1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to local government; expanding exceptions to prohibition against gifts to 
1.3 	local officials under certain conditions; providing penalties for using a gift to 
1.4 	influence a decision of a public safety officer;amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, 
1.5 	section 471.895.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 471.895, is amended to read:
1.8 	471.895 CERTAIN GIFTS BY INTERESTED PERSONS PROHIBITED.
1.9 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) The definitions in this subdivision apply to this section.
1.10 	(b) "Gift" has the meaning given it in section 10A.071, subdivision 1.
1.11 	(c) "Interested person" means a person or a representative of a person or association that 
1.12 	has a direct financial interest in a decision that a local official is authorized to make.
1.13 	(d) "Local government" means a county, city, or school district.
1.14 	(d) (e) "Local official" means:
1.15 	(1) an elected or appointed official of a county or city or of an agency, authority, or 
1.16 	instrumentality of a county or city; and
1.17 	(2) an elected or appointed member of a school board, a school superintendent, a school 
1.18 	principal, or a district school officer of any independent school district.
1.19 	(f) "Public safety officer" has the meaning given in section 299A.41, subdivision 4. For 
1.20 	the purposes of this section, public safety officer also includes a person, other than a peace 
1.21 	officer, employed by a law enforcement agency, whose primary employment duty is to 
2.1 	review, handle, or process records, photographs, or evidentiary material related to a traumatic 
2.2 	event.
2.3 		Subd. 2.Prohibition. An interested person may not give a gift or request another to give 
2.4 	a gift to a local official. A local official may not accept a gift from an interested person.
2.5 		Subd. 3.Exceptions. (a) The prohibitions in this section do not apply if the gift is:
2.6 	(1) a contribution as defined in section 211A.01, subdivision 5;
2.7 	(2) services to assist an official in the performance of official duties, including but not 
2.8 	limited to providing advice, consultation, information, and communication in connection 
2.9 	with legislation, and services to constituents;
2.10 	(3) services of insignificant monetary value;
2.11 	(4) a plaque or similar memento recognizing individual services in a field of specialty 
2.12 	or to a charitable cause;
2.13 	(5) a trinket or memento costing $5 or less;
2.14 	(6) informational material of unexceptional value; or
2.15 	(7) food or a beverage given at a reception, meal, or meeting away from the recipient's 
2.16 	place of work by an organization before whom the recipient appears to make a speech or 
2.17 	answer questions as part of a program.;
2.18 	(8) services for mental health or wellness support, including but not limited to counseling, 
2.19 	therapy, peer support, recreational activities, wellness days, or meals that are provided at 
2.20 	no cost to public safety officers by any nonprofit organization whose primary mission is to 
2.21 	support the mental or physical health and well-being of public safety personnel, provided 
2.22 	that such services meet all of the following criteria:
2.23 	(i) the services are offered voluntarily;
2.24 	(ii) the services are not contingent upon any official action or decision by the recipient;
2.25 	(iii) the services are provided or facilitated by a mental health professional who is 
2.26 	qualified according to section 245I.04, subdivision 2;
2.27 	(iv) the services qualify as medical treatment for recovery from a traumatic event; and
2.28 	(v) the services are not a luxury service or event, as determined by the Campaign Finance 
2.29 	and Public Disclosure Board under subdivision 4; or
3.1 	(9) a meal or event organized by a nonprofit entity that is specifically designed to provide 
3.2 	comfort and support to public safety officers following a death or significant traumatic 
3.3 	event, provided that the event meets all of the following criteria:
3.4 	(i) the event is open to all affected personnel;
3.5 	(ii) the event is not targeted to influence specific political or official actions; and
3.6 	(iii) the event is not a luxury service or event as determined by the Campaign Finance 
3.7 	and Public Disclosure Board under subdivision 4.
3.8 	(b) The prohibitions in this section do not apply if the gift is given:
3.9 	(1) because of the recipient's membership in a group, a majority of whose members are 
3.10 	not local officials, and an equivalent gift is given or offered to the other members of the 
3.11 	group;
3.12 	(2) by an interested person who is a member of the family of the recipient, unless the 
3.13 	gift is given on behalf of someone who is not a member of that family; or
3.14 	(3) by a national or multistate organization of governmental organizations or public 
3.15 	officials, if a majority of the dues to the organization are paid from public funds, to attendees 
3.16 	at a conference sponsored by that organization, if the gift is food or a beverage given at a 
3.17 	reception or meal and an equivalent gift is given or offered to all other attendees.
3.18 		Subd. 4.Gift standards and policies. (a) The Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure 
3.19 	Board must determine standards for a luxury service or event prohibited under subdivision 
3.20 	3, clauses (8) and (9), and must publish the standards on the board's website.
3.21 	(b) A local government may adopt policies with additional requirements and restrictions 
3.22 	for gifts under subdivision 3, clauses (8) and (9).
3.23 		Subd. 5.Penalties. A gift under subdivision 3, clauses (8) and (9), made with the intent 
3.24 	to influence the public safety officer's performance of the officer's powers or duties is subject 
3.25 	to the penalties described in section 609.42.