1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to public employment; providing that a public
1.3 	employer may not forbid a police officer or
1.4 	firefighter from wearing an American flag patch or pin
1.5 	on a uniform; proposing coding for new law in
1.6 	Minnesota Statutes, chapter 15.
1.7 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.8 	Section 1. [15.60] PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS; AMERICAN
1.9 	FLAG.
1.10 	(a) A public employer may not forbid a peace officer or
1.11 	firefighter from wearing a patch or pin depicting the flag of
1.12 	the United States of America on the employee's uniform,
1.13 	according to customary and standard flag etiquette.  However, a
1.14 	public employer may limit the size of a flag patch worn on a
1.15 	uniform to no more than three inches by five inches.
1.16 	(b) For purposes of this section:
1.17 	(1) "peace officer" has the meaning given in section
1.18 	626.84, subdivision 1, paragraph (c) or (f);
1.19 	(2) "firefighter" means a person as defined in section
1.20 	299A.41, subdivision 4, clause (3) or (4); and 
1.21 	(3) "public employer" has the meaning given in section
1.22 	179A.03, subdivision 15, and also includes a municipal fire
1.23 	department and an independent nonprofit firefighting corporation.
1.24 	(c) A peace officer or firefighter who believes a public
1.25 	employer is violating this section may request the attorney
1.26 	general to issue an opinion on the issue.  Upon such a request,
2.1 	the attorney general must issue a written opinion, which is
2.2 	binding, unless a court makes a contrary decision.  If after
2.3 	issuing an opinion, the attorney general determines that a
2.4 	public employer continues to violate this section, the attorney
2.5 	general may bring an action in district court to compel
2.6 	compliance.