HF 22

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 01/12/2015 09:21am

A bill for an act
relating to health; providing certain protections for persons under quarantine;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 144.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [144.4191] FINANCIAL PROTECTIONS FOR PERSON ISOLATED
AND QUARANTINED.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Required protections. new text end

new text begin In order to mitigate the impact and hardships
encountered by persons quarantined in this state, any person quarantined under section
144.419 or 144.4195 shall have the following protections:
new text end

new text begin (1) the state or employer shall make up any lost income after the quarantined person
has exhausted all accrued sick time or personal time off, and if the quarantine is not
covered under short-term disability;
new text end

new text begin (2) interest accrual and late payment fees shall be suspended on all retail credit cards
and state credit union and bank-issued mortgages;
new text end

new text begin (3) renters who are quarantined shall not be evicted from their rental units during
a period of quarantine and shall not be evicted after a quarantine period due to the
circumstance of being quarantined;
new text end

new text begin (4) a lender may not repossess a quarantined person's car under a car loan or lease
for breach of contract as long as the quarantine lasts;
new text end

new text begin (5) all civil court actions such as bankruptcy, foreclosure, or divorce proceedings
shall be stayed during the person's confinement where the quarantine materially affects the
person's ability to appear;
new text end

new text begin (6) a utility company shall not turn off the heat or electricity to a quarantined
person's home or rental unit during the period of confinement and for one month following
confinement;
new text end

new text begin (7) an employee shall not be demoted or suffer a pay reduction as a result of a
quarantine;
new text end

new text begin (8) where possible, an employee shall be allowed to work at home during a period of
confinement if arrangements are possible for the employer;
new text end

new text begin (9) the commissioner of commerce shall negotiate with the credit reporting bureaus
to waive any negative reports to the person's credit rating during a person's period of
quarantine;
new text end

new text begin (10) the commissioner of commerce shall negotiate a federal waiver for federally
guaranteed student loan obligations for persons under quarantine; and
new text end

new text begin (11) no personal property of a person quarantined may be repossessed during the
period of quarantine.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Implementation of financial protections. new text end

new text begin The person quarantined under
section 144.419 or 144.4195 shall apply to the commissioners of health and commerce
to assist with the protections specified in subdivision 1. The application may be by
telephone or in writing or through a third party. The commissioner of health shall make
the quarantine order by the department or court available to any entity that requires a copy
to verify the quarantine in order to comply with the protections in subdivision 1.
new text end