HF 1587

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 07/09/2019 01:11pm

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; extending citizen oversight committees; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 97A.055, subdivision 4b.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 97A.055, subdivision 4b, is amended to read:

Subd. 4b.

Citizen oversight committees.

(a) The commissioner shall appoint committees
of affected persons to review the reports prepared under subdivision 4; review the proposed
work plans and budgets for the coming year; propose changes in policies, activities, and
revenue enhancements or reductions; review other relevant information; and make
recommendations to the legislature and the commissioner for improvements in the
management and use of money in the game and fish fund.

(b) The commissioner shall appoint the following committees, each comprised of at
least ten affected persons:

(1) a Fisheries Oversight Committee to review fisheries funding and expenditures,
including activities related to trout-and-salmon stamps and walleye stamps; and

(2) a Wildlife Oversight Committee to review wildlife funding and expenditures,
including activities related to migratory waterfowl, pheasant, and wild turkey management
and deer and big game management.

(c) The chairs of the Fisheries Oversight Committee and the Wildlife Oversight
Committee, and four additional members from each committee, shall form a Budgetary
Oversight Committee to coordinate the integration of the fisheries and wildlife oversight
committee reports into an annual report to the legislature; recommend changes on a broad
level in policies, activities, and revenue enhancements or reductions; and provide a forum
to address issues that transcend the fisheries and wildlife oversight committees.

(d) The Budgetary Oversight Committee shall develop recommendations for a biennial
budget plan and report for expenditures on game and fish activities. By August 15 of each
even-numbered year, the committee shall submit the budget plan recommendations to the
commissioner and to the senate and house of representatives committees with jurisdiction
over natural resources finance.

(e) The chairs of the Fisheries Oversight Committee and the Wildlife Oversight
Committee shall be chosen by their respective committees. The chair of the Budgetary
Oversight Committee shall be appointed by the commissioner and may not be the chair of
either of the other oversight committees.

(f) The Budgetary Oversight Committee may make recommendations to the commissioner
and to the senate and house of representatives committees with jurisdiction over natural
resources finance for outcome goals from expenditures.

(g) The committees authorized under this subdivision are not advisory councils or
committees governed by section 15.059 and are not subject to section 15.059. Committee
members appointed by the commissioner may request reimbursement for mileage expenses
in the same manner and amount as authorized by the commissioner's plan adopted under
section 43A.18, subdivision 2. Committee members must not receive daily compensation
for oversight activities. The Fisheries Oversight Committee, the Wildlife Oversight
Committee, and the Budgetary Oversight Committee expire June 30, deleted text begin 2020 deleted text end new text begin 2025 new text end .