HF 222

1st Engrossment - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 01:34am

A bill for an act
relating to elections; allowing certain persons access to multiple unit residences
for certain campaign and election purposes; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008,
section 211B.20.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 211B.20, is amended to read:

211B.20 DENIAL OF ACCESS BY POLITICAL CANDIDATES TO
MULTIPLE UNIT DWELLINGS.

Subdivision 1.

Prohibition.

new text begin (a) new text end It is unlawful for a person, either directly or
indirectly, to deny access to an apartment house, dormitory, nursing home, manufactured
home park, other multiple unit facility used as a residence, or an area in which two or
more single-family dwellings are located on private roadways to deleted text begin a candidate who has filed
for election to public office or to campaign workers accompanied by the candidate, if the
candidate and workers seeking admittance to the facility do so solely for the purpose of
campaigning. deleted text end new text begin a candidate who has:
new text end

new text begin (1) organized a campaign committee under applicable federal or state law;
new text end

new text begin (2) filed a financial report as required by section 211A.02; or
new text end

new text begin (3) filed an affidavit of candidacy for elected office.
new text end

new text begin A candidate granted access under this section must be allowed to be accompanied
by campaign volunteers.
new text end

new text begin (b) Access to a facility or area is only required if it is located within the district or
territory that will be represented by the office to which the candidate seeks election, and
the candidate and any accompanying campaign volunteers seek access exclusively for
the purpose of campaigning for a candidate or registering voters. The candidate must be
seeking election to office at the next general or special election to be held for that office.
new text end

new text begin (c) A candidate and any accompanying campaign volunteers granted access under
this section must be permitted to leave campaign materials for residents at their doors,
except that the manager of a nursing home may direct that the campaign materials be
left at a central location within the facility. The campaign materials must be left in
an orderly manner.
new text end

new text begin (d) new text end A violation of this section is a petty misdemeanor.

Subd. 2.

Exceptions.

Subdivision 1 does not prohibit:

(1) denial of admittance into a particular apartment, room, manufactured home, or
personal residential unit;

(2) requiring reasonable and proper identification as a necessary prerequisite to
admission to a multiple unit dwelling;

(3) in the case of a nursing home new text begin or a registered housing with services establishment
providing assisted living services meeting the requirements of section 144G.03,
subdivision 2 new text end , denial of permission to visit certain persons for valid health reasons;

(4) limiting visits by candidates or deleted text begin workers deleted text end new text begin volunteers new text end accompanied by the candidate
to a reasonable number of persons or reasonable hours;

(5) requiring a prior appointment to gain access to the facility; or

(6) denial of admittance to or expulsion from a multiple unit dwelling for good cause.