Subdivision 1. Victim or witness. An employer must allow a victim or witness, who is subpoenaed or requested by the prosecutor to attend court for the purpose of giving testimony, reasonable time off from work to attend criminal proceedings related to the victim's case.

Subd. 2. Victim's spouse or immediate family members. An employer must allow a victim of a violent crime, as well as the victim's spouse or immediate family members, reasonable time off from work to attend criminal proceedings related to the victim's case.

Subd. 3. Prohibited acts. An employer shall not discharge, discipline, threaten, otherwise discriminate against, or penalize an employee regarding the employee's compensation, terms, conditions, location, or privileges of employment, because the employee took reasonable time off from work to attend a criminal proceeding pursuant to this section.

Subd. 4. Verification; confidentiality. An employee who is absent from the workplace shall give 48 hours' advance notice to the employer, unless impracticable or an emergency prevents the employee from doing so. Upon request of the employer, the employee shall provide verification that supports the employee's reason for being absent from the workplace. All information related to the employee's leave pursuant to this section shall be kept confidential by the employer.

Subd. 5. Penalty. An employer who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and may be punished for contempt of court. In addition, the court shall order the employer to offer job reinstatement to any employee discharged from employment in violation of this section, and to pay the employee back wages as appropriate.

Subd. 6. Civil action. In addition to any remedies otherwise provided by law, an employee injured by a violation of this section may bring a civil action for recovery for damages, together with costs and disbursements, including reasonable attorneys fees, and may receive such injunctive and other equitable relief, including reinstatement, as determined by the court.

Subd. 7. Definition. As used in this section, "violent crime" means a violation or attempt to violate any of the following: section 609.185 (murder in the first degree); 609.19 (murder in the second degree); 609.195 (murder in the third degree); 609.20 (manslaughter in the first degree); 609.205 (manslaughter in the second degree); 609.2112, 609.2113, or 609.2114 (criminal vehicular homicide or injury); 609.221 (assault in the first degree); 609.222 (assault in the second degree); 609.223 (assault in the third degree); 609.2231 (assault in the fourth degree); 609.2241 (knowing transfer of communicable disease); 609.2242 (domestic assault); 609.2245 (female genital mutilation); 609.2247 (domestic assault by strangulation); 609.228 (great bodily harm caused by distribution of drugs); 609.23 (mistreatment of persons confined); 609.231 (mistreatment of residents or patients); 609.2325 (criminal abuse); 609.233 (criminal neglect); 609.235 (use of drugs to injure or facilitate crime); 609.24 (simple robbery); 609.245 (aggravated robbery); 609.25 (kidnapping); 609.255 (false imprisonment); 609.265 (abduction); 609.2661 (murder of an unborn child in the first degree); 609.2662 (murder of an unborn child in the second degree); 609.2663 (murder of an unborn child in the third degree); 609.2664 (manslaughter of an unborn child in the first degree); 609.2665 (manslaughter of an unborn child in the second degree); 609.267 (assault of an unborn child in the first degree); 609.2671 (assault of an unborn child in the second degree); 609.2672 (assault of an unborn child in the third degree); 609.268 (injury or death of an unborn child in commission of a crime); 609.282 (labor trafficking); 609.322 (solicitation, inducement, and promotion of prostitution; sex trafficking); 609.342 (criminal sexual conduct in the first degree); 609.343 (criminal sexual conduct in the second degree); 609.344 (criminal sexual conduct in the third degree); 609.345 (criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree); 609.3451 (criminal sexual conduct in the fifth degree); 609.3453 (criminal sexual predatory conduct); 609.352 (solicitation of children to engage in sexual conduct); 609.377 (malicious punishment of a child); 609.378 (neglect or endangerment of a child); 609.561, subdivision 1 (arson in the first degree; dwelling); 609.582, subdivision 1, paragraph (a) or (c) (burglary in the first degree; occupied dwelling or involving an assault); 609.66, subdivision 1e, paragraph (b) (drive-by shooting; firing at or toward a person, or an occupied building or motor vehicle); or 609.749, subdivision 2 (harassment); or Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 609.21.

History: 1986 c 463 s 9; 1994 c 636 art 7 s 1; 2005 c 136 art 8 s 23; 2007 c 54 art 4 s 5,6; 2009 c 137 s 10; 2013 c 34 s 4; 1Sp2019 c 5 art 2 s 29