1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to elections; authorizing gifts of food or a beverage to public officials 
1.3 	under certain conditions;amending Minnesota Statutes 2005 Supplement, 
1.4 	section 10A.071, subdivision 3.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2005 Supplement, section 10A.071, subdivision 3, 
1.7 	is amended to read:
1.8 		Subd. 3.Exceptions. (a) The prohibitions in this section do not apply if the gift is:
1.9 	(1) a contribution as defined in section 10A.01, subdivision 11;
1.10 	(2) services to assist an official in the performance of official duties, including 
1.11 	but not limited to providing advice, consultation, information, and communication in 
1.12 	connection with legislation, and services to constituents;
1.13 	(3) services of insignificant monetary value;
1.14 	(4) a plaque or similar memento recognizing individual services in a field of 
1.15 	specialty or to a charitable cause;
1.16 	(5) a trinket or memento costing $5 or less;
1.17 	(6) informational material of unexceptional value; or
1.18 	(7) food or a beverage given at a reception, meal, or meeting away from the 
1.19 	recipient's place of work by an organization before whom the recipient appears to make a 
1.20 	speech or answer questions as part of a program;
1.21 	(8) food or a beverage given at a reception held within the seven-county metropolitan 
1.22 	area and to which all members of the legislature have been invited and the cost does not 
1.23 	exceed $15 for each legislator; or
2.1 	(9) food or a beverage, not to exceed $15 for each legislator, that is consumed at a 
2.2 	formal meeting or briefing scheduled during the interim that has a specific agenda and that 
2.3 	is convened or attended by constituents to discuss issues coming before the legislature 
2.4 	with legislators who represent those constituents.
2.5 	(b) The prohibitions in this section do not apply if the gift is given:
2.6 	(1) because of the recipient's membership in a group, a majority of whose members 
2.7 	are not officials, and an equivalent gift is given to the other members of the group; or
2.8 	(2) by a lobbyist or principal who is a member of the family of the recipient, unless 
2.9 	the gift is given on behalf of someone who is not a member of that family.

2.10 	Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 2.11 	This act is effective the day following final enactment.