Enhanced criminal penalty provided for violations of coercion crime, the official text

A bill for an act relating to public safety; providing enhanced criminal penalty for certain violations of coercion crime; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.27, subdivision 2.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.27, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Sentence.

(a) Whoever violates subdivision 1 may be sentenced as follows:

(1) to imprisonment for not more than 90 days or to payment of a fine of not more than $1,000, or both if neither the pecuniary gain received by the violator nor the loss suffered by the person threatened or another as a result of the threat exceeds $300, or the benefits received or harm sustained are not susceptible of pecuniary measurement; or

(2) to imprisonment for not more than five years or to payment of a fine of not more than $10,000, or both, if such pecuniary gain or loss is more than $300 but less than $2,500; or

(3) to imprisonment for not more than ten years or to payment of a fine of not more than $20,000, or both, if such pecuniary gain or loss is $2,500, or more.

(b) A person who violates subdivision 1, clause (6), may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than ten years, or to payment of a fine of not more than $20,000, or both, if the violation is a substantial factor in the victim suffering great bodily harm.

(c) A person who violates subdivision 1, clause (6), may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than 15 years, or to payment of a fine of not more than $30,000, or both, if the violation is a substantial factor in the victim suffering death.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective August 1, 2026, and applies to crimes committed on or after that date.