Chapter 645 — Penalties No Bar to Civil Remedies

611A.05 Penalties No Bar to Civil Remedies A law that sets penalties does not take away a person's right to sue for damages caused by a violation of that law. 645.001 Applicability to Rules This chapter's rules for reading and understanding laws also apply to all state agency rules made after June 30, 1981. 645.01 Words and Phrases Defines key terms used in this chapter, including what counts as final enactment of a law. 645.02 Effective Date and Time of Laws Most new laws take effect on August 1 after they pass. Spending laws take effect July 1 unless a different date is … 645.021 Special Laws Explains when the legislature can pass special laws and how local governments can approve them. 645.023 Special Laws; Enactment Without Local Approval Lists topics where the legislature cannot pass special laws and must use general laws instead. 645.024 Special Laws; Local Approval as Requirement of Act Special laws that require local approval are not blocked by the rule against special legislation. 645.03 Minnesota laws take effect on August 1 after they pass, unless the law says a different date. 645.04 When a law is repealed, it does not undo any penalties or punishments already applied under that law. 645.05 If a court strikes down parts of a law, the rest of the law stays in effect if it still makes sense. 645.06 Explains that retroactive laws require clear language and outlines limits on making laws apply to the past. 645.07 A law that seems to cover the same topic as an older law does not automatically repeal the older one. 645.071 Standard of Time All references to time in Minnesota law mean federal standard time or daylight saving time. 645.08 Canons of Construction Lists default rules for reading Minnesota statutes, such as singular includes plural and present tense includes future. 645.09 Numerals If a section of law has subdivisions, the general statement at the start does not limit the specific provisions that … 645.10 Bonds Holidays listed in this section include New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, and others. 645.11 Published Notice If a deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day. 645.12 Posted Notice Defines the word 'publication' in Minnesota law as printing a notice in a qualified newspaper. 645.13 Time; Publication for Successive Weeks Explains how time is calculated when the law gives a number of days, weeks, or months for something to happen. 645.14 Time; Computation of Months When a law requires posting a public notice, it must be posted in a visible public place for the required time. 645.15 Computation of Time Defines a legal newspaper as one that meets specific criteria about how often it publishes and its circulation. 645.151 Timely Delivery or Filing If a filing deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, you can file on the next business day. 645.16 Legislative Intent Controls Courts must look at the purpose and intent behind a law when its words are unclear. 645.17 Presumptions in Ascertaining Legislative Intent Lists what courts assume the legislature intended when it passed a law, including that it meant to follow the … 645.18 Grammar; Syntax; Ellipsis When a law can be read in more than one way, courts choose the interpretation that is fair and avoids absurd results. 645.19 Construction of Provisos and Exceptions The text of a law, not its title or headnotes, controls its meaning. 645.20 Construction of Severable Provisions Defines common words used in Minnesota statutes, like 'person,' 'state,' and 'county.' 645.21 Presumption Against Retroactive Effect The word 'may' in a law means something is optional; 'shall' means it is required. 645.22 Uniform Laws The words 'land' and 'real property' in Minnesota law include buildings and things attached to the land. 645.23 The word 'personal property' means everything that is not land or buildings. 645.24 Penalties for Each Offense The word 'oath' in Minnesota law includes an affirmation for people who choose not to swear. 645.241 Punishment for Prohibited Acts Government actions are presumed valid unless there is clear proof to the contrary. 645.25 Intent to Defraud Written notice is considered received a certain number of days after mailing, depending on the type of mail. 645.26 Irreconcilable Provisions Any law that conflicts with this chapter is controlled by this chapter's rules for interpreting statutes. 645.27 State Bound by Statute; When This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 645.28 Existing Laws; Effect of Revision or Code This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 645.29 Manner of Amendment This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 645.30 Effect of Separate Amendments on Code Provisions Enacted at Same Session This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 645.31 Construction of Amendatory and Reference Laws Defines additional terms used across Minnesota statutes, including 'minor' and 'written.' 645.32 Merger of Subsequent Amendments This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 645.33 Two or More Amendments to Same Section; One Overlooking the Other This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 645.34 Repeal of Amendatory and Original Laws Subsequently Amended This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 645.35 Effect of Repeal This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 645.36 Effect of Repeal of Repealer This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 645.37 Repeal and Reenactment This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 645.38 Effect of Reenactment on Intervening Law This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 645.39 Implied Repeal by Later Law This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 645.40 Nonexistence of Reason for Law Does Not Repeal it This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 645.41 No Implied Repeal by Nonuser This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 645.42 Effect of Separate Repeals on Code Provisions Enacted at Same Session This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 645.43 Effect of Repeal on Limitations This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 645.435 Appropriations Given Effect Once If the legislature passes the same spending item more than once in a session, it only counts once. 645.44 Words and Phrases Defined Defines many common words used in Minnesota law, such as 'child,' 'town,' 'highway,' and 'municipality.' 645.445 Small Business; Definitions Defines 'small business' for Minnesota law as having 20 or fewer employees or limited revenue. 645.446 Health Plan Companies Defines when the term 'health plan company' applies and lists exceptions. 645.45 Definitions, Continued Defines the terms 'town' and 'city' as used in Minnesota law and how they relate to municipal government. 645.451 Definitions, Continued Corrects gendered language in Minnesota laws by making pronouns gender-neutral. 645.452 Disabilities of Minority; Termination at Age 18 All legal disabilities of being a minor end when a person turns 18. 645.46 Reference to Subdivision This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 645.47 Reference to Paragraph This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 645.48 Reference to Section Series Provides definitions for specific terms used in Minnesota law, including 'agricultural land' and 'school district.' 645.49 Headnotes This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 645.51 Gender Revision of 1986 This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect.