1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to counties; providing for expiration of the 
  1.3             redemption period for nonpayment of taxes in certain 
  1.4             cases; amending Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 
  1.5             281.23, subdivision 6, and by adding a subdivision. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 281.23, is 
  1.8   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  1.9      Subd. 5a.  [DEFINITION.] In this subdivision, "occupied 
  1.10  parcel" means a parcel containing a structure subject to 
  1.11  property taxation. 
  1.12     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 281.23, 
  1.13  subdivision 6, is amended to read: 
  1.14     Subd. 6.  [SERVICE BY SHERIFF.] (a) Forthwith after the 
  1.15  commencement of such publication or mailing the county auditor 
  1.16  shall deliver to the sheriff of the county a sufficient number 
  1.17  of copies of such notice of expiration of redemption for service 
  1.18  upon the persons in possession of all parcels of such land as 
  1.19  are actually occupied and documentation if the certified mail 
  1.20  notice was returned as undeliverable or the notice was not 
  1.21  mailed to the address associated with the property.  Within 30 
  1.22  days after receipt thereof, the sheriff shall make such 
  1.23  investigation as may be necessary to ascertain whether or not 
  1.24  the parcels covered by such notice are actually occupied or 
  1.25  not parcels, and shall serve a copy of such notice of expiration 
  2.1   of redemption upon the person in possession of each parcel found 
  2.2   to be so an occupied parcel, in the manner prescribed for 
  2.3   serving summons in a civil action.  The sheriff shall make 
  2.4   prompt return to the auditor as to all notices so served and as 
  2.5   to all parcels found vacant and unoccupied.  Such return shall 
  2.6   be made upon a copy of such notice and shall be prima facie 
  2.7   evidence of the facts therein stated.  Unless compensation for 
  2.8   such services is otherwise provided by law, the sheriff shall 
  2.9   receive from the county, in addition to other compensation 
  2.10  prescribed by law, such fees and mileage for service on persons 
  2.11  in possession as are prescribed by law for such service in other 
  2.12  cases, and shall also receive such compensation for making 
  2.13  investigation and return as to vacant and unoccupied lands as 
  2.14  the county board may fix, subject to appeal to the district 
  2.15  court as in case of other claims against the county.  As to 
  2.16  either service upon persons in possession or return as to vacant 
  2.17  lands, the sheriff shall charge mileage only for one trip if the 
  2.18  occupants of more than two tracts are served simultaneously, and 
  2.19  in such case mileage shall be prorated and charged equitably 
  2.20  against all such owners. 
  2.21     (b) The secretary of state shall receive sheriff's service 
  2.22  for all out-of-state interests.