HF 1439

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 03/11/2013 02:42pm

A bill for an act
relating to state lands; limiting costs that may be assessed against permanent
school trust lands; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2012,
section 16A.125, subdivision 5.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 16A.125, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Forest trust lands.

(a) The term "state forest trust fund lands" as used
in this subdivision, means public land in trust under the Constitution set apart as "forest
lands under the authority of the commissioner" of natural resources as defined by section
89.001, subdivision 13.

(b) The commissioner of management and budget shall credit the revenue from the
forest trust fund lands to the forest suspense account. The account must specify the trust
funds interested in the lands and the respective receipts of the lands.

(c) After a fiscal year, the commissioner of management and budget shall certify
the costs incurred for forestry during that year under appropriations for the improvement,
administration, and management of state forest trust fund lands and construction and
improvement of forest roads to enhance the forest value of the lands. The certificate must
specify the trust funds interested in the lands. new text begin In any year, the total costs assessed against
the permanent school trust fund lands must not exceed 30 percent of the revenue earned by
permanent school trust fund lands. new text end After presentation to the Legislative Permanent School
Fund Commission, the commissioner of natural resources shall supply the commissioner
of management and budget with the information needed for the certificate. The certificate
shall include an analysis that compares costs certified under this section with costs
incurred on other public and private lands with similar land assets.

(d) After a fiscal year, the commissioner shall distribute the receipts credited to the
suspense account during that fiscal year as follows:

(1) the amount of the certified costs incurred by the state for forest management,
forest improvement, and road improvement during the fiscal year shall be transferred to
the forest management investment account established under section 89.039;

(2) the balance of the certified costs incurred by the state during the fiscal year
shall be transferred to the general fund; and

(3) the balance of the receipts shall then be returned prorated to the trust funds in
proportion to their respective interests in the lands which produced the receipts.

new text begin (e) The commissioner of natural resources must provide the same levels of
protection, improvement, administration, and management of permanent school trust fund
lands as the commissioner provides for other lands included in this subdivision.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2013, and applies to
distributions made on or after that date.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS.
new text end

new text begin $....... is appropriated in fiscal year 2015 from the general fund to the commissioner
of natural resources for the forest management activities required under Minnesota
Statutes, section 16A.125, subdivision 5.
new text end