1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to natural resources; requiring certain
1.3 reports; modifying duties of citizen oversight
1.4 committees; modifying certain license fees; providing
1.5 for wolf management; modifying use of lighted fishing
1.6 lures; modifying disposition of payments in lieu of
1.7 sales tax for lottery tickets; appropriating money;
1.8 amending Minnesota Statutes 1998, sections 3.737,
1.9 subdivision 1; 97A.055, subdivisions 4 and 4a;
1.10 97A.331, by adding a subdivision; 97A.475,
1.11 subdivisions 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, and 20;
1.12 97A.485, subdivision 12; 97B.645; 97B.671, subdivision
1.13 3, and by adding a subdivision; 97C.335, as amended;
1.14 and 297A.44, subdivision 1; proposing coding for new
1.15 law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 97B.
1.16 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.17 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 3.737,
1.18 subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.19 Subdivision 1. [COMPENSATION REQUIRED.] (a)
1.20 Notwithstanding section 3.736, subdivision 3, paragraph (e), or
1.21 any other law, a livestock owner shall be compensated by the
1.22 commissioner of agriculture for livestock that is destroyed by a
1.23 timber gray wolf or is so crippled by a timber gray wolf that it
1.24 must be destroyed. The owner is entitled to the fair market
1.25 value of the destroyed livestock, not to exceed $750 per animal
1.26 destroyed, as determined by the commissioner, upon
1.27 recommendation of a university extension agent and or a
1.28 conservation officer.
1.29 (b) Either the agent or the conservation officer must make
1.30 a personal inspection of the site. The agent or the
2.1 conservation officer must take into account factors in addition
2.2 to a visual identification of a carcass when making a
2.3 recommendation to the commissioner. The commissioner, upon
2.4 recommendation of the agent and or conservation officer, shall
2.5 determine whether the livestock was destroyed by a timber gray
2.6 wolf and any deficiencies in the owner's adoption of the best
2.7 management practices developed in subdivision 5. The
2.8 commissioner may authorize payment of claims only if the agent
2.9 and or the conservation officer have has recommended payment.
2.10 The owner shall file a claim on forms provided by the
2.11 commissioner and available at the university extension agent's
2.12 office.
2.13 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 97A.055,
2.14 subdivision 4, is amended to read:
2.15 Subd. 4. [ANNUAL REPORTS.] (a) By November 15 each year,
2.16 the commissioner shall submit to the legislative committees
2.17 having jurisdiction over appropriations and the environment and
2.18 natural resources reports on each of the following:
2.19 (1) the amount of revenue from the following and purposes
2.20 for which expenditures were made:
2.21 (i) the small game license surcharge under section 97A.475,
2.22 subdivision 4;
2.23 (ii) the Minnesota migratory waterfowl stamp under section
2.24 97A.475, subdivision 5, clause (1);
2.25 (iii) the trout and salmon stamp under section 97A.475,
2.26 subdivision 10;
2.27 (iv) the pheasant stamp under section 97A.475, subdivision
2.28 5, clause (2); and
2.29 (v) the turkey stamp under section 97A.475, subdivision 5,
2.30 clause (3);
2.31 (2) the amounts available under section 97A.075,
2.32 subdivision 1, paragraphs (b) and (c), and the purposes for
2.33 which these amounts were spent; and
2.34 (3) money credited to the game and fish fund under this
2.35 section and purposes for which expenditures were made from the
2.36 fund;
3.1 (4) outcome goals for the expenditures from the game and
3.2 fish fund; and
3.3 (5) summary and comments of citizen oversight committee
3.4 reviews under subdivision 4a.
3.5 (b) The report must include the commissioner's
3.6 recommendations, if any, for changes in the laws relating to the
3.7 stamps and surcharge referenced in paragraph (a).
