1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to health; changing quarantine provisions;amending Minnesota Statutes 
1.3 	2014, sections 144.419, subdivision 1; 144.4196, subdivision 2.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 144.419, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.6 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. For purposes of sections 144.419 to 144.4196, the 
1.7 	following definitions apply:
1.8 	(1) "bioterrorism" means the intentional use of any microorganism, virus, infectious 
1.9 	substance, or biological product that may be engineered as a result of biotechnology, or 
1.10 	any naturally occurring or bioengineered component of any such microorganism, virus, 
1.11 	infectious substance, or biological product, to cause death, disease, or other biological 
1.12 	malfunction in a human, an animal, a plant, or another living organism in order to 
1.13 	influence the conduct of government or to intimidate or coerce a civilian population;
1.14 	(2) "communicable disease" means a disease caused by a living organism or virus and 
1.15 	believed to be viral hemorrhagic fevers, severe acute respiratory syndromes, influenza that 
1.16 	can cause a pandemic, or a disease  caused by bioterrorism or a new or novel or previously 
1.17 	controlled or eradicated infectious agent or biological toxin that can be transmitted person 
1.18 	to person and for which isolation or quarantine is an effective control strategy, excluding a 
1.19 	disease that is directly transmitted as defined under section 144.4172, subdivision 5;
1.20 	(3) "isolation" means separation, during the period of communicability, of a person 
1.21 	infected with a communicable disease, in a place and under conditions so as to prevent 
1.22 	direct or indirect transmission of an infectious agent to others; and
1.23 	(4) "quarantine" means restriction, during a period of communicability, of activities 
1.24 	or travel of an otherwise healthy person who likely has been exposed to a communicable 
2.1 	disease to prevent disease transmission during the period of communicability in the event 
2.2 	the person is infected.

2.3 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 144.4196, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
2.4 		Subd. 2.Protections. (a) An employer shall not discharge, discipline, threaten, or 
2.5 	penalize a qualifying employee, or otherwise discriminate in the work terms, conditions, 
2.6 	location, or privileges of the employee, because the employee:
2.7 	(1) has been in isolation or quarantine; or
2.8 	(2) has responsibility for the care of a minor who is quarantined or in isolation; or
2.9 	(3) has responsibility for the care of a family member who is quarantined or isolated 
2.10 	and is ill, disabled, or a vulnerable adult; and
2.11 	(4) has assumed responsibility for all or a portion of the care voluntarily, by contract, 
2.12 	or by agreement.
2.13 	(b) A qualifying employee claiming a violation of paragraph (a) may bring a civil 
2.14 	action for recovery of lost wages or benefits, for reinstatement, or for other relief within 
2.15 	180 days of the claimed violation or 180 days of the end of the isolation or quarantine, 
2.16 	whichever is later. A qualifying employee who prevails shall be allowed reasonable 
2.17 	attorney fees fixed by the court.
2.18 	(c) Nothing in this subdivision is intended to alter sick leave or sick pay terms 
2.19 	of the employment relationship.