HF 3264

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 02/20/2020 03:58pm

A bill for an act
relating to environment; imposing term limits on citizen appointees to
Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources and Lessard-Sams
Outdoor Heritage Council; amending Minnesota Statutes 2018, sections 97A.056,
subdivision 2; 116P.05, subdivision 1.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 97A.056, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council.

(a) The Lessard-Sams Outdoor
Heritage Council of 12 members is created in the legislative branch, consisting of:

(1) two public members appointed by the senate Subcommittee on Committees of the
Committee on Rules and Administration;

(2) two public members appointed by the speaker of the house;

(3) four public members appointed by the governor;

(4) two members of the senate appointed by the senate Subcommittee on Committees
of the Committee on Rules and Administration; and

(5) two members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house.

(b) Members appointed under paragraph (a) must not be registered lobbyists. In making
appointments, the governor, senate Subcommittee on Committees of the Committee on
Rules and Administration, and the speaker of the house shall consider geographic balance,
gender, age, ethnicity, and varying interests including hunting and fishing. The governor's
appointments to the council are subject to the advice and consent of the senate.

(c) Public members appointed under paragraph (a) shall have practical experience or
expertise or demonstrated knowledge in the science, policy, or practice of restoring,
protecting, and enhancing wetlands, prairies, forests, and habitat for fish, game, and wildlife.

(d) Legislative members appointed under paragraph (a) shall include the chairs of the
legislative committees with jurisdiction over environment and natural resources finance or
their designee, one member from the minority party of the senate, and one member from
the minority party of the house of representatives.

(e) Public members serve four-year terms new text begin , and a person shall serve no more than two
terms as a public member new text end . Appointed legislative members serve at the pleasure of the
appointing authority. Public and legislative members continue to serve until their successors
are appointed. Public members shall be initially appointed according to the following
schedule of terms:

(1) two public members appointed by the governor for a term ending the first Monday
in January 2011;

(2) one public member appointed by the senate Subcommittee on Committees of the
Committee on Rules and Administration for a term ending the first Monday in January
2011;

(3) one public member appointed by the speaker of the house for a term ending the first
Monday in January 2011;

(4) two public members appointed by the governor for a term ending the first Monday
in January 2013;

(5) one public member appointed by the senate Subcommittee on Committees of the
Committee on Rules and Administration for a term ending the first Monday in January
2013; and

(6) one public member appointed by the speaker of the house for a term ending the first
Monday in January 2013.

(f) Terms, compensation, and removal of public members are as provided in section
15.0575. A vacancy on the council may be filled by the appointing authority for the remainder
of the unexpired term.

(g) Members shall elect a chair, vice-chair, secretary, and other officers as determined
by the council. The chair may convene meetings as necessary to conduct the duties prescribed
by this section.

(h) The Legislative Coordinating Commission may appoint nonpartisan staff and contract
with consultants as necessary to support the functions of the council. The council has final
approval authority for the hiring of a candidate for executive director. Up to one percent of
the money appropriated from the fund may be used to pay for administrative expenses of
the council and for compensation and expense reimbursement of council members.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 116P.05, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Membership.

(a) A Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota
Resources of 17 members is created in the legislative branch, consisting of the chairs of the
house of representatives and senate committees on environment and natural resources finance
or designees appointed for the terms of the chairs, four members of the senate appointed
by the Subcommittee on Committees of the Committee on Rules and Administration, and
four members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker.

At least two members from the senate and two members from the house of representatives
must be from the minority caucus. Members are entitled to reimbursement for per diem
expenses plus travel expenses incurred in the services of the commission.

Seven citizens are members of the commission, five appointed by the governor, one
appointed by the Senate Subcommittee on Committees of the Committee on Rules and
Administration, and one appointed by the speaker of the house. The citizen members are
selected and recommended to the appointing authorities according to subdivision 1a and
must:

(1) have experience or expertise in the science, policy, or practice of the protection,
conservation, preservation, and enhancement of the state's air, water, land, fish, wildlife,
and other natural resources;

(2) have strong knowledge in the state's environment and natural resource issues around
the state; and

(3) have demonstrated ability to work in a collaborative environment.

(b) Members shall develop procedures to elect a chair that rotates between legislative
and citizen members each meeting. A citizen member, a senate member, and a house of
representatives member shall serve as chairs. The citizen members, senate members, and
house of representatives members must select their respective chairs. The chair shall preside
and convene meetings as often as necessary to conduct duties prescribed by this chapter.

(c) Appointed legislative members shall serve on the commission for two-year terms,
beginning in January of each odd-numbered year and continuing through the end of December
of the next even-numbered year. Appointed citizen members shall serve four-year terms,
beginning in January of the first year and continuing through the end of December of the
final year. new text begin A person shall serve no more than two terms as a citizen member. new text end Citizen and
legislative members continue to serve until their successors are appointed.

(d) A citizen member may be removed by an appointing authority for cause. Vacancies
occurring on the commission shall not affect the authority of the remaining members of the
commission to carry out their duties, and vacancies shall be filled for the remainder of the
term in the same manner under paragraph (a).

(e) Citizen members are entitled to per diem and reimbursement for expenses incurred
in the services of the commission, as provided in section 15.059, subdivision 3.

(f) The governor's appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the senate.

Sec. 3. new text begin APPLICATION TO CURRENT MEMBERS.
new text end

new text begin For purposes of the term limits imposed by this act, a person serving as a public member
of the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council or as a citizen member of the
Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources on the effective date of this act
is serving in that person's first term as a public member or as a citizen member, as applicable.
new text end