1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to local government; providing for 
  1.3             reimbursement to officers and employees for costs and 
  1.4             legal fees to defend criminal charges in certain 
  1.5             cases; amending Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 
  1.6             465.76. 
  1.7   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.8      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 465.76, is 
  1.9   amended to read: 
  1.10     465.76 [LEGAL COUNSEL; REIMBURSEMENT MAY PAY FOR OFFICER OR 
  1.11  EMPLOYEE'S CRIMINAL DEFENSE.] 
  1.12     Subdivision 1.  [IF LAWFULLY DOING DUTY.] If reimbursement 
  1.13  is requested by the officer or employee, the governing body of a 
  1.14  home rule charter or statutory city, a town or a county may, 
  1.15  after consultation with its legal counsel, reimburse a the city, 
  1.16  town or county officer or employee for any costs and reasonable 
  1.17  attorney's fees incurred by the person to defend charges of a 
  1.18  criminal nature brought against the person that arose out of the 
  1.19  reasonable and lawful performance of duties for the city, town 
  1.20  or county, provided.  
  1.21     Subd. 2.  [WHEN JUDGE MUST APPROVE.] If less than a quorum 
  1.22  of the governing body is disinterested, that such the 
  1.23  reimbursement under subdivision 1 shall be approved by a judge 
  1.24  of the district court.  
  1.25     Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  1.26     Section 1 is effective the day after its final enactment.