This bill aims to enhance public safety by expanding the prosecutorial powers of city attorneys in Minnesota. It authorizes city attorneys to file delinquency petitions for juvenile offenses when a county attorney declines to do so, as well as to prosecute felony and certain gross misdemeanor offenses under similar circumstances. Additionally, city attorneys are granted the authority to issue administrative subpoenas in specific cases. The bill includes amendments to various sections of Minnesota Statutes, particularly those related to juvenile offenses and the roles of prosecuting authorities, ensuring that city attorneys can step in when county attorneys opt not to pursue certain cases.

Key changes in the bill include the replacement of "county attorney" with "prosecuting authority" in multiple sections, thereby broadening the scope of who can prosecute cases. It also allows city attorneys to take on cases involving gross misdemeanors and felonies when county attorneys decline to prosecute. The effective date for most provisions is set for August 1, 2025, with some sections applying to offenses committed on or after that date. This legislative change is intended to streamline the prosecution process and improve the handling of juvenile and other criminal cases at the local level.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 260B.007, 260B.141, 260B.163, 260B.171, 260B.335, 260B.425, 388.051, 388.23, 390.251, 484.87