3.8 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 97A.055,
3.9 subdivision 4a, is amended to read:
3.10 Subd. 4a. [CITIZEN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEES.] (a) The
3.11 commissioner shall appoint committees of affected persons to
3.12 review the reports prepared under subdivision 4 and other
3.13 relevant information and make recommendations to the legislature
3.14 and the commissioner for improvements in the management and use
3.15 of money in the game and fish fund.
3.16 (b) The commissioner shall appoint the following committees:
3.17 (1) a committee to review the annual game and fish fund
3.18 report and address general game and fish fund issues;
3.19 (2) a committee to address funding issues related to
3.20 fishing;
3.21 (3) a committee to review the report on the small game
3.22 license surcharge and the report required in subdivision 4,
3.23 paragraph (a), clause (2), and address funding issues related to
3.24 hunting;
3.25 (4) a committee to review the trout and salmon stamp report
3.26 and address funding issues related to trout and salmon;
3.27 (5) a committee to review the report on the migratory
3.28 waterfowl stamp and address funding issues related to migratory
3.29 waterfowl;
3.30 (6) a committee to review the report on the pheasant stamp
3.31 and address funding issues related to pheasants; and
3.32 (7) a committee to review the report on the turkey stamp
3.33 and address funding issues related to wild turkeys.
3.34 (c) The committees must make recommendations to the
3.35 commissioner for outcome goals from expenditures.
3.36 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 97A.331, is
4.1 amended by adding a subdivision to read:
4.2 Subd. 7. [GRAY WOLF.] A person who takes, harasses,
4.3 destroys, buys, sells, possesses, transports, or ships a gray
4.4 wolf in violation of the game and fish laws is guilty of a gross
4.5 misdemeanor.
4.6 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 97A.475,
4.7 subdivision 2, is amended to read:
4.8 Subd. 2. [RESIDENT HUNTING.] Fees for the following
4.9 licenses, to be issued to residents only, are:
4.10 (1) for persons under age 65 to take small game, $10 $12;
4.11 (2) for persons age 65 or over, $5 $6;
4.12 (3) to take turkey, $16 $18;
4.13 (4) to take deer with firearms, $22 $25;
4.14 (5) to take deer by archery, $22 $25;
4.15 (6) to take moose, for a party of not more than six
4.16 persons, $275 $310;
4.17 (7) to take bear, $33 $38;
4.18 (8) to take elk, for a party of not more than two persons,
4.19 $220 $250;
4.20 (9) to take antlered deer in more than one zone, $44 $50;
4.21 and
4.22 (10) to take Canada geese during a special season, $3 $4.
4.23 Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 97A.475,
4.24 subdivision 3, is amended to read:
4.25 Subd. 3. [NONRESIDENT HUNTING.] Fees for the following
4.26 licenses, to be issued to nonresidents, are:
4.27 (1) to take small game, $56 $73;
4.28 (2) to take deer with firearms, $110 $125;
4.29 (3) to take deer by archery, $110 $125;
4.30 (4) to take bear, $165 $195;
4.31 (5) to take turkey, $56 $73;
4.32 (6) to take raccoon, bobcat, fox, coyote, or
4.33 lynx, $137.50 $155;
4.34 (7) to take antlered deer in more than one zone, $220 $250;
4.35 and
4.36 (8) to take Canada geese during a special season, $3 $4.
5.1 Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 97A.475,
5.2 subdivision 6, is amended to read:
5.3 Subd. 6. [RESIDENT FISHING.] Fees for the following
5.4 licenses, to be issued to residents only, are:
5.5 (1) to take fish by angling, for persons under age
5.6 65, $15 $17;
5.7 (2) to take fish by angling, for persons age 65 and over,
5.8 $5.50 $6.50;
5.9 (3) to take fish by angling, for a combined license for a
5.10 married couple, $20.50 $25;
5.11 (4) to take fish by spearing from a dark house, $15 $17;
5.12 and
5.13 (5) to take fish by angling for a 24-hour period selected
5.14 by the licensee, $8 $8.50.
