This bill aims to enhance public safety by granting city attorneys in Hennepin and Ramsey Counties the authority to prosecute felony offenses and certain gross misdemeanor offenses when the county attorney declines to take action. It allows city attorneys to issue administrative subpoenas in specific cases, thereby expanding their prosecutorial powers. The bill amends several sections of the Minnesota Statutes, specifically sections 388.051, 390.251, and 484.87, to incorporate these changes. Notably, it introduces provisions that enable city attorneys to prosecute violations of certain statutes if the violation occurred within their jurisdiction, the county attorney has declined to prosecute, and the violation was discovered during a motor vehicle stop for an equipment violation.

Additionally, the bill makes conforming changes to existing laws to reflect these new prosecutorial powers. It specifies that city attorneys in Hennepin and Ramsey Counties can prosecute gross misdemeanors and felonies under certain conditions, while also detailing the circumstances under which they may issue administrative subpoenas. The effective date for these changes is set for the day following final enactment, applying to crimes committed on or after that date, as well as to prior crimes if the statute of limitations has not expired.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 388.051, 390.251, 484.87