The bill seeks to strengthen the Safe at Home program, which provides confidential addresses for individuals at risk of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Key amendments include the introduction of definitions for "emancipated minor" and "guardian acting on behalf of an eligible minor," as well as clarifications regarding the application process for participants. It establishes criminal penalties for violations of the program, including misdemeanors for certain prohibited acts and felonies for causing bodily harm. Additionally, the bill includes a nondiscrimination clause to protect program participants from being denied services based on their status and mandates the appointment of a Safe at Home coordinator within state agencies to ensure compliance.

Moreover, the bill amends various sections of Minnesota Statutes to enhance documentation and training requirements related to residency verification and the Safe at Home program. It introduces an unexpired Safe at Home card as an acceptable proof of residency for applicants and modifies training requirements for district court judges and peace officers to include information about the program. Peace officers are specifically required to receive at least one hour of training on the Safe at Home program as part of their ongoing education, aiming to improve their response to victims of domestic abuse and enhance the effectiveness of the judicial and law enforcement systems in Minnesota.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 5B.02, 5B.03, 5B.05, 5B.11, 5B.13, 171.01, 171.0605, 480.30, 626.8469