Municipal exemption or immunity from antitrust liability

(a) When used in this section "municipality" means any city, county, township or other political or taxing subdivision of the state. (b) The legislature of the state of Kansas recognizes the importance and the necessity of providing and regulating certain services and activities by municipalities in order to serve and protect the public's general health, safety and welfare. Municipalities which are authorized specifically by statute or through the exercise of the municipalities' home rule power are urged to continue to provide and regulate such services and activities. Except as provided in subsection (d), such municipalities and the officers and employees thereof shall be exempt from civil liability except for injunctive relief under the antitrust laws of the state of Kansas in article 1 of chapter 50 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated. The prevailing party in any suit for such injunctive relief may be awarded attorney fees. The bond requirements of K.S.A. 60-905, and amendments thereto, shall not be applicable in suits for injunctive relief brought against municipalities for violation of the antitrust laws of the state. (c) The antitrust immunity and exemption provided by subsection (b) shall be in addition to any municipal exemption or immunity from antitrust liability which might otherwise exist. (d) Nothing contained in this section shall preclude the attorney general or any county or district attorney from bringing an action against a municipality for a violation of the antitrust laws or any other laws of the state.