HF3468
Civil action against a person for failure to render aid in certain circumstances permitted.
Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026)
Related bill: SF3688
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
- To create a civil remedy for people injured when someone fails to render aid in certain situations, by adding a new subdivision to Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 609.662.
Main Provisions
- Adds Subdivision 6 to Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 609.662.
- Allows a person who is injured by a violation of subdivision 2 paragraph 1a or subdivision 3 paragraph a to file a civil action.
- The civil action can seek recovery of damages plus costs and disbursements, including reasonable attorney fees.
How it Works (Key Mechanism)
- If someone’s failure to render aid in the specified circumstances causes injury, the injured person may sue for damages.
- The award can cover damages and the costs of the lawsuit, including reasonable attorney fees.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Establishes a new civil liability for failure to render aid in certain circumstances, adding a civil remedy alongside any existing criminal provisions.
- Clarifies that damages in such civil actions can include costs, disbursements, and attorney fees.
Practical Impact
- Provides victims with a direct civil path to seek compensation when aid is not rendered in specified situations.
- Could deter noncompliance with bystander duties to render aid by creating potential legal and financial consequences for violators.
Relevant Terms
- civil action
- damages
- costs and disbursements
- reasonable attorney fees
- failure to render aid
- subdivision 2 paragraph 1a
- subdivision 3 paragraph a
- Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 609.662
- Subd.6
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF PDF file
Past committee meetings
- Judiciary Finance and Civil Law on: March 03, 2026 10:15
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 19, 2026 | House | Action | Introduction and first reading, referred to | Judiciary Finance and Civil Law | |
| February 26, 2026 | House | Action | Author added | ||
| March 18, 2026 | House | Action | Author added | ||
| March 25, 2026 | House | Action | Author added |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Subd.6 provides that a person injured by a violation of subdivision 2 paragraph 1.9 a or 3 paragraph a may bring a civil action for recovery of damages, together with costs and disbursements including reasonable attorney fees."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill adds a civil action for failure to render aid by amending Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 609.662 to create Subd.6 (Civil action).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.662",
"subdivision": "Subd.6"
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee