1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to St. Louis county; modifying political 
  1.3             activity restrictions for certain officers and 
  1.4             employees in the classified service; amending 
  1.5             Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 383C.05. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 383C.05, is 
  1.8   amended to read: 
  1.9      383C.05 [POLITICAL ACTIVITY.] 
  1.10     No officer or employee in the classified service is under 
  1.11  any obligation to contribute to any political fund or to render 
  1.12  any political service to any person or body whatsoever and no 
  1.13  person shall be removed, reduced in grade, or salary, or 
  1.14  otherwise prejudiced for refusal so to do.  No public officer 
  1.15  whether elected or appointed shall discharge, promote, demote, 
  1.16  or in any manner change the official rank of the employee or the 
  1.17  compensation of any person in the classified service or promise 
  1.18  or threaten to do so, for the giving or withholding or 
  1.19  neglecting to make any contribution of money or services or any 
  1.20  other valuable thing for any political purpose. 
  1.21     Except as herein provided, any officer or employee holding 
  1.22  office or place in the classified service may become a candidate 
  1.23  for nomination or election to any public office or may seek and 
  1.24  accept election, nomination or appointment as an officer of a 
  1.25  political group, or organization, or take part in a political 
  2.1   campaign or serve as a member of a committee of any such club or 
  2.2   organization, or circulate or seek signatures to any petition 
  2.3   provided for by any primary or election law or act as a worker 
  2.4   at the polls, or distribute badges, colors, or indicia favoring 
  2.5   or opposing the candidate for election or nomination to a public 
  2.6   office whether federal, state, county or municipal, if the 
  2.7   officer or employee does not engage in such activities during 
  2.8   working hours or to such an extent off duty that the officer's 
  2.9   or employee's efficiency during working hours is impaired or 
  2.10  that tardiness or absence from work without notice or permitted 
  2.11  leave results. 
  2.12     Any officer or employee in the classified service who 
  2.13  becomes a candidate for nomination or election to any St. Louis 
  2.14  County office in which then employed, shall by the act of filing 
  2.15  as a candidate, be removed from the classified service. 
  2.16     Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit or 
  2.17  prevent any such officer or employee from becoming or continuing 
  2.18  to be a member of a political club or organization or from 
  2.19  attendance at political meetings or from enjoying entire freedom 
  2.20  from all interference in casting a vote or from seeking or 
  2.21  accepting election or appointment to public office.