Bill > HF4972

This bill establishes new protections for individuals attending court proceedings in Minnesota, prohibiting civil arrests for those who are parties, witnesses, potential witnesses, or "court companions" – which includes individuals like spouses, parents, children, interpreters, caregivers, advocates, or those providing transportation to assist someone involved in a court matter. "Civil arrest" is defined as taking someone into custody for civil immigration violations or to serve them with a notice to appear in removal proceedings, but it does not apply to arrests for criminal violations, violations of release conditions, or arrests made with a judicial warrant. The bill grants these individuals immunity from civil arrest while they are going to, attending, or returning from court, including in areas around the courthouse and locations where remote court proceedings are accessed. It also creates a civil cause of action for individuals who are unlawfully arrested under these circumstances, allowing them to sue for false imprisonment and recover actual damages, a statutory $10,000 in damages, and attorney fees if the arresting party knew or should have known about the person's protected status. The bill clarifies that these protections do not prevent lawful criminal arrests or affect existing defenses for law enforcement officers, and it amends existing law to reflect that civil arrests by U.S. Customs and Border Protection or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officers are prohibited under these new provisions.