1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to utilities; holding members of a team of 
  1.3             science advisors to study the effects of stray voltage 
  1.4             in the earth immune from suit based on its report; 
  1.5             indemnifying members for court costs. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  [GROUND VOLTAGE SCIENCE ADVISORS; IMMUNITY FROM 
  1.8   SUIT, INDEMNIFICATION.] 
  1.9      (a) A member of the team of science advisors charged with 
  1.10  studying, researching, or preparing the report required by Laws 
  1.11  1994, chapter 573, or serving in a liaison capacity on behalf of 
  1.12  the team of science advisors, is not liable for the content of 
  1.13  the preliminary assessment or final report, for any action taken 
  1.14  or project conducted on behalf of researching and preparing the 
  1.15  assessment and report, or for any action taken or consequence 
  1.16  resulting from or arising out of publication and dissemination 
  1.17  of the report.  This section does not provide immunity for 
  1.18  negligence or intentional misconduct of a member or a liaison. 
  1.19     (b) If a person referred to in paragraph (a) becomes a 
  1.20  party to a civil action or other legal or administrative 
  1.21  proceeding by reason of any action referred to in paragraph (a), 
  1.22  despite the intent of paragraph (a) to hold those persons immune 
  1.23  from suit, the state shall indemnify the person for any judgment 
  1.24  and legal or other costs incurred in defense of the suit, unless 
  1.25  the person is found liable for negligent or intentional 
  2.1   misconduct. 
  2.2      Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.3      Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment.