Measure aims to reduce chances for abuse of process.

As the Minnesota Vikings worked through preseason practice last week in Mankato, Ramsey County commissioners and team officials were doing intensive work on the specifics of a proposal to help build a new football stadium for the team in Arden Hills.

A half dozen local civil rights groups are calling for a grand jury investigation of the disbanded Metro Gang Strike Force. Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced last week that no criminal charges would be filed against officers assigned to the disgraced law enforcement agency.

Minnesota law enforcement agencies reported 4,895 incidents of property seized subject to forfeiture in 2009, according to a new report by the State Auditor's Office. That's a 28-percent increase over the previous year, when there were 3,823 such incidents.

Michael Campion, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, has named a 20-member panel to study the issue of gang databases maintained by law-enforcement agencies. The work group will be co-chaired by Don Gemberling, a veteran advocate of government transparency, and David Johnson, executive director of Minnesota Justice Information Services.

The House is expected to debate legislation dealing with the state's forfeiture statute today. "I think that will be one of the first orders of business we take up," said House Majority Leader Tony Sertich, on a call with reporters this morning.

Rep. Tina Liebling's proposal to overhaul the state's forfeiture statute stalled out in committee. When the Rochester DFLer determined that the bill didn't have the votes necessary to pass, she pulled it from consideration.

Sen. Mee Moua has dropped her proposal to prohibit law enforcement agencies from maintaining electronic databases of gang members. The proposed ban -- designed to protect privacy and civil liberties -- had drawn pointed criticism from some law enforcement officials.

While it's clear that some gang strike force officers brazenly flouted the rules governing property confiscation, there's little accord on whether their actions reflect a broader problem that needs to be remedied by changes to state law.

Members of five Minnesota Legislature public safety committees will continue examining issues surrounding the defunct Metro Gang Strike Force during a joint House-Senate hearing today.