S.F. No. 1659 establishes the Capitol flag program.

Section 1 (16B.276, subdivision 1) defines the following terms for purposes of the program:  “active service,” “eligible family member,” “killed in the line of duty,” and “public safety officer.”

Subdivision 2 establishes the Capitol flag program in the Department of Administration, to provide either a Minnesota flag or an American flag that was flown over the Minnesota State Capitol to the family of a public safety officer killed in the line of duty or a member of the armed forces who died while in active service.

Subdivision 3 requires the Commissioner of Administration, beginning October 1, 2019, to issue a Minnesota state flag or American flag that was flown over the Capitol to an eligible family member who requests a flag.  With 30 days’ notice, the commissioner shall honor a request that a flag be flown on a specific commemorative date.  The family member may request that a specific government official present the flag to the family member.

Subdivision 4 provides that one flag will be provided free of charge, and if more flags are requested, the commissioner may charge a reasonable fee for the flag.

Section 2 is a blank appropriation from the general fund to the Commissioner of Administration for purposes of the section 1.