1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to ethics in government; modifying provisions 
  1.3             regarding conflicts of interest; amending Minnesota 
  1.4             Statutes 1994, section 10A.07, subdivision 2. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 10A.07, 
  1.7   subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  1.8      Subd. 2.  [RESOLUTION OF CONFLICTS.] If the official is not 
  1.9   a member of the legislature or of the governing body of a 
  1.10  metropolitan governmental unit, the superior shall assign the 
  1.11  matter, if possible, to another employee who does not have a 
  1.12  potential conflict of interest.  If there is no immediate 
  1.13  superior, the official shall abstain, if possible, in a manner 
  1.14  prescribed by the board from influence over the action or 
  1.15  decision in question.  If the official is a member of the 
  1.16  legislature, the house of service may, at the member's request, 
  1.17  shall excuse the member from taking part in the action or 
  1.18  decision in question.  A member of the legislature may not 
  1.19  author legislation or vote upon any matter in which the member 
  1.20  has a direct or pecuniary interest, including, but not limited 
  1.21  to, matters relating to a member's occupation practiced 
  1.22  concurrently with the member's term. 
  1.23     If the official is not permitted or is otherwise unable to 
  1.24  abstain from action in connection with the matter, the official 
  1.25  shall file a statement describing the potential conflict and the 
  2.1   action taken.  A public official shall file the statement with 
  2.2   the board and a local official shall file the statement with the 
  2.3   governing body of the official's political subdivision.  The 
  2.4   statement must be filed within a week of the action taken.