5.15 Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 97A.475,
5.16 subdivision 7, is amended to read:
5.17 Subd. 7. [NONRESIDENT FISHING.] Fees for the following
5.18 licenses, to be issued to nonresidents, are:
5.19 (1) to take fish by angling, $31 $34;
5.20 (2) to take fish by angling limited to seven consecutive
5.21 days selected by the licensee, $21.50 $24;
5.22 (3) to take fish by angling for a 72-hour period selected
5.23 by the licensee, $18 $20;
5.24 (4) to take fish by angling for a combined license for a
5.25 family, $41.50 $46;
5.26 (5) to take fish by angling for a 24-hour period selected
5.27 by the licensee, $8 $8.50; and
5.28 (6) to take fish by angling for a combined license for a
5.29 married couple, limited to 14 consecutive days selected by one
5.30 of the licensees, $32 $35.
5.31 Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 97A.475,
5.32 subdivision 8, is amended to read:
5.33 Subd. 8. [MINNESOTA SPORTING.] The commissioner shall
5.34 issue Minnesota sporting licenses to residents only. The
5.35 licensee may take fish by angling and small game. The fee for
5.36 the license is:
6.1 (1) for an individual, $20 $23; and
6.2 (2) for a combined license for a married couple to take
6.3 fish and for one spouse to take small game, $27.50 $32.
6.4 Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 97A.475,
6.5 subdivision 11, is amended to read:
6.6 Subd. 11. [FISH HOUSES AND DARK HOUSES; RESIDENTS.] Fees
6.7 for the following licenses are:
6.8 (1) for a fish house or dark house that is not
6.9 rented, $10 $11.50; and
6.10 (2) for a fish house or dark house that is rented, $23 $26.
6.11 Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 97A.475,
6.12 subdivision 12, is amended to read:
6.13 Subd. 12. [FISH HOUSES; NONRESIDENT.] Fees for fish house
6.14 licenses for a nonresident are:
6.15 (1) annual, $31.50 $33; and
6.16 (2) seven consecutive days, $18.50 $19.
6.17 Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 97A.475,
6.18 subdivision 13, is amended to read:
6.19 Subd. 13. [NETTING WHITEFISH AND CISCOES FOR PERSONAL
6.20 CONSUMPTION.] The fee for a license to net whitefish and ciscoes
6.21 in inland lakes and international waters for personal
6.22 consumption is, for each net, $9 $10.
6.23 Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 97A.475,
6.24 subdivision 20, is amended to read:
6.25 Subd. 20. [TRAPPING LICENSE.] The fee for a license to
6.26 trap fur-bearing animals is:
6.27 (1) for persons over age 13 and under age 18, $5.50 $6; and
6.28 (2) for persons age 18 and older, $18 $20.
6.29 Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 97A.485,
6.30 subdivision 12, is amended to read:
6.31 Subd. 12. [YOUTH DEER LICENSE.] The commissioner may, for
6.32 a fee of $5 $5.50, issue to a resident under the age of 16 a
6.33 license, without a tag, to take deer with firearms. A youth
6.34 holding a license issued under this subdivision may hunt under
6.35 the license only if accompanied by a licensed hunter who is at
6.36 least 18 years of age and possesses a valid tag. A deer taken
7.1 by a youth holding a license issued under this subdivision must
7.2 be promptly tagged by the licensed hunter accompanying the
7.3 youth. Section 97B.301, subdivision 6, does not apply to a
7.4 youth holding a license issued under this subdivision.
7.5 Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 97B.645, is
7.6 amended to read:
7.7 97B.645 [GRAY WOLVES.]
7.8 Subdivision 1. [USE OF DOGS AND HORSES PROHIBITED; USE OF
7.9 GUARD ANIMALS.] Except as provided in this subdivision, a person
7.10 may not use a dog or horse to take a timber gray wolf. A person
7.11 may use a guard animal to harass, repel, or destroy wolves to
7.12 protect a person's livestock, domestic animals, or pets. A
7.13 person whose guard animal destroys a gray wolf under this
7.14 subdivision must protect all evidence and report the taking to a
7.15 conservation officer as soon as practicable but no later than 48
7.16 hours after the gray wolf is destroyed.
