents, including a breakdown of which type of officer or official
9.11 issued the citation, the statutory authority for issuing the warning or citation, the reason
9.12 given for each warning or citation issued, and the total number of times each reason was
9.13 given;
9.14 (iii) state the number of administrative citations that were appealed pursuant to section
9.15 473.4075, the number of those citations that were dismissed on appeal, and a breakdown
9.16 of the reasons for dismissal;
9.17 (iv) include data and statistics on crime rates occurring on public transit vehicles and
9.18 surrounding transit stops and stations;
9.19 (v) state the number of peace officers employed by the Metro Transit Police Department;
9.20 (vi) state the average number of peace officers employed by the Metro Transit Police
9.21 Department; and
9.22 (vii) state the number of uniformed transit safety officials and community service officers
9.23 who served as transit agents;
9.24 (8) analyze impacts of the transit rider investment program on fare compliance and
9.25 customer experience for riders, including rates of fare violations; and
9.26 (9) make recommendations on the following:
9.27 (i) changes to the administrative citation program; and
9.28 (ii) methods to improve safety on public transit and transit stops and stations.
9.29 EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION. This section is effective July 1, 2023, and
9.30 applies in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington.
10.1 Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 609.855, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
10.2 Subdivision 1.Unlawfully obtaining services; petty misdemeanor. (a) A person is
10.3 guilty of a petty misdemeanor who intentionally obtains or attempts to obtain service for
10.4 himself, herself, or another person from a provider of public transit or from a public
10.5 conveyance by doing any of the following:
10.6 (1) occupies or rides in any public transit vehicle without paying the applicable fare or
10.7 otherwise obtaining the consent of the transit provider including:
10.8 (i) the use of a reduced fare when a person is not eligible for the fare; or
10.9 (ii) the use of a fare medium issued solely for the use of a particular individual by another
10.10 individual;
10.11 (2) presents a falsified, counterfeit, photocopied, or other deceptively manipulated fare
10.12 medium as fare payment or proof of fare payment;
10.13 (3) sells, provides, copies, reproduces, or creates any version of any fare medium without
10.14 the consent of the transit provider; or
10.15 (4) puts or attempts to put any of the following into any fare box, pass reader, ticket
10.16 vending machine, or other fare collection equipment of a transit provider:
10.17 (i) papers, articles, instruments, or items other than fare media or currency; or
10.18 (ii) a fare medium that is not valid for the place or time at, or the manner in, which it is
10.19 used.
10.20 (b) Where self-service barrier-free fare collection is utilized by a public transit provider,
10.21 it is a violation of this subdivision to intentionally fail to exhibit proof of fare payment upon
10.22 the request of an authorized transit representative when entering, riding upon, or leaving a
10.23 transit vehicle or when present in a designated paid fare zone located in a transit facility.
10.24 (c) A person who violates this subdivision must pay a fine of no more than $10.
10.25 EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2023, and applies to violations
10.26 committed on or after that date.
10.27 Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 609.855, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
10.28 Subd. 3.Prohibited activities; petty misdemeanor. (a) A person is guilty of a
10.29 misdemeanor who, while riding in a vehicle providing public transit service:
10.30 (1) operates a radio, television, tape player, electronic musical instrument, or other
10.31 electronic device, other than a watch, which amplifies music, unless the sound emanates
11.1 only from earphones or headphones and except that vehicle operators may operate electronic
11.2 equipment for official business;
11.3 (2) smokes or carries lighted smoking paraphernalia;
11.4 (3) consumes food or beverages, except when authorized by the operator or other official
11.5 of the transit system;
11.6 (4) (a) A person who throws or deposits litter; or while riding in a vehicle providing
11.7 public transit service is guilty of a petty misdemeanor.
11.8 (5) carries or is in control of an animal without the operator's consent.
11.9 (b) A person is guilty of a violation of this subdivision only if the person continues to
11.10 act in violation of this subdivision after being warned once by an authorized transit
11.11 representative to stop the conduct.
