1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to public employment; providing that a public 
  1.3             employer may not forbid an employee from wearing an 
  1.4             American flag patch or pin; proposing coding for new 
  1.5             law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 15. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  [15.60] [AMERICAN FLAG PATCH OR PIN.] 
  1.8      (a) A public employer may not forbid its employees from 
  1.9   wearing a patch or pin respectfully depicting the flag of the 
  1.10  United States of America, according to the customary and 
  1.11  standard flag etiquette, except as follows: 
  1.12     (1) An employer may limit the size of a flag patch, 
  1.13  provided an employee must be allowed to wear any size patch up 
  1.14  to three inches by five inches. 
  1.15     (2) An employer may forbid an employee from wearing a pin 
  1.16  depicting the flag if, for health or safety purposes, the 
  1.17  employer prohibits the wearing of all similar pins. 
  1.18     (b) For purposes of this section: 
  1.19     (1) "public employer" has the meaning given in section 
  1.20  179A.03, subdivision 15, and also includes a legislative 
  1.21  employer; and 
  1.22     (2) "public employee" means any person employed by a public 
  1.23  employer. 
  1.24     (c) The commissioner of finance or the commissioner of 
  1.25  revenue must suspend disbursement of any state appropriation or 
  2.1   aid to any public employer who the commissioner determines is 
  2.2   not complying with this section until the commissioner 
  2.3   determines that the employer is in compliance.