1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to public employment; extending the 
  1.3             probationary period for firefighters; amending 
  1.4             Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 420.08.  
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 420.08, is 
  1.7   amended to read: 
  1.8      420.08 [REMOVAL OR DISCHARGE.] 
  1.9      No officer or employee after ~~six~~ 12 months' continuous 
  1.10  employment shall be removed or discharged except for cause, upon 
  1.11  written charges and after an opportunity to be heard in defense 
  1.12  of the charges as in this chapter hereinafter provided.  Such 
  1.13  charges shall be investigated by or before such civil service 
  1.14  commission.  The findings and decision of such commission shall 
  1.15  be forthwith certified to the chief or other appointing or 
  1.16  superior officer, and will be forthwith enforced by such 
  1.17  officer.  Nothing in this chapter shall limit the power of any 
  1.18  officer to suspend a subordinate for a reasonable period not 
  1.19  exceeding 60 days for the purpose of discipline, or pending 
  1.20  investigation of charges when the officer deems such suspension 
  1.21  advisable.