1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to courts; creating a civil action for 
  1.3             discrimination against access to public accommodations 
  1.4             because of insignia on clothing; providing a criminal 
  1.5             penalty; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
  1.6             Statutes, chapter 604. 
  1.7   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.8      Section 1.  [604.12] [DISCRIMINATION IN CERTAIN PUBLIC 
  1.9   ACCOMMODATIONS.] 
  1.10     Subdivision 1.  [DEFINITION.] For purposes of this section 
  1.11  "place of public accommodation" has the meaning given in section 
  1.12  363.01, subdivision 33. 
  1.13     Subd. 2.  [MISDEMEANOR.] It is unlawful for a person to 
  1.14  discriminate against any individual with respect to access or 
  1.15  admission to, or full utilization of, a place of public 
  1.16  accommodation because of an insignia on the individual's 
  1.17  clothing or because of the individual's mode of transportation. 
  1.18     Subd. 3.  [CIVIL ACTION.] An individual injured by a 
  1.19  violation of subdivision 2 may bring an action to recover actual 
  1.20  damages, exemplary damages, injunctive relief, and reasonable 
  1.21  attorney's fees for the violation. 
  1.22     Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION.] 
  1.23     Section 1, subdivision 2, is effective August 1, 1997, and 
  1.24  applies to offenses committed on or after the effective date. 
  1.25     Section 1, subdivision 3, is effective August 1, 1997, and 
  1.26  applies to causes of action arising on or after the effective 
  2.1   date.