(a) No official or head of any state department in the executive, legislative, or judicial branches, or any employee of a state department in those branches, may intentionally use money appropriated by law, or fees collected knowing that the use is for a purpose other than the purpose for which the money was appropriated. Unless a greater penalty is specified elsewhere in law, a person who violates this paragraph is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

Attorney's Note

Under the Minnesota Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Gross misdemeanorup to 1 yearup to $3,000
Misdemeanorup to 90 daysup to $1,000
For details, see § 609.02

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Terms Used In Minnesota Statutes 16A.139

  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Impeachment: (1) The process of calling something into question, as in "impeaching the testimony of a witness." (2) The constitutional process whereby the House of Representatives may "impeach" (accuse of misconduct) high officers of the federal government for trial in the Senate.
  • Person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Minnesota Statutes 645.44
  • state: extends to and includes the District of Columbia and the several territories. See Minnesota Statutes 645.44

(b) A violation of paragraph (a) by a head of a department, or any state official, is cause for immediate removal of the official or head of a state department from the position held with the government of this state. A criminal conviction under paragraph (a) is not a prerequisite for removal. This paragraph does not apply to a judge, a constitutional officer, or a legislator, except as potential grounds for expulsion, impeachment, or recall in the manner specified in article IV, section 7, and article VIII of the Minnesota Constitution.