HF 2974

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to education; managing school trust land; amending Minnesota Statutes
2006, sections 84.027, by adding a subdivision; 127A.30.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 84.027, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 18. new text end

new text begin Permanent school fund land management. new text end

new text begin As part of the duties of
managing the state's permanent school fund land according to section 127A.31, the
commissioner shall work with:
new text end

new text begin (1) other local, state, and federal agencies with expertise or interests in economic
development, agriculture, renewable energy, and tourism; and
new text end

new text begin (2) the School Trust Land Citizen Oversight Committee under section 127A.30,
subdivision 2.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 127A.30, is amended to read:

127A.30 PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

A state Permanent School Fund Advisory Committee
is established to advise the Department of Natural Resources on the management of
permanent school fund land, which is held in trust for the school districts of the state.
The advisory committee must consist of the following persons or their designees: the
chairs of the education committees of the legislature, the chairs of the senate Committee
on Finance and house Committee on Ways and Means, the commissioner of education,
one superintendent from a nonmetropolitan district, and one superintendent from a
metropolitan area district. The school district superintendents shall be appointed by the
commissioner of education.

The advisory committee shall review the policies of the Department of Natural
Resources and current statutes on management of school trust fund lands at least
semiannually and shall recommend necessary changes in statutes, policy, and
implementation in order to ensure provident utilization of the permanent school fund lands.

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin School Trust Land Citizen Oversight Committee. new text end

new text begin The Permanent School
Fund Advisory Committee shall appoint a committee of at least nine members to propose
changes in policies, activities, and revenue enhancements; and make recommendations
to the legislature and the commissioner of natural resources for improvements in the
management of school trust land. The appointees shall have a background that includes,
but is not limited to, forestry, minerals and mining, tourism and recreation, real estate
development, renewable energy, agriculture, land conservation, and public education.
The commissioner shall designate at least one meeting time for the committee per year.
The committee shall submit and annually review a long-term plan for the management
of school trust land to secure long-term economic return for the permanent school fund
consistent with sections 92.121 and 127A.31.
new text end