11.12 EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2023, and applies to violations
11.13 committed on or after that date.
11.14 Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 609.855, is amended by adding a subdivision to
11.15 read:
11.16 Subd. 3a.Prohibited activities; misdemeanor. (a) A person who performs any of the
11.17 following while in a transit vehicle or at a transit facility is guilty of a misdemeanor:
11.18 (1) smokes, as defined in section 144.413, subdivision 4;
11.19 (2) urinates or defecates;
11.20 (3) consumes an alcoholic beverage, as defined in section 340A.101, subdivision 2;
11.21 (4) damages a transit vehicle or transit facility in a manner that meets the requirements
11.22 for criminal damage to property in the fourth degree under section 609.595, subdivision 3,
11.23 and is not otherwise a violation under subdivision 1, 1a, or 2 of that section;
11.24 (5) performs vandalism, defacement, or placement of graffiti, as defined in section
11.25 617.90, subdivision 1; or
11.26 (6) engages in disorderly conduct as specified in section 609.72, subdivision 1, clause
11.27 (3).
11.28 (b) A peace officer, as defined in section 626.84, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), may order
11.29 a person to depart a transit vehicle or transit facility for a violation under paragraph (a).
12.1 EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2023, and applies to violations
12.2 committed on or after that date.
12.3 Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 609.855, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
12.4 Subd. 7.Definitions. (a) The definitions in this subdivision apply in this section.
12.5 (b) "Public transit" or "transit" has the meaning given in section 174.22, subdivision 7.
12.6 (c) "Public transit vehicle" or "transit vehicle" means any vehicle used for the purpose
12.7 of providing public transit, whether or not the vehicle is owned or operated by a public
12.8 entity.
12.9 (d) "Public transit facilities" or "transit facilities" means any vehicles, equipment,
12.10 property, structures, stations, improvements, plants, parking or other facilities, or rights that
12.11 are owned, leased, held, or used for the purpose of providing public transit, whether or not
12.12 the facility is owned or operated by a public entity.
12.13 (e) "Fare medium" means a ticket, smart card, pass, coupon, token, transfer, or other
12.14 medium sold or distributed by a public transit provider, or its authorized agents, for use in
12.15 gaining entry to or use of the public transit facilities or vehicles of the provider.
12.16 (f) "Proof of fare payment" means a fare medium valid for the place or time at, or the
12.17 manner in, which it is used. If using a reduced-fare medium, proof of fare payment also
12.18 includes proper identification demonstrating a person's eligibility for the reduced fare. If
12.19 using a fare medium issued solely for the use of a particular individual, proof of fare payment
12.20 also includes an identification document bearing a photographic likeness of the individual
12.21 and demonstrating that the individual is the person to whom the fare medium is issued.
12.22 (g) "Authorized transit representative" means the person authorized by the transit provider
12.23 to operate the transit vehicle, a peace officer, a transit official under section 473.4075,
12.24 subdivision 1, or any other person designated by the transit provider as an authorized transit
12.25 provider representative under this section.
12.26 EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.
12.27 Sec. 11. TRANSIT SERVICE INTERVENTION PROJECT.
12.28 Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
12.29 the meanings given.
12.30 (b) "Council" means the Metropolitan Council established under Minnesota Statutes,
12.31 chapter 473.
13.1 (c) "Intervention project" means the Transit Service Intervention Project established in
13.2 this section.
13.3 Subd. 2.Establishment. A Transit Service Intervention Project is established to provide
13.4 coordinated, high-visibility interventions on light rail transit lines that provide for enhanced
13.5 social services outreach and engagement, code of conduct regulation, and law enforcement.
