2006 Minnesota Statutes

88.12 COMPENSATION OF FIGHTERS OF WILDFIRES; EMERGENCY EXPENSES.
    Subdivision 1. Limitation. The compensation and expenses of persons temporarily
employed in emergencies in suppression or control of wildfires shall be fixed by the commissioner
of natural resources or an authorized agent and paid as provided by law. Such compensation shall
not exceed the maximum rate for comparable labor established as provided by law or rules, but
shall not be subject to any minimum rate so established. The commissioner is authorized to draw
and expend from money appropriated for the purposes of sections 88.03 to 88.22 a reasonable
sum and through forest officers or other authorized agent be used in paying emergency expenses,
including just compensation for services rendered by persons summoned and for private property
used, damaged, or appropriated under sections 88.03 to 88.22. The commissioner of finance
is authorized to draw a warrant for this sum when duly approved by the commissioner. The
commissioner or agent in charge shall take proper subvouchers or receipts from all persons to
whom these moneys are paid, and after these subvouchers have been approved they shall be filed
with the commissioner of finance. Authorized funds as herein provided at any time shall be
deposited, subject to withdrawal or disbursement by check or otherwise for the purposes herein
prescribed, in a bank authorized and bonded to receive state deposits; and the bond of this bank to
the state shall cover and include this deposit.
    Subd. 2. Contracts for services for forestry or wildfire prevention work; commissions
to persons employed. The commissioner is hereby authorized and empowered to contract for
or accept the services of any and all persons whose aid is available, temporarily or otherwise,
in forestry or wildfire prevention work, either gratuitously or for compensation not in excess of
the limits provided by law with respect to the employment of labor by the commissioner. At the
request of another emergency response agency, trained forestry wildfire fighting resources may
be used to support search and rescue operations. The commissioner may issue a commission, or
other written evidence of authority, to any such person whose services are so arranged for; and
may thereby empower such person to act, temporarily or otherwise, as fire warden, or in any other
capacity, with such powers and duties as may be specified in the commission or other written
evidence of authority, but not in excess of the powers conferred by law on forest officers.
History: (4031-17, 4031-17a) 1925 c 407 s 17; 1927 c 280 s 1; 1955 c 218 s 1; 1967 c
146 s 9; 1969 c 1129 art 10 s 2; 1973 c 492 s 14; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1986 c 444; 1993 c 328
s 21; 2000 c 495 s 8