1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to local government; providing cities and
1.3 	towns authority to collect unpaid bills for certain
1.4 	emergency services from nonresidents; amending
1.5 	Minnesota Statutes 2004, sections 366.011; 366.012.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 366.011, is
1.8 	amended to read:
1.9 	366.011 CHARGES FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES; COLLECTION.
1.10 	A town may impose a reasonable service charge for emergency
1.11 	services, including fire, rescue, medical, and related services
1.12 	provided by the town or contracted for by the town.  If the
1.13 	service charge remains unpaid 30 days after a notice of
1.14 	delinquency is sent to the recipient of the service or the
1.15 	recipient's representative or estate, the town or its contractor
1.16 	on behalf of the town may use any lawful means allowed to a
1.17 	private party for the collection of an unsecured delinquent
1.18 	debt.  The town may also use the authority of section 366.012 to
1.19 	collect unpaid service charges of this kind from delinquent
1.20 	recipients of services who are owners of taxable real property
1.21 	in the town state.
1.22 	The powers conferred by this section are in addition and
1.23 	supplemental to the powers conferred by any other law for a town
1.24 	to impose a service charge or assessment for a service provided
1.25 	by the town or contracted for by the town.

2.1 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 366.012, is
2.2 	amended to read:
2.3 	366.012 COLLECTION OF UNPAID SERVICE CHARGES.
2.4 	If a town is authorized to impose a service charge on the
2.5 	owner, lessee, or occupant of property, or any of them,for a
2.6 	governmental service provided by the town, the town board may
2.7 	certify to the county auditor of the county in which the
2.8 	recipient of the services owns real property, on or before
2.9 	October 15 for each year, any unpaid service charges which shall
2.10 	then be collected together with property taxes levied against
2.11 	the property. The county auditor shall remit to the town all
2.12 	service charges collected by the auditor on behalf of the town.
2.13 	A charge may be certified to the auditor only if, on or before
2.14 	September 15, the town has given written notice to the property
2.15 	owner of its intention to certify the charge to the auditor.
2.16 	The service charges shall be subject to the same penalties,
2.17 	interest, and other conditions provided for the collection of
2.18 	property taxes.  This section is in addition to other law
2.19 	authorizing the collection of unpaid costs and service charges.