HF4065

Purpose

• Clarifies and strengthens criminal penalties for assaults on transit workers. Specifically makes it a gross misdemeanor when someone assaults a transit operator worker or knowingly throws or transfers bodily fluids onto a transit operator worker who is performing duties.

Main Provisions

• Offense defined: A person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor if they assault a transit operator worker or intentionally throw or transfer bodily fluids onto one, and the worker is acting in the course of duties and is operating a transit vehicle or otherwise responsible for a transit vehicle during the performance of duties.
• Penalties: Up to 364 days in jail, fines up to $3,000, or both.
• Who is a transit operator worker: Includes a driver or operator of a transit vehicle, plus employees, contractors, or volunteers working in public transportation or transit as defined in statute.
• Scope of services covered:
  • Public transportation (as defined in statute)
  • Light rail transit service
  • Special transportation service (under statute 473.386), whether provided by the Metropolitan Council or other providers under contract
  • Commuter rail service

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Adds or clarifies that assaults on transit workers (including instances involving bodily fluids) performed in the course of duties are punishable as a gross misdemeanor.
• Expands or clarifies who qualifies as a transit operator worker and what types of transit services are protected under this statute.

How it Works in Practice

• If someone harms a transit worker while they are driving or managing a transit vehicle (or responsible for it) during their duties, the offender faces a defined criminal penalty, improving protection for those who operate and support public transportation.

Terminology and Concepts (embedded terms from the bill)

• gross misdemeanor
• assault
• transit operator worker
• bodily fluids
• transit vehicle
• operating a transit vehicle
• public transportation
• light rail transit service
• special transportation service
• commuter rail service
• Metropolitan Council
• Minnesota Statutes
• section 609.2231 subdivision 11
• section 473.121 subdivision 19
• section 174.22 subdivision 7
• 473.386

Relevant Terms gross misdemeanor, assault, transit operator worker, bodily fluids, transit vehicle, public transportation, light rail, special transportation service, commuter rail, Metropolitan Council, Minnesota Statutes, 609.2231, 473.121, 174.22, 473.386, 473.386, employees, contractors, volunteers.