7.17 Subd. 2. [PERMIT REQUIRED TO SNARE.] A person may not use
7.18 a snare to take a wolf except under a permit from the
7.19 commissioner.
7.20 Subd. 3. [DESTROYING GRAY WOLVES IN DEFENSE OF HUMAN
7.21 LIFE.] A person may, at any time and without a permit, take a
7.22 gray wolf in defense of the person's own life or the life of
7.23 another. A person who destroys a gray wolf under this
7.24 subdivision must protect all evidence and report the taking to a
7.25 conservation officer as soon as practicable but no later than 48
7.26 hours after the gray wolf is destroyed.
7.27 Subd. 4. [HARASSMENT OF GRAY WOLVES.] To discourage gray
7.28 wolves from contact or association with people and domestic
7.29 animals, a person may, at any time and without a permit, harass
7.30 a gray wolf that is within 500 yards of people, buildings, dogs,
7.31 livestock, or other domestic pets and animals. A gray wolf may
7.32 not be purposely attracted, tracked, or searched out for the
7.33 purpose of harassment. Harassment that results in physical
7.34 injury to a gray wolf is prohibited.
7.35 Subd. 5. [DESTROYING GRAY WOLVES THREATENING LIVESTOCK,
7.36 GUARD ANIMALS, OR DOMESTIC ANIMALS.] An owner of livestock,
8.1 guard animals, or domestic animals, and the owner's agents may,
8.2 at any time and without a permit, shoot or destroy a gray wolf
8.3 when the gray wolf is posing an immediate threat to livestock, a
8.4 guard animal, or a domestic animal located on property owned,
8.5 leased, or occupied by the owner of the livestock, guard animal,
8.6 or domestic animal. A person who destroys a gray wolf under
8.7 this subdivision must protect all evidence and report the taking
8.8 to a conservation officer as soon as practicable but no later
8.9 than 48 hours after the gray wolf is destroyed.
8.10 Subd. 6. [DESTROYING GRAY WOLVES THREATENING DOMESTIC
8.11 PETS.] An owner of a domestic pet may, at any time and without a
8.12 permit, shoot or destroy a gray wolf when the gray wolf is
8.13 posing an immediate threat to a domestic pet under the
8.14 supervision of the owner. A person who destroys a gray wolf
8.15 under this subdivision must protect all evidence and report the
8.16 taking to a conservation officer as soon as practicable but no
8.17 later than 48 hours after the gray wolf is destroyed.
8.18 Subd. 7. [INVESTIGATION OF REPORTED GRAY WOLF TAKINGS.] (a)
8.19 In response to a reported gray wolf taking under subdivision 3,
8.20 5, or 6, the commissioner shall:
8.21 (1) investigate the reported taking;
8.22 (2) collect appropriate written and photographic
8.23 documentation of the circumstances and site of the taking,
8.24 including, but not limited to, documentation of animal husbandry
8.25 practices;
8.26 (3) confiscate salvageable remains of the gray wolf killed;
8.27 and
8.28 (4) dispose of any salvageable gray wolf remains
8.29 confiscated under this subdivision by sale or donation for
8.30 educational purposes.
8.31 (b) The commissioner shall produce monthly reports of
8.32 activities under this subdivision.
8.33 (c) In response to a reported gray wolf taking under
8.34 subdivision 5, the commissioner must notify the county extension
8.35 agent. The county extension agent must recommend what, if any,
8.36 cost-conscious livestock best management practices and nonlethal
9.1 wolf depredation controls are needed to prevent future wolf
9.2 depredation. Any best management practices recommended by the
9.3 county extension agent must be consistent with the best
9.4 management practices developed by the commissioner of
9.5 agriculture under section 3.737, subdivision 5.
