H.F. No. 2840 Summary

• Establishes a Forfeiture Reform Task Force to develop a comprehensive plan and propose legislation reforming Minnesota's property seizure and forfeiture procedures related to criminal activity.

• Task force must ensure proposed reforms include: requiring criminal conviction before forfeiture, meaningful property owner hearings within reasonable timeframes, proportional forfeiture values, prohibition of proceeds directly funding seizing agencies, prevention of law enforcement circumventing state law, and alternative non-forfeiture funding sources for local agencies.

• Task force comprises 13 member categories including the Commissioner of Public Safety, law enforcement representatives, judges, defense attorneys, prosecutors, ACLU Minnesota, a nonprofit property rights attorney, and two persons who had property seized under Minnesota forfeiture laws; appointments due by July 30, 2019.

• Task force shall meet at least monthly, with first meeting convened by August 1, 2019, and must submit a report with proposed model policies and legislation to legislative committees by February 15, 2020.

• Appropriates $218,000 in fiscal year 2020 from the general fund to the Commissioner of Public Safety for task force implementation; effective date is July 1, 2019.