Minnesota Session Laws - 1989, Regular Session

  

                         Laws of Minnesota 1989 

                        CHAPTER 289-H.F.No. 391 
           An act relating to peace officers; providing 
          eligibility for death benefits for certain fire and 
          rescue unit members and other first responders; 
          amending Minnesota Statutes 1988, section 176B.01, 
          subdivision 2. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
    Section 1.  [PEACE OFFICER BENEFIT.] 
    For the purposes of Minnesota Statutes, chapter 176B, a 
"peace officer" as defined in section 176B.01, subdivision 2, 
includes any person who was a volunteer or compensated member of 
a fire and rescue unit recognized by a local government unit who 
was giving assistance at the scene of a traffic accident on 
October 28, 1987, and who subsequently died as a result of 
injuries incurred at the scene of that accident.  The assistance 
need not have been given pursuant to any order or request but 
may have been given on a voluntary, good samaritan basis. 
    Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1988, section 176B.01, 
subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
    Subd. 2.  [PEACE OFFICER.] "Peace officer" means: 
    (a) a police officer employed by the state of Minnesota or 
any governmental subdivision within the state to enforce the 
criminal laws; 
    (b) a Minnesota state patrol officer; 
    (c) a sheriff or full-time deputy sheriff with power of 
arrest by warrant; 
    (d) a state conservation officer as defined in section 
84.028, subdivision 3; 
    (e) a person employed by the bureau of criminal 
apprehension as a police officer with power of arrest by 
warrant; 
    (f) a correction officer employed at any correctional 
institution and charged with maintaining the safety, security, 
discipline and custody of inmates at such institutions; 
    (g) a firefighter employed on a full-time basis by a fire 
department of any governmental subdivision of the state who is 
engaged in the hazards of firefighting or a regularly enrolled 
member of a volunteer fire department or member of an 
independent nonprofit firefighting corporation who is engaged in 
the hazards of fire fighting; 
    (h) a good samaritan who complies with the request or 
direction of a peace officer to assist the officer; 
    (i) a reserve police officer or a reserve deputy sheriff 
acting under the supervision and authority of a political 
subdivision; and 
    (j) a driver or attendant with a licensed basic or advanced 
life support transportation service who is engaged in providing 
emergency care; and 
    (k) a first responder who is certified by the commissioner 
of health to perform basic emergency skills before the arrival 
of a licensed ambulance service and who is a member of an 
organized service recognized by a local political subdivision to 
respond to medical emergencies to provide initial medical care 
before the arrival of an ambulance. 
    Sec. 3.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
    Section 1 is effective retroactive to October 1, 1987.  
Section 2 is effective July 1, 1989. 
    Presented to the governor May 26, 1989 
    Signed by the governor May 26, 1989, 5:38 p.m.