1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to transportation; amending requirements governing Department of 
1.3 	Transportation collection efforts for damage to state-owned property;amending 
1.4 	Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 161.20, subdivision 4.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 161.20, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subd. 4.Debt collection. (a) The commissioner shall make reasonable and 
1.8 	businesslike efforts to collect money owed for licenses, fines, penalties, and permit fees, or 
1.9 	arising from damages to state-owned property or other causes related to the activities of the 
1.10 	Department of Transportation. The commissioner may not seek to collect for damages to 
1.11 	state-owned property unless the commissioner possesses information that clearly indicates 
1.12 	fault or culpability on the part of the person against whom collection efforts are made.
1.13 	(b) The commissioner may contract for debt collection services for the purpose 
1.14 	of collecting a money judgment or legal indebtedness. The commissioner may enter 
1.15 	into an agreement with the commissioner of public safety to use debt collection services 
1.16 	authorized by this subdivision when civil penalties relating to the use of highways have 
1.17 	been reduced to money judgment. Money received as full or partial payment shall be 
1.18 	deposited to the appropriate fund. When money is collected through contracted services, 
1.19 	the commissioner may make payment for the service from the money collected. The 
1.20 	amount necessary for payment of contractual collection costs is appropriated from the 
1.21 	fund in which money so collected is deposited.

1.22 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.