Subd. 1. Records.

A local relief association is subject to the provisions of chapter 6 relating to audits by the state auditor, the provisions of chapter 13, and the provisions of sections 15.17, 138.163, and 138.17 relating to the creation and retention of official and public records. The records of the special fund and the bylaws of the relief association shall be public and shall be open for inspection by any member of the relief association, any officer or employee of the state or the municipality, or any member of the public, at reasonable times and places.

Subd. 2. Municipal representation.

1. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, the membership of the board of trustees shall include at least two members appointed by the municipality. The members appointed by the municipality shall have all the rights and privileges of board membership including full voting powers. No relief association shall reduce the number of municipal representatives on its board by reason of this subdivision.
2. (b) Notwithstanding any law which designates certain officials as ex officio members of a board of trustees, the municipality may appoint the same number of members as it is authorized to have on the board in the laws governing the relief association as of March 20, 1986, but the municipality may appoint to those positions any individuals it so chooses.
3. (c) Whenever the board of trustees appoints an investment subcommittee at least one of the municipal representatives must be a member of that investment subcommittee.

Subd. 3. Public officers.

The officers and trustees of a local relief association are public officers for purposes of sections 471.87 and 609.43.

Subd. 4. Fiduciary responsibility.

1. (a) In the discharge of their respective duties, the officers and trustees shall be held to the standard of care enumerated in section 11A.09. In addition, the trustees must act in accordance with chapter 356A.

2. (b) Each member of the board is a fiduciary and shall undertake all fiduciary activities in accordance with the standard of care of section 11A.09, and in a manner consistent with chapter 356A. No fiduciary of a relief association shall cause a relief association to engage in a transaction if the fiduciary knows or should know that a transaction constitutes one of the following direct or indirect transactions:

   1. (1) sale or exchange or leasing of any real property between the relief association and a board member;
   2. (2) lending of money or other extension of credit between the relief association and a board member or member of the relief association;
   3. (3) furnishing of goods, services, or facilities between the relief association and a board member; or
   4. (4) transfer to a board member, or use by or for the benefit of a board member, of any assets of the relief association. Transfer of assets does not mean the payment of relief association benefits or administrative expenses permitted by law.