The bill seeks to improve public transit safety and enhance the rider experience by empowering the Metropolitan Council to implement several key initiatives. It mandates the establishment of a transit rider code of conduct, which must be displayed at transit stations, and requires ongoing public safety monitoring at light rail facilities, including the installation of security cameras and public address systems. Additionally, the bill introduces a Transit Rider Investment Program (TRIP) that focuses on fare inspections, administrative citations for code violations, and assistance for passengers in need of social services. Administrative citations for violations will carry fines between $35 and $100, with a graduated penalty structure for repeat offenses, and the issuance of a citation will prevent prosecution for the same conduct under existing laws.

Moreover, the bill includes provisions for the collection of fines and a civil process for contesting citations, effective July 1, 2023. It also requires the Metropolitan Council to submit an annual report detailing transit safety issues, actions taken, and data on fare compliance inspections and crime rates on public transit. The bill reclassifies certain unlawful activities on public transit as petty misdemeanors and establishes new misdemeanor offenses for behaviors such as smoking and damaging property. It allocates funds for the TRIP and a new Transit Service Intervention Project, which aims to coordinate social services outreach and law enforcement efforts on light rail transit lines.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 473.407, 609.855
1st Engrossment: 151.37, 357.021, 609.855
2nd Engrossment: 151.37, 357.021, 609.855
1st Engrossment: 151.37, 357.021, 609.855
2nd Engrossment: 151.37, 357.021, 609.855