MN HF3082

Expands Minnesota Statutes section 609.593 to include damage to telecommunications equipment as a criminal offense, in addition to existing electricity transmission and pipeline damage crimes.

Adds specific telecommunications infrastructure to the crime definition, including computers, transformers, amplifiers, routers, repeaters, multiplexers, radio transmitters and receivers, satellite equipment, microwave equipment, and supporting infrastructure such as wire, cable, fiber, poles, and conduit.

Enhances electrical equipment protections to explicitly include components used in generation, transmission, or distribution of electricity, as well as equipment used for grounding, system protection, and personnel protection.

Applies criminal penalties to intentional damage, taking, removing, severing, or breaking of covered infrastructure without consent from an authorized party.

Effective date of August 1, 2016, applies to crimes committed on or after that date.