1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to employment; modifying mandatory work and meal breaks;amending 
1.3 	Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 177.253; 177.254.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 177.253, is amended to read:
1.6 	177.253 MANDATORY WORK BREAKS.
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Rest breaks. Except as provided in subdivision 1a, an employer 
1.8 	must allow each employee adequate time up to 15 minutes  from work within each four 
1.9 	consecutive hours of work to utilize the nearest convenient restroom.
1.10 		Subd. 1a.Exemption. Subdivision 1 does not apply to an employer with fewer than 
1.11 	five employees and operating a retail location. Employers exempted from the requirements 
1.12 	of subdivision 1 must allow each employee adequate time from work within each four 
1.13 	consecutive hours of work to utilize the nearest readily accessible restroom.
1.14 		Subd. 2.Collective bargaining agreement. Nothing in this section prohibits 
1.15 	employers and employees from establishing rest breaks different from those provided in 
1.16 	this section pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement.

1.17 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective October 1, 2010.

1.18 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 177.254, is amended to read:
1.19 	177.254 MANDATORY MEAL BREAK.
1.20 		Subdivision 1.Meal break. Except as provided in subdivision 1a, an employer must 
1.21 	permit each employee who is working for eight or more consecutive hours sufficient time
1.22 	at least 30 minutes  to eat a meal.
2.1 		Subd. 1a.Exemption. Subdivision 1 does not apply to an employer with fewer 
2.2 	than five employees and operating a retail location. Employers exempted from the 
2.3 	requirements of subdivision 1 must allow each employee who is working for eight or more 
2.4 	consecutive hours sufficient time to eat a meal.
2.5 		Subd. 2.Payment not required. Nothing in this section requires the employer to 
2.6 	pay the employee during the meal break.
2.7 		Subd. 3.Collective bargaining agreement. Nothing in this section prohibits 
2.8 	employers and employees from establishing meal periods different from those provided in 
2.9 	this section pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement.

2.10 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective October 1, 2010.