Purpose of the Bill

This bill aims to enhance public safety by expanding the definition of second-degree unintentional murder in Minnesota. It specifically targets cases involving violations of protective orders, including those issued outside of the state, to address broader concerns of domestic violence and harassment.

Main Provisions

• Expanded Definition: The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 609.19 subdivision 2 to include situations where a death occurs unintentionally while the perpetrator, who is under a protective order, inflicts or attempts to inflict bodily harm on the protected person.
• Inclusion of Various Protective Orders: This amendment applies to any order for protection, including harassment restraining orders, pretrial release conditions, conditions of criminal sentences or juvenile court dispositions, marriage dissolution restraining orders, and orders from various jurisdictions (other states, U.S. territories, tribal lands, and Canada).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• The bill expands the jurisdictions of protective orders considered under the offense of unintentional second-degree murder to include those from outside Minnesota, covering a wide range of international and domestic orders.
• Previously, unintentional second-degree murder related to protective orders was more limited, and this amendment broadens the scope to enhance protections against domestic violence.

Relevant Terms

• Unintentional murder
• Second-degree murder
• Protective orders
• Domestic violence
• Restraining orders
• Harassment restraining order
• International protective orders