9.6 Subd. 8. [SHOOTING OR TRAPPING GRAY WOLVES TO PROTECT
9.7 LIVESTOCK, DOMESTIC ANIMALS, OR PETS IN ZONE B.] (a)
9.8 Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions 1 and 4 to 7, and
9.9 season and time of day restrictions in the game and fish laws,
9.10 but subject to the remaining provisions of the game and fish
9.11 laws, in zone B, a person may:
9.12 (1) shoot a gray wolf on land owned, leased, or managed by
9.13 the person at any time to protect the person's livestock,
9.14 domestic animals, or pets; or
9.15 (2) employ a predator controller certified under section
9.16 97B.671 to trap a gray wolf on land owned, leased, or managed by
9.17 the person or on land within one mile of the land owned, leased,
9.18 or managed by the person to protect the person's livestock,
9.19 domestic animals, or pets.
9.20 (b) The person must report the gray wolf shot or trapped
9.21 under this subdivision to a conservation officer as soon as
9.22 practicable but no later than 48 hours after the gray wolf was
9.23 shot or trapped. The gray wolf must be disposed of as
9.24 prescribed by the commissioner.
9.25 Subd. 9. [OPEN SEASON.] There shall be no open season for
9.26 gray wolves for five years after the gray wolf is delisted under
9.27 the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973. After that time,
9.28 the commissioner may prescribe open seasons and restrictions for
9.29 taking gray wolves, but must provide opportunity for public
9.30 comment.
9.31 Subd. 10. [RELEASE OF WOLF-DOG HYBRIDS AND CAPTIVE GRAY
9.32 WOLVES.] A person may not release a wolf-dog hybrid. A person
9.33 may not release a captive gray wolf without a permit from the
9.34 commissioner.
9.35 Subd. 11. [FEDERAL LAW.] Notwithstanding the provisions of
9.36 this section, a person may not take, harass, buy, sell, possess,
10.1 transport, or ship gray wolves in violation of federal law.
10.2 Subd. 12. [DEFINITIONS.] (a) For purposes of this section,
10.3 the terms used have the meanings given.
10.4 (b) "Guard animal" means a donkey, llama, dog, or other
10.5 domestic animal specifically bred, trained, and used to protect
10.6 livestock, domestic animals, or pets from gray wolf depredation.
10.7 (c) "Immediate threat" means the observed behavior of a
10.8 gray wolf in the act of stalking, attacking, or killing
10.9 livestock, a guard animal, or a domestic pet under the
10.10 supervision of the owner. If a gray wolf is not observed
10.11 stalking or attacking, the presence of a gray wolf feeding on an
10.12 already dead animal whose death was not caused by gray wolves is
10.13 not an immediate threat.
10.14 (d) "Zone B" means all that part of Minnesota south and
10.15 west of a line beginning on state trunk highway No. 48 at the
10.16 eastern boundary of the state; thence westerly along state trunk
10.17 highway No. 48 to interstate highway No. 35; thence northerly on
10.18 interstate highway No. 35 to state highway No. 23; thence west
10.19 one-half mile on state highway No. 23 to state trunk highway No.
