1.1.................... moves to amend H.F. No. 103 as follows:
1.2Delete everything after the enacting clause and insert:
1.3 "Section 1.
FINDINGS.
1.4The legislature finds that the state and municipal tort liability limitations contained
1.5in Minnesota Statutes, sections 3.736 and 466.04, are rationally related to the legitimate
1.6government objective of ensuring fiscal stability to meet and carry out the manifold
1.7responsibilities of government. The legislature finds that, unlike municipalities, the state
1.8of Minnesota has the fiscal capacity and ability to absorb the cost of and pay for multiple
1.9tort claims arising out of a single occurrence without a dollar limitation on that liability.
1.10The ability of the state to respond to monetary judgments is quantitatively greater than that
1.11of a municipality because of significant differences in the size of their respective budgets
1.12and their tax base and taxing authority. A limitation on the total liability of municipalities
1.13for multiple tort claims arising out of a single occurrence is necessary to protect the fiscal
1.14stability and integrity of municipalities and to protect the taxpayers within municipalities
1.15from the effect of unlimited tort liability exposure. The legislature retains and reaffirms
1.16the public purpose served by the continuance of the limitation on liability for tort claims
1.17arising out of a single occurrence applicable to municipalities under Minnesota Statutes,
1.18section 466.04.
1.19 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 3.736, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
1.20 Subd. 4.
Limits. (a) The total liability of the state and its employees acting within
1.21the scope of their employment on any tort claim shall not exceed:
1.22 (a) (1) $300,000 when the claim is one for death by wrongful act or omission and
1.23$300,000 to any claimant in any other case, for claims arising before August 1, 2007;
1.24 (b) (2) $400,000 when the claim is one for death by wrongful act or omission and
1.25$400,000 to any claimant in any other case, for claims arising on or after August 1, 2007,
1.26and before July 1, 2009;
2.1 (c) (3) $500,000 when the claim is one for death by wrongful act or omission and
2.2$500,000 to any claimant in any other case, for claims arising on or after July 1, 2009;
2.3 (d) (4) $750,000 for any number of claims arising out of a single occurrence, for
2.4claims arising on or after January 1, 1998, and before January 1, 2000;
2.5 (e) (5) $1,000,000 for any number of claims arising out of a single occurrence, for
2.6claims arising on or after January 1, 2000, and before January 1, 2008;
or
2.7 (f) (6) $1,200,000 for any number of claims arising out of a single occurrence, for
2.8claims arising on or after January 1, 2008, and before
July 1, 2009; or
2.9 (g) $1,500,000 for any number of claims arising out of a single occurrence, for
2.10claims arising on or after July 1, 2009.
2.11(b) There is no limit on the total liability of the state and its employees acting within
2.12the scope of their employment for any number of claims arising out of a single occurrence
2.13for claims arising on or after July 1, 2009.
2.14 (c) If the amount awarded to or settled upon multiple claimants exceeds the
2.15applicable limit under
clause (d), (e), (f), or (g) paragraph (a), clause (4), (5), or (6),
2.16any party may apply to the district court to apportion to each claimant a proper share of
2.17the amount available under the applicable limit
under clause (d), (e), (f), or (g). The
2.18share apportioned to each claimant shall be in the proportion that the ratio of the award
2.19or settlement bears to the aggregate awards and settlements for all claims arising out
2.20of the occurrence.
2.21 (d) The limitation imposed by this subdivision on individual claimants includes
2.22damages claimed for loss of services or loss of support arising out of the same tort.
2.23EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2009.
2.24 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 3.736, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
2.25 Subd. 7.
Payment. A state agency, including an entity defined as part of the state
2.26in section
3.732, subdivision 1, clause (1), incurring a tort claim judgment or settlement
2.27obligation or whose employees acting within the scope of their employment incur the
2.28obligation shall seek approval to make payment by submitting a written request to the
2.29commissioner of finance. The request shall contain a description of the tort claim that
2.30causes the request, specify the amount of the obligation and be accompanied by copies of
2.31judgments, settlement agreements or other documentation relevant to the obligation for
2.32which the agency seeks payment. Upon receipt of the request and review of the claim, the
2.33commissioner of finance shall determine the proper appropriation from which to make
2.34payment. If there is enough money in an appropriation or combination of appropriations
2.35to the agency for its general operations and management to pay the claim without unduly
3.1hindering the operation of the agency, the commissioner shall direct that payment be
3.2made from that source
, except that payment may not be made from the trunk highway
3.3fund in excess of the amount specifically appropriated by the legislature for payment of
3.4tort claims. Claims relating to activities paid for by appropriations of dedicated receipts
3.5shall be paid from those appropriations if practicable. On determining that an agency has
3.6sufficient money in these appropriations to pay only part of a claim, the commissioner
3.7shall pay the remainder of the claim from the money appropriated to the commissioner
3.8for the purpose. On determining that the agency does not have enough money to pay any
3.9part of the claim, the commissioner shall pay all of the claim from money appropriated
3.10to the commissioner for the purpose. Payment shall be made only upon receipt of a
3.11written release by the claimant in a form approved by the attorney general, or the person
3.12designated as the university attorney, as the case may be.
3.13No attachment or execution shall issue against the state.
3.14 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 3.7393, subdivision 11, is amended to read:
3.15 Subd. 11.
Offers of settlement; limit on amount. (a) The amount of an offer of
3.16settlement or payment required by a settlement agreement must not exceed $400,000.
3.17This limitation does not apply to a supplemental payment made under subdivision 12. An
3.18offer of settlement must be accompanied by a notice to the survivor of the remainder of
3.19the amount calculated under subdivision 10 that is not included in the offer because of the
3.20limitation under this paragraph and the amount of the remainder for which a supplemental
3.21payment may be awarded.
3.22 (b) Notwithstanding section
3.736, subdivision 4,
paragraph (a), clause
(e) (5), or
3.23466.04
, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clause (5), the $1,000,000 limitation on state or
3.24municipal liability for claims arising out of a single occurrence otherwise applicable to the
3.25catastrophe does not apply to payments made to survivors under this section. The amount
3.26that may be paid by the state is limited by the appropriations for this purpose.
3.27EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2009.
3.28 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 3.7394, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
3.29 Subd. 6.
Amounts not considered for purposes of limit on government tort
3.30liability. Payments made to survivors under section
3.7393 or from the emergency relief
3.31fund are not to be considered in calculating the $1,000,000 limit on tort claims in civil
3.32actions against the state arising out of the catastrophe for purposes of section
3.736,
3.33subdivision 4,
paragraph (a), clause
(e) (5), or a municipality arising out of the catastrophe
3.34for purposes of section
466.04, subdivision 1, clause (5).
4.1EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2009.
4.2 Sec. 6.
CONTINGENT REPEALER.
4.3The amendments in sections 2 to 5 are repealed if a final nonappealable court
4.4decision holds that the limit in Minnesota Statutes, section 466.04, subdivision 1, clause
4.5(7), is unconstitutional based on the amendments in this act."
4.6Delete the title and insert:
4.8relating to state tort claims; removing the single occurrence liability cap;
4.9conforming cross references; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 3.736,
4.10subdivisions 4, as amended, 7; 3.7393, subdivision 11; 3.7394, subdivision 6."