SF1398

Purpose

• The bill expands which entities are treated as municipalities for purposes of certain state statutes, and it introduces a cap on tort liability for some water and sewer districts.

Main Provisions

• Redefines “Municipality” to include a broad set of entities beyond traditional cities and counties. Specifically, it adds:
  • Water or sewer systems formed under chapter 116A
  • Regional public libraries and library systems (public library, regional library system, multicounty/multitype library system)
  • Special districts, school districts, county agricultural societies, and joint powers boards or organizations created under various statutes
  • Local collaboratives whose plans have been approved by the Childrens Cabinet, including:
  • Family services collaboratives established under section 142D.15
  • Children’s mental health collaboratives established under sections 245.491 to 245.495
  • Collaboratives formed by merging a children’s mental health collaborative with a family services collaborative
  • Other political subdivisions, community action agencies, or limited partnerships where a community action agency is the sole general partner
• For purposes of sections 466.01 to 466.15, these added entities are treated as municipalities.
• The bill imposes a maximum tort liability for certain water and sewer districts (i.e., these districts would be subject to a cap on damages in lawsuits), though the specific cap amount is not shown in the excerpt provided.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Broadens the definition of “municipality” to include many nontraditional local government entities (e.g., water/sewer systems under chapter 116A, certain library systems, and various collaboratives and joint powers arrangements).
• Establishes a maximum tort liability for the newly included water and sewer districts, potentially limiting damages plaintiffs can recover in certain civil lawsuits against those districts.
• The changes are enacted by amending Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 466.01 subdivision 1 to redefine “Municipality” for the referenced sections (466.01 to 466.15).

How It Would Apply

• Entities listed in the revised definition would be governed by the same liability-related provisions as municipalities within the scope of sections 466.01 to 466.15.
• Water and sewer districts meeting the new criteria would have a capped liability exposure in tort actions, as defined by the bill.

Notes

• The exact numeric amount of the tort liability cap is not provided in the excerpt.

Relevant Terms - definition of Municipality - municipality means - water or sewer system formed under chapter 116A - joint powers board - regional public library system - multicounty library system - local collaboratives - family services collaboratives - childrens mental health collaboratives - Childrens Cabinet - community action agency - limited partnership - sole general partner - tort liability - maximum tort liability - Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 466.01 subdivision 1 - sections 466.01 to 466.15