Subdivision 1. Limit on penalties. An agency may not, under authority of rule, levy a total fine or penalty of more than $700 for a single violation unless the agency has specific statutory authority to levy a fine in excess of that amount.
Subd. 2. Criminal penalty. An agency may not, by rule, establish a criminal penalty unless the agency has specific statutory authority to do so.
Subd. 3. Factors. (a) If a statute or rule gives an agency discretion over the amount of a fine, the agency must take the following factors into account in determining the amount of the fine:
(1) the willfulness of the violation;
(2) the gravity of the violation, including damage to humans, animals, and the natural resources of the state;
(3) the history of past violations;
(4) the number of violations;
(5) the economic benefit gained by the person by allowing or committing the violation; and
(6) other factors that justice may require.
(b) For a violation after an initial violation, the following factors must be considered in addition to the factors in paragraph (a):
(1) similarity of previous violations to the current violation to be penalized;
(2) time elapsed since the last violation;
(3) number of previous violations; and
(4) response of the person to the most recent previous violation identified.
Subd. 4. Effect on other law. This section does not affect the right of an agency to deny a permit, revoke a license, or take similar action, other than the imposition of a fine, even if the cost of the denial, revocation, or other action to the affected party exceeds $700.
Subd. 5. Application. Subdivisions 1, 2, and 4 apply only to fines and penalties imposed under rules for which notice of intent to adopt rules is published after July 1, 1996.
1996 c 390 s 11
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 14 - 15A — State Agencies
Chapter 14 — Administrative Procedure
Section 14.001 — Statement Of Purpose.
Section 14.002 — State Regulatory Policy.
Section 14.03 — Nonapplicability.
Section 14.045 — Agencies; Limits On Penalties And Fines.
Section 14.05 — General Authority.
Section 14.055 — Rule Variances; Standards.
Section 14.056 — Rule Variances; Procedures.
Section 14.06 — Required Rules.
Section 14.08 — Approval Of Rule And Rule Form; Costs.
Section 14.09 — Petition For Adoption Of Rule.
Section 14.091 — Petition; Unit Of Local Government.
Section 14.101 — Advice On Possible Rules.
Section 14.111 — Farming Operations.
Section 14.116 — Notice To Legislature.
Section 14.125 — Time Limit On Authority To Adopt, Amend, Or Repeal Rules.
Section 14.126 — Committee Authority Over Rule Adoption.
Section 14.127 — Legislative Approval Required.
Section 14.128 — Effective Date For Rules Requiring Local Implementation.
Section 14.131 — Statement Of Need And Reasonableness.
Section 14.14 — Hearing On Rule.
Section 14.15 — Administrative Law Judge's Report.
Section 14.16 — Adoption Of Rule; Chief Administrative Law Judge; Filing Of Rule.
Section 14.18 — Publication Of Adopted Rule; Effective Date.
Section 14.19 — Deadline To Complete Rulemaking.
Section 14.20 — Approval Of Form.
Section 14.22 — Notice Of Proposed Adoption Of Rules.
Section 14.225 — Dual Notice Rules.
Section 14.23 — Statement Of Need And Reasonableness.
Section 14.24 — Modifications Of Proposed Rule.
Section 14.25 — Public Hearing.
Section 14.26 — Adoption Of Proposed Rule; Submission To Administrative Law Judge.
Section 14.27 — Publication Of Adopted Rule; Effective Date.
Section 14.28 — Approval Of Form.
Section 14.365 — Official Rulemaking Record.
Section 14.366 — Public Rulemaking Docket.
Section 14.37 — Effect Of Publication.
Section 14.38 — Effect Of Adoption Of Rules.
Section 14.381 — Unadopted Rules.
Section 14.385 — Effect Of Nonpublication Of Exempt Rules.
Section 14.386 — Procedure For Adopting Exempt Rules; Duration.
Section 14.388 — Good Cause Exemption.
Section 14.389 — Expedited Process.
Section 14.3895 — Process For Repealing Obsolete Rules.
Section 14.44 — Determination Of Validity Of Rule.
Section 14.45 — Rule Declared Invalid.
Section 14.46 — Publication In State Register.
Section 14.47 — Publication In Compiled Form.
Section 14.48 — Office Of Administrative Hearings.
Section 14.49 — Temporary Administrative Law Judges.
Section 14.50 — Hearings Before Administrative Law Judge.
Section 14.51 — Procedural Rules.
Section 14.52 — Court Reporters; Audio Recordings.
Section 14.53 — Costs Assessed.
Section 14.54 — Administrative Hearings Account.
Section 14.55 — Contracts With Political Subdivisions.
Section 14.56 — Employees Transferred.
Section 14.57 — Initiation; Decision; Agreement To Arbitrate.
Section 14.58 — Notice And Hearing.
Section 14.59 — Informal Disposition.
Section 14.60 — Evidence In Contested Case Hearings.
Section 14.61 — Final Decision In Contested Case.
Section 14.62 — Decisions, Orders.
Section 14.64 — Petition; Service.
Section 14.65 — Stay Of Decision; Stay Of Other Appeals.
Section 14.66 — Transmittal Of Record.
Section 14.67 — New Evidence, Hearing By Agency.