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Committee sends bill to veterans committee to expand BCA investigative authority for crimes on state military property
Summary
House File 1042 would expand the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s authority to investigate sexual‑assault cases involving any U.S. Armed Forces member when the incident occurs on state military property; committee approved the DE1 amendment and re‑referred the bill to Veterans and Military Affairs.
The committee adopted a DE1 amendment and re‑referred House File 1042 to the Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. The bill, sponsored by Chair Mueller, would expand the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s investigative responsibility to cover criminal sexual‑conduct cases involving any U.S. Armed Forces service member — victim or accused — when the incident occurs on state‑owned military property such as Camp Ripley.
Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larson, testifying on behalf of the Minnesota Sheriffs Association, said the expansion ensures consistency and impartiality: “No matter where a military member is from or where their unit is based, if an incident occurs on state military property, it will be handled by the BCA, who has statewide resources.” He described a 2024 case at Camp Ripley that fell outside current statutory language because the involved personnel were not Minnesota Guard members.
Sponsor Chair Mueller said stakeholders — including the BCA, Department of Military Affairs and Minnesota National Guard — supported the change. A committee member asked whether the statute should specify incidents occurring in Minnesota; stakeholders said BCA lacks jurisdiction for incidents outside Minnesota so the staff felt additional language was unnecessary.
The committee approved the DE1 amendment and re‑referred the bill to Veterans and Military Affairs for further consideration.
