MN HF54

Transfers prosecutorial authority for peace-officer-involved deaths from county attorneys to the state attorney general, requiring the attorney general to have charge of prosecuting peace officers alleged to have caused such deaths.

Defines "officer-involved death" as a death resulting from a peace officer's use of force while on duty or performing law enforcement activities, and allows county attorneys to assist the attorney general upon request.

Requires all law enforcement agencies with jurisdiction over the area where an officer-involved death occurred to cooperate with the attorney general to the same extent as if the county attorney had charge of prosecution.

Appropriates $1,636,000 in fiscal year 2021 from the general fund to the attorney general for conducting criminal prosecutions, including peace-officer-involved death cases, which is added to the agency's base budget.

Amends Minnesota Statutes sections 8.01 and 388.051 to add references to the new section 8.37 and clarify that county attorneys' prosecutorial duties exclude officer-involved deaths under the new framework.