SF 154

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 02/13/2019 03:30pm

A bill for an act
relating to state government; requiring the state auditor to reimburse the legal costs
of Wright, Becker, and Ramsey Counties; regulating the use of certain
appropriations by the state auditor for litigation expenses.

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

Section 1. new text begin REIMBURSEMENT OF LEGAL COSTS FOR WRIGHT, BECKER,
AND RAMSEY COUNTIES.
new text end

new text begin The state auditor shall reimburse Wright, Becker, and Ramsey Counties for legal fees
incurred and costs and disbursements made as a result of defending against the state auditor's
lawsuit against them.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin STATE AUDITOR LITIGATION EXPENSES.
new text end

new text begin (a) Unless funds are otherwise expressly provided by law for this purpose, all costs
incurred by the state auditor in preparing and asserting a civil claim or appeal, or in defending
against a civil claim or appeal, related to the proper exercise of the auditor's constitutionally
authorized core functions must be paid by the auditor's constitutional office division. Only
allocations made to the constitutional office division on or before January 1, 2020, may be
used to pay these costs.
new text end

new text begin (b) In complying with paragraph (a), the state auditor may not, directly or indirectly,
decrease allocations previously made to, transfer funds from, or otherwise reduce services
provided by any other division of the office.
new text end