Minnesota Session Laws - 2025, Regular Session

CHAPTER 7--H.F.No. 124

An act

relating to public safety; allowing for the acceptance of certain gifts related to a line of duty death of a public safety officer; authorizing local government expenditure for public safety officer killed in the line of duty; requiring a report;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 471.198; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 299A.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [299A.473] CERTAIN GIFTS ALLOWED AFTER OFFICER KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY. new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) The definitions in this subdivision apply to this section. new text end

new text begin (b) "Gift" means money, real or personal property, a plaque, or a service that is given and received without the giver receiving consideration of equal or greater value in return. new text end

new text begin (c) "Killed in the line of duty" has the meaning given in section 299A.41, subdivision 3. new text end

new text begin (d) "Plaque" means a decorative item with an inscription recognizing an individual for an accomplishment. new text end

new text begin (e) "Political subdivision" means a county, home rule charter or statutory city, town, or any other political subdivision of the state. new text end

new text begin (f) "Public safety officer" has the meaning given in section 299A.41, subdivision 4. new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin State agency or political subdivision as recipient. new text end

new text begin (a) Notwithstanding any law or rule to the contrary, a state agency or political subdivision may receive a gift under the following circumstances: new text end

new text begin (1) a public safety officer employed by the state agency or political subdivision was killed in the line of duty; new text end

new text begin (2) the gift is given during the consecutive 24-month period beginning on the date of death of the public safety officer killed in the line of duty; new text end

new text begin (3) the gift honors or commemorates the public safety officer who was killed in the line of duty or provides team morale or cohesion services to the agency or political subdivision; and new text end

new text begin (4) the gift is in compliance with any applicable gift policies adopted by the state agency or political subdivision. new text end

new text begin (b) The gift must be distributed and used by the state agency or political subdivision in compliance with the intentions of the donor: new text end

new text begin (1) within one year of the receipt of the gift; and new text end

new text begin (2) in compliance with any applicable gift policies adopted by the state agency or political subdivision. new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Gift policies. new text end

new text begin A state agency or political subdivision may adopt policies with additional requirements and restrictions for gifts received under this section. new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Reporting. new text end

new text begin A state agency or political subdivision shall report any gifts received under this section within three months of use or distribution to the commissioner of public safety. The report must specify the amount or description of the gift, its source, and the use to which it was put. The state agency or political subdivision shall also post this information on its website. The commissioner shall include the information received under this subdivision in the report required in section 299A.012, paragraph (b). new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment and applies to gifts given on or after that date. new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 471.198, is amended to read:

471.198 EXPENDITURES; NATIONAL NIGHT OUT; LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY EVENTS new text begin ; FALLEN OFFICERS new text end .

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) The definitions in this subdivision apply to this section. new text end

new text begin (b) "Local government" means a home rule charter or statutory city, town, or county. new text end

new text begin (c) "Qualified individual" means an individual with one of the following relationships to a local government expending money under this section: new text end

new text begin (1) an employee of the local government; new text end

new text begin (2) an immediate family member of an employee of the local government; or new text end

new text begin (3) an immediate family member of a fallen officer who was employed by the local government. new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Authorized expenditures. new text end

(a) deleted text begin Any home rule charter or statutory city or any town, county, or school district deleted text end new text begin A local government new text end may spend money for new text begin the following purposes: new text end

new text begin (1) new text end National Night Out events held in the jurisdiction of the local government spending the money deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin ; new text end

deleted text begin (b) Any home rule charter or statutory city or any town, county, or school district may spend money for deleted text end new text begin (2) new text end any event or purpose that the governing body new text begin of the local government new text end determines will foster positive relationships between law enforcement and the community deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin ; new text end

new text begin (3) funding a funeral or memorial for a public safety officer killed in the line of duty; and new text end

new text begin (4) funding travel and participation for qualified individuals in national memorial events for fallen public safety officers occurring within 24 months of a line-of-duty death of an officer or employee of the local government. new text end

new text begin (b) A school district is authorized to spend money for the purposes of paragraph (a), clauses (1) and (2). new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Contributions solicitation. new text end

deleted text begin (c) deleted text end Notwithstanding any law or ordinance to the contrary, any deleted text begin home rule charter or statutory city, or any town, county, deleted text end new text begin local government new text end or school district may, by resolution, authorize officials and staff to solicit contributions for the purposes authorized in deleted text begin paragraphs (a) and (b) deleted text end new text begin subdivision 2 new text end .

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Presented to the governor April 29, 2025

Signed by the governor April 30, 2025, 12:26 p.m.