13.6 Subd. 3.Project management. The council must implement the intervention project.
13.7 Subd. 4.Participating organizations. The council must seek the participation of the
13.8 following entities to provide for coordination on the intervention project:
13.9 (1) the Department of Human Services;
13.10 (2) the Department of Public Safety;
13.11 (3) the Metropolitan Council;
13.12 (4) each county within which a light rail transit line operates;
13.13 (5) each city within which a light rail transit line operates;
13.14 (6) the Metropolitan Airports Commission;
13.15 (7) the National Alliance on Mental Illness Minnesota;
13.16 (8) the exclusive representative of transit vehicle operators; and
13.17 (9) other interested community-based social service organizations.
13.18 Subd. 5.Duties. (a) In collaboration with the participating organizations under subdivision
13.19 4, the council must:
13.20 (1) establish social services intervention teams that consist of county-based social services
13.21 personnel and personnel from nonprofit organizations having mental health services or
13.22 support capacity to perform on-site social services engagement with (i) transit riders
13.23 experiencing homelessness, (ii) transit riders with substance use disorders or mental or
13.24 behavioral health disorders, or (iii) a combination;
13.25 (2) establish coordinated intervention teams that consist of personnel under clause (1),
13.26 community service officers, and peace officers;
13.27 (3) implement interventions in two phases as follows:
13.28 (i) by June 1, 2023, and for a period of three weeks, deploy the social services intervention
13.29 teams on a mobile basis on light rail transit lines and facilities; and
14.1 (ii) beginning at the conclusion of the period under item (i), and for a period of at least
14.2 nine weeks, deploy the coordinated intervention teams on a mobile basis on light rail transit
14.3 lines and facilities, utilizing both social services and law enforcement partners; and
14.4 (4) evaluate impacts of the intervention teams related to social services outreach, code
14.5 of conduct violations, and rider experience.
14.6 (b) Social services engagement under paragraph (a) includes but is not limited to outreach,
14.7 preliminary assessment and screening, information and resource sharing, referral or
14.8 connections to service providers, assistance in arranging for services, and precrisis response.
14.9 Subd. 6.Administration. Using existing resources, the council must provide staff
14.10 assistance and administrative support for the project.
14.11 Subd. 7.Reports. By the 15th of each month, the council must submit a status report
14.12 to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction
14.13 over transportation policy and finance. At a minimum, each report must include:
14.14 (1) a summary of activities under the intervention project;
14.15 (2) a fiscal review of expenditures; and
14.16 (3) analysis of impacts and outcomes related to social services outreach, violations under
14.17 Minnesota Statutes, sections 473.4065 and 609.855, and rider experience.
14.18 Subd. 8.Expiration. This section expires June 30, 2024.
14.19 EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION. This section is effective the day following
14.20 final enactment and applies in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey,
14.21 Scott, and Washington.
14.22 Sec. 12. APPROPRIATION; TRANSIT RIDER INVESTMENT PROGRAM.
14.23 (a) $....... in fiscal year 2023, $....... in fiscal year 2024, and $...... in fiscal year 2025 are
14.24 appropriated from the general fund to the Metropolitan Council for the transit rider investment
14.25 program under Minnesota Statutes, section 473.4075, and for the legislative report under
14.26 Minnesota Statutes, section 473.4077. $....... is added to the base for this activity.
14.27 (b) From the appropriation in paragraph (a), the Metropolitan Council must: (1) first
14.28 implement the transit rider investment program within six months of the date of enactment
14.29 of this section; and (2) deploy the TRIP personnel to the light rail transit system, including
14.30 stations and trains.
14.31 EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.
15.1 Sec. 13. APPROPRIATION; TRANSIT SERVICE INTERVENTION PROJECT.
15.2 $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the general fund to the Metropolitan
15.3 Council for grants to participating organizations in the Transit Service Intervention Project
15.4 under section 11, subdivision 4. The council must allocate the grants to provide
15.5 reimbursements for project implementation, including but not limited to intervention teams,
15.6 labor, and other expenses. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30,
15.7 2024.
15.8 EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.
