HF 1877

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/25/2021 07:38pm

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; modifying use of critical habitat private sector
matching account; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020,
section 84.943, subdivisions 3, 5, by adding a subdivision.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 84.943, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Appropriations matched by private funds.

new text begin (a) new text end Appropriations transferred to
the critical habitat private sector matching account and money credited to the account under
section 168.1296, subdivision 5, may be expended only to the extent that they are matched
deleted text begin equally deleted text end with contributions from private sources or by funds contributed to the nongame
wildlife management account. The private contributions may be made in cash, property,
land, or interests in land. Appropriations transferred to the account that are not matched
within three years from the date of the appropriation shall cancel to the source of the
appropriation. For the purposes of this section, the private contributions of property, land,
or interests in land that are retained by the commissioner shall be valued in accordance with
their appraised value.

new text begin (b) For every dollar used as a match under paragraph (a), the commissioner may expend
up to two dollars from the account for the purposes described in subdivision 6.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 84.943, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Pledges and contributions.

deleted text begin (a) deleted text end The commissioner of natural resources may
accept contributions and pledges to the critical habitat private sector matching account. A
pledge that is made contingent on an appropriation is acceptable and shall be reported with
other pledges as required in this section. The commissioner may agree to match a contribution
contingent on a future appropriation. In the budget request for each biennium, the
commissioner shall report the balance of contributions in the account and the amount that
has been pledged for payment in the succeeding two calendar years.

deleted text begin (b) Money in the account is appropriated to the commissioner of natural resources only
for the direct acquisition or improvement of land or interests in land as provided in section
84.944. To the extent of available appropriations other than bond proceeds, the money
matched to the nongame wildlife management account may be used for the management
of nongame wildlife projects as specified in section 290.431. Acquisition includes:
deleted text end

deleted text begin (1) purchase of land or an interest in land by the commissioner; or
deleted text end

deleted text begin (2) acceptance by the commissioner of gifts of land or interests in land as program
projects.
deleted text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 84.943, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Expenditures. new text end

new text begin Money in the account is appropriated to the commissioner and
may be expended only as follows:
new text end

new text begin (1) revenue from license plates depicting a loon, big game, turkey, or pheasant or license
plates not otherwise specified under this subdivision must be used to:
new text end

new text begin (i) purchase land or an interest in land; or
new text end

new text begin (ii) accept gifts of land or interests in land as program projects;
new text end

new text begin (2) revenue from license plates depicting a chickadee or lady slipper must be used in
addition to appropriations from the nongame wildlife management account for the purposes
specified in section 290.431;
new text end

new text begin (3) revenue from license plates depicting anglers or fish must be used for aquatic
management purposes;
new text end

new text begin (4) revenue from license plates depicting bees or other pollinators must be transferred
to the Board of Water and Soil Resources for grants or payments to plant residential lawns
with native vegetation and pollinator-friendly forbs and legumes; and
new text end

new text begin (5) private contributions and other revenue must be used for the purposes under clause
(1), unless specified for another purpose under this subdivision by the donor.
new text end