HF3676

Purpose

This bill strengthens and expands protections for people in Minnesota’s Safe at Home address confidentiality program. It updates definitions, procedures, and enforcement to improve safety for participants (often victims of domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, or harassment), clarify how designated addresses are used, adds penalties for misuse, and increases coordination among state agencies. It also requires training and designated coordinators to oversee Safe at Home implementation.

What this bill changes about the Safe at Home program

• Expands and clarifies definitions related to Safe at Home, including what constitutes an address, who is an eligible person, and what “program participant” means.
• Establishes strict requirements for applying to be a participant, including proof of safety needs and consent for certain disclosures to program administrators.
• Requires agencies and businesses to accept the designated Safe at Home address for official purposes and to forward mail to participants’ designated addresses.
• Limits disclosure of a participant’s actual address in legal proceedings, with court safeguards and notice requirements; allows limited disclosure only when necessary to proceed with an investigation or case and only under a court order.
• Creates criminal penalties for acts that violate the Safe at Home provisions, including a misdemeanor baseline and a felony if bodily harm occurs.
• Prohibits discrimination against program participants in providing services (housing, banking, education, etc.), with civil remedies for violations.
• Improves cross-agency coordination by designating agency personnel roles (ADA coordinator, affirmative action officer, Safe at Home coordinator) and requiring a Safe at Home coordinator by a set deadline; if not designated, the agency head acts as the coordinator.
• Aligns driver licensing and ID rules with Safe at Home by allowing the designated Safe at Home address to count as the participant’s residence address for licensing purposes and for proving Minnesota residence.
• Expands acceptable documents used to prove Minnesota residence, explicitly including the Safe at Home card and a broader set of documents (utility bills, bank statements, tax documents, leases, licenses, etc.), with special rules for minors and certain living arrangements.
• Adds training requirements for judges and court personnel about domestic violence, sexual abuse, stalking, and Safe at Home, and emphasizes coordination with victim advocacy services and the Safe at Home program within law enforcement and prosecution.

How this affects participants and public safety

• Participants gain stronger protection against being located through addresses shared by others and enhanced mail-forwarding protections.
• Courts must balance safety with the needs of prosecutions, including clear procedures for when address information may be disclosed.
• Public agencies, banks, and businesses must treat the Safe at Home address as the participant’s official address for most purposes, helping reduce risk of exposure.
• The bill aims to reduce retaliation and risk for victims by expanding nondiscrimination protections and giving participants more control over who knows their location.

Significant changes to existing law

• Revisions to Minnesota Statutes in multiple chapters (5B, 171, 480, and 43A) to embed Safe at Home protections into a wider range of government and civil processes.
• New or strengthened duties for agencies to designate Safe at Home coordinators and to coordinate with the program.
• Expanded documents and evidence accepted to establish residence, including allowance of Safe at Home cards as proof.
• Explicit criminal penalties for violations and new civil remedies for discrimination related to Safe at Home status.
• Revised rules for protective orders and the handling of participants’ addresses in legal proceedings.

Terminology to look for (key terms used in or implied by the bill)

• Safe at Home
• designated address
• program participant
• eligible person
• domestic violence
• harassment
• stalking
• harassment or stalking
• guardian ad litem
• protective order
• nondiscrimination
• civil action
• misdemeanor
• felony
• address confidentiality
• mail forwarding
• secretary of state
• ADA coordinator
• Safe at Home coordinator
• residency documentation
• two forms of residence evidence
• driver’s license and Minnesota ID
• cooperation of state agencies
• appointment authorities
• court order
• threat or disclosure restrictions
• confidential information

Relevant Terms - Safe at Home - designated address - program participant - eligible person - domestic violence - harassment - stalking - guardian ad litem - protective order - nondiscrimination - address confidentiality - mail forwarding - secretary of state - ADA coordinator - Safe at Home coordinator - residency documentation - two forms of residence evidence - driver’s license - civil action - misdemeanor - felony