10.20 18; thence westerly along state trunk highway No. 18 to state
10.21 trunk highway No. 65; thence northerly on state trunk highway
10.22 No. 65 to state trunk highway No. 210; thence westerly along
10.23 state trunk highway No. 210 to state trunk highway No. 6; thence
10.24 northerly on state trunk highway No. 6 to Emily; thence westerly
10.25 along county state-aid highway No. 1, Crow Wing county, to
10.26 county state-aid highway No. 2, Cass county; thence westerly
10.27 along county state-aid highway No. 2 to Pine River; thence
10.28 northwesterly along state trunk highway No. 371 to Backus;
10.29 thence westerly along state trunk highway No. 87 to U.S. highway
10.30 No. 71; thence northerly along U.S. highway No. 71 to state
10.31 trunk highway No. 200; thence northwesterly along state trunk
10.32 highway No. 200 to county state-aid highway No. 2, Clearwater
10.33 county; thence northerly along county state-aid highway No. 2 to
10.34 Shevlin; thence along U.S. highway No. 2 to Bagley; thence
10.35 northerly along state trunk highway No. 92 to Gully; thence
10.36 northerly along county state-aid highway No. 2, Polk county, to
11.1 county state-aid highway No. 27, Pennington county; thence along
11.2 county state-aid highway No. 27 to state trunk highway No. 1;
11.3 thence easterly along state trunk highway No. 1 to county
11.4 state-aid highway No. 28, Pennington county; thence northerly
11.5 along county state-aid highway No. 28 to county state-aid
11.6 highway No. 54, Marshall county; thence northerly along county
11.7 state-aid highway No. 54 to Grygla; thence west and northerly
11.8 along state highway No. 89 to Roseau; thence northerly along
11.9 state trunk highway No. 310 to the Canadian border.
11.10 Sec. 16. [97B.646] [GRAY WOLF MANAGEMENT PLAN.]
11.11 The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of
11.12 agriculture, shall adopt a gray wolf management plan that
11.13 includes goals to ensure the long-term survival of the gray wolf
11.14 in Minnesota, to reduce conflicts between gray wolves and
11.15 humans, to minimize depredation of livestock and domestic pets,
11.16 and to manage the ecological impact of wolves on prey species
11.17 and other predators.
11.18 Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 97B.671,
11.19 subdivision 3, is amended to read:
11.20 Subd. 3. [PREDATOR CONTROL PAYMENTS.] The commissioner
11.21 shall pay a predator controller the amount the commissioner
11.22 prescribes for each predator taken. The commissioner shall pay
11.23 at least $25 but not more than $60 for each wolf or coyote
11.24 taken. The commissioner may require the predator controller to
11.25 submit proof of the taking and a signed statement concerning the
11.26 predators taken.
11.27 Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 97B.671, is
11.28 amended by adding a subdivision to read:
11.29 Subd. 4. [GRAY WOLF CONTROL.] (a) The commissioner shall
11.30 provide a gray wolf control training program for certified
11.31 predator controllers participating in gray wolf control.
11.32 (b) After the gray wolf is delisted under the Federal
11.33 Endangered Species Act of 1973, in zone B, as defined under
11.34 section 97B.645, subdivision 12, if the commissioner, after
11.35 considering recommendations from an extension agent or
11.36 conservation officer, has verified that livestock, domestic
12.1 animals, or pets were destroyed by a gray wolf within the
12.2 previous five years, and if the livestock, domestic animal, or
12.3 pet owner requests gray wolf control, the commissioner shall
12.4 open a predator control area for gray wolves.
12.5 (c) After the gray wolf is delisted under the Federal
12.6 Endangered Species Act of 1973, in zone A, as defined under
12.7 paragraph (g), if the commissioner, after considering
12.8 recommendations from an extension agent or conservation officer,
12.9 verifies that livestock, domestic animals, or pets were
12.10 destroyed by a gray wolf, and if the livestock, domestic animal,
12.11 or pet owner requests gray wolf control, the commissioner shall
12.12 open a predator control area for gray wolves for up to 60 days.
12.13 (d) A predator control area opened for gray wolves may not
12.14 exceed a one-mile radius surrounding the damage site.
12.15 (e) The commissioner shall pay a certified gray wolf
12.16 predator controller $150 for each wolf taken. The certified
12.17 gray wolf predator controller must dispose of unsalvageable
12.18 remains as directed by the commissioner. All salvageable gray
12.19 wolf remains must be surrendered to the commissioner.
12.20 (f) The commissioner may, in consultation with the
12.21 commissioner of agriculture, develop a cooperative agreement for
12.22 gray wolf control activities with the United States Department
12.23 of Agriculture. The cooperative agreement activities may
12.24 include, but not be limited to, gray wolf control, training for
12.25 state predator controllers, and control monitoring and
12.26 recordkeeping.
