1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to utilities; providing for indemnification 
  1.3             of members of team of science advisors studying ground 
  1.4             voltage; amending Laws 1996, chapter 452, section 20. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  Laws 1996, chapter 452, section 20, is amended 
  1.7   to read: 
  1.8      Sec. 20.  [GROUND VOLTAGE SCIENCE ADVISORS; IMMUNITY FROM 
  1.9   SUIT, INDEMNIFICATION.] 
  1.10     ~~(a)~~ A member of the team of science advisors ~~charged with~~ 
  1.11  ~~studying, researching, or preparing the report required~~ 
  1.12  ~~by~~ appointed under Laws 1994, chapter 573, or serving in a 
  1.13  liaison capacity on behalf of the team of science advisors, is 
  1.14  not ~~liable for the content of the preliminary assessment or~~ 
  1.15  ~~final report, for any action taken or project conducted on~~ 
  1.16  ~~behalf of researching and preparing the assessment and report,~~ 
  1.17  ~~or for any action taken or consequence resulting from or arising~~ 
  1.18  ~~out of publication and dissemination of the report.  This~~ 
  1.19  ~~section does not provide immunity for negligence or intentional~~ 
  1.20  ~~misconduct of a member or a liaison.~~ 
  1.21     ~~(b) If a person referred to in paragraph (a) becomes a~~ 
  1.22  ~~party to a civil action or other legal or administrative~~ 
  1.23  ~~proceeding by reason of any action referred to in paragraph (a),~~ 
  1.24  ~~despite the intent of paragraph (a) to hold those persons immune~~ 
  1.25  ~~from suit, the state shall defend, save harmless, and indemnify~~ 
  2.1   ~~the person for any judgment or settlement and other costs~~ 
  2.2   ~~incurred in defense of the action or proceeding, unless the~~ 
  2.3   ~~person is found liable for negligent or intentional misconduct~~ a 
  2.4   state employee, but is covered by the protections afforded state 
  2.5   employees under Minnesota Statutes, section 3.736. 
  2.6      Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.7      Section 1 is effective retroactively to May 6, 1994.