1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to local government; providing reimbursement 
  1.3             to fire departments for expenses incurred in 
  1.4             extinguishing certain motor vehicle fires; 
  1.5             appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 1998, 
  1.6             section 161.465. 
  1.7   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.8      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 161.465, is 
  1.9   amended to read: 
  1.10     161.465 [REIMBURSEMENT FOR FIRE SERVICES.] 
  1.11     Ordinary expenses incurred by a municipal or volunteer fire 
  1.12  department in extinguishing a grass fire within the right-of-way 
  1.13  of a trunk highway must be reimbursed upon certification to the 
  1.14  commissioner of transportation from the trunk highway fund.  In 
  1.15  addition, ordinary expenses incurred by a municipal or volunteer 
  1.16  fire department in extinguishing a fire outside the right-of-way 
  1.17  of any trunk highway if the fire originated within the 
  1.18  right-of-way, upon approval of a police officer or an officer or 
  1.19  employee of the department of public safety must, upon 
  1.20  certification to the commissioner of transportation by the 
  1.21  proper official of the municipality or fire department within 60 
  1.22  days after the completion of the service, be reimbursed to the 
  1.23  municipality or fire department from funds in the trunk highway 
  1.24  fund.  Ordinary expenses incurred by a municipal or volunteer 
  1.25  fire department in extinguishing a motor vehicle fire within the 
  1.26  right-of-way of a trunk highway or interstate, to the extent 
  2.1   these expenses are not reimbursed by insurance, must be 
  2.2   reimbursed upon certification to the commissioner from the 
  2.3   general fund.  The commissioner of transportation shall take 
  2.4   action practicable to secure reimbursement to the trunk highway 
  2.5   fund or to the general fund of money expended under this section 
  2.6   from the person, firm, or corporation responsible for the fire 
  2.7   or danger of fire. 
  2.8      The provisions of this section shall not be construed to 
  2.9   admit state liability for damage or destruction to private 
  2.10  property or for injury to persons resulting from a fire 
  2.11  originating within a trunk highway or interstate right-of-way. 
  2.12     Sec. 2.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  2.13     $200,000 is appropriated for the fiscal biennium ending 
  2.14  June 30, 2001, from the general fund to the commissioner of 
  2.15  transportation to administer section 1.