12.27 (g) For the purposes of this subdivision, "zone A" means
12.28 that portion of the state lying outside of zone B, as defined
12.29 under section 97B.645, subdivision 12.
12.30 Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 97C.335, as
12.31 amended by Laws 2000, chapter 308, section 1, is amended to read:
12.32 97C.335 [USE OF ARTIFICIAL LIGHTS TO TAKE FISH PROHIBITED.]
12.33 A person may not use artificial lights to lure or attract
12.34 fish or to see fish in the water while spearing, except that an
12.35 angler may use a lighted fishing lure while angling, a person
12.36 may affix to the end of a fishing line a lighted artificial bait
13.1 with hooks attached. Any battery that is used in lighted
13.2 fishing lures cannot contain any intentionally introduced
13.3 mercury.
13.4 Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 297A.44,
13.5 subdivision 1, is amended to read:
13.6 Subdivision 1. (a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) to
13.7 (d) (f), all revenues, including interest and penalties, derived
13.8 from the excise and use taxes imposed by sections 297A.01 to
13.9 297A.44 shall be deposited by the commissioner in the state
13.10 treasury and credited to the general fund.
13.11 (b) All excise and use taxes derived from sales and use of
13.12 property and services purchased for the construction and
13.13 operation of an agricultural resource project, from and after
13.14 the date on which a conditional commitment for a loan guaranty
13.15 for the project is made pursuant to section 41A.04, subdivision
13.16 3, shall be deposited in the Minnesota agricultural and economic
13.17 account in the special revenue fund. The commissioner of
13.18 finance shall certify to the commissioner the date on which the
13.19 project received the conditional commitment. The amount
13.20 deposited in the loan guaranty account shall be reduced by any
13.21 refunds and by the costs incurred by the department of revenue
13.22 to administer and enforce the assessment and collection of the
13.23 taxes.
13.24 (c) All revenues, including interest and penalties, derived
13.25 from the excise and use taxes imposed on sales and purchases
13.26 included in section 297A.01, subdivision 3, paragraphs (d) and
13.27 (k), clauses (1) and (2), must be deposited by the commissioner
13.28 in the state treasury, and credited as follows:
13.29 (1) first to the general obligation special tax bond debt
13.30 service account in each fiscal year the amount required by
13.31 section 16A.661, subdivision 3, paragraph (b); and
13.32 (2) after the requirements of clause (1) have been met, the
13.33 balance must be credited to the general fund.
13.34 (d) The revenues, including interest and penalties,
13.35 collected under section 297A.135, subdivision 5, shall be
13.36 deposited by the commissioner in the state treasury and credited
14.1 to the general fund. By July 15 of each year the commissioner
14.2 shall transfer to the highway user tax distribution fund an
14.3 amount equal to the excess fees collected under section
14.4 297A.135, subdivision 5, for the previous calendar year.
14.5 (e) 97 percent of the revenues, including interest and
14.6 penalties, transmitted to the commissioner under section
14.7 297A.259, must be deposited by the commissioner in the state
14.8 treasury as follows:
14.9 (1) 50 percent of the receipts must be deposited in the
14.10 heritage enhancement account in the game and fish fund, and may
14.11 be spent only on activities that improve, enhance, or protect
14.12 fish and wildlife resources, including conservation,
14.13 restoration, and enhancement of land, water, and other natural
14.14 resources of the state;
14.15 (2) 22.5 percent of the receipts must be deposited in the
14.16 natural resources fund, and may be spent only for state parks
14.17 and trails;
14.18 (3) 22.5 percent of the receipts must be deposited in the
14.19 natural resources fund, and may be spent only on metropolitan
14.20 park and trail grants;
