1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to economic development; permitting the 
  1.3             department of trade and economic development to 
  1.4             receive donations for economic development training; 
  1.5             amending Minnesota Statutes 1994, sections 10A.071, 
  1.6             subdivision 3; and 116J.58, by adding a subdivision. 
  1.7   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.8      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 10A.071, 
  1.9   subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
  1.10     Subd. 3.  [EXCEPTIONS.] (a) The prohibitions in this 
  1.11  section do not apply if the gift is: 
  1.12     (1) a contribution as defined in section 10A.01, 
  1.13  subdivision 7; 
  1.14     (2) services to assist an official in the performance of 
  1.15  official duties, including but not limited to attending 
  1.16  conferences or seminars described in section 116J.58, 
  1.17  subdivision 1, clause (19), and providing advice, consultation, 
  1.18  information, and communication in connection with legislation, 
  1.19  and services to constituents; 
  1.20     (3) services of insignificant monetary value; 
  1.21     (4) a plaque or similar memento recognizing individual 
  1.22  services in a field of specialty or to a charitable cause; 
  1.23     (5) a trinket or memento of insignificant value; 
  1.24     (6) informational material of unexceptional value; or 
  1.25     (7) food or a beverage given at a reception, meal, or 
  1.26  meeting away from the recipient's place of work by an 
  2.1   organization before whom the recipient appears to make a speech 
  2.2   or answer questions as part of a program. 
  2.3      (b) The prohibitions in this section do not apply if the 
  2.4   gift is given: 
  2.5      (1) because of the recipient's membership in a group, a 
  2.6   majority of whose members are not officials, and an equivalent 
  2.7   gift is given to the other members of the group; or 
  2.8      (2) by a lobbyist or principal who is a member of the 
  2.9   family of the recipient, unless the gift is given on behalf of 
  2.10  someone who is not a member of that family. 
  2.11     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 116J.58, is 
  2.12  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  2.13     Subd. 1a.  [CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS.] The commissioner may 
  2.14  solicit and receive public and private contributions to support 
  2.15  conferences and seminars on economic development.