14.21 (4) three percent of the receipts must be deposited in the
14.22 natural resources fund, and may be spent only on local trail
14.23 grants; and
14.24 (5) two percent of the receipts must be deposited in the
14.25 natural resources fund, and may be spent only for the Minnesota
14.26 zoological garden, the Como park zoo and conservatory, and the
14.27 Duluth zoo.
14.28 (f) The revenue dedicated under paragraph (e) may not be
14.29 used as a substitute for traditional sources of funding for the
14.30 purposes specified, but the dedicated revenue shall supplement
14.31 traditional sources of funding for those purposes. Land
14.32 acquired with money deposited in the game and fish fund under
14.33 paragraph (e) must be open to public hunting and fishing during
14.34 the open season. At least 87 percent of the money deposited in
14.35 the game and fish fund for improvement, enhancement, or
14.36 protection of fish and wildlife resources under paragraph (e)
15.1 must be allocated for field operations.
15.2 Sec. 21. [REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE.]
15.3 The commissioner of natural resources must submit a report
15.4 to the chairs of the senate and house environment and natural
15.5 resources policy and funding committees by October 1, 2000. The
15.6 report must provide recommendations on appropriations needed to
15.7 accomplish the gray wolf management plan.
15.8 Sec. 22. [REVISOR INSTRUCTION.]
15.9 The revisor of statutes shall change the phrase "timber
15.10 wolf" wherever it appears in Minnesota Statutes and Minnesota
15.11 Rules to "gray wolf."
15.12 Sec. 23. [APPROPRIATIONS.]
15.13 Subdivision 1. [GENERAL FUND.] (a) $1,565,000 in fiscal
15.14 year 2001 is appropriated from the general fund to the
15.15 commissioner of natural resources for fish and wildlife
15.16 management. This is a one-time appropriation.
15.17 (b) $500,000 in fiscal year 2001 is appropriated from the
15.18 general fund to the commissioner of natural resources for
15.19 expansion of the walleye stocking program. This is a one-time
15.20 appropriation. In the next biennium, this amount shall be added
15.21 as a base appropriation from revenue deposited in the game and
15.22 fish fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 297A.44, subdivision
15.23 1.
15.24 Subd. 2. [GAME AND FISH FUND.] (a) $3,591,000 in fiscal
15.25 year 2001 is appropriated from the game and fish fund to the
15.26 commissioner of natural resources for fish and wildlife
15.27 management. At least 87 percent of this appropriation must be
15.28 allocated for field operations.
15.29 (b) $825,000 in fiscal year 2001 from the game and fish
15.30 fund is for enforcement of natural resources laws.
15.31 (c) $12,304,000 in fiscal year 2001 is appropriated from
15.32 the heritage enhancement account in the game and fish fund to
15.33 the commissioner of natural resources for game and fish projects
15.34 on public and private lands. This is a one-time appropriation
15.35 and is from the revenue deposited to the game and fish fund
15.36 under Minnesota Statutes, section 297A.44, subdivision 1,
16.1 paragraph (e), clause (1), and is subject to the restrictions
16.2 contained in paragraph (e).
16.3 Subd. 3. [NATURAL RESOURCES FUND.] (a) $4,537,000 in
16.4 fiscal year 2001 is appropriated from the natural resources fund
16.5 to the commissioner of natural resources for state park and
16.6 recreation area operations. First priority for money
16.7 appropriated in this paragraph must be to restore camping
16.8 activities during September and May at state parks where the
16.9 camping season has been restricted due to budget shortfalls.
16.10 This is a one-time appropriation and is from the revenue
16.11 deposited to the natural resources fund under Minnesota
16.12 Statutes, section 297A.44, subdivision 1, paragraph (e), clause
16.13 (2).
16.14 (b) $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2001 is appropriated from the
16.15 natural resources fund to the commissioner of natural resources
16.16 for state trail operations. This is a one-time appropriation
16.17 and is from the revenue deposited to the natural resources fund
16.18 under Minnesota Statutes, section 297A.44, subdivision 1,
16.19 paragraph (e), clause (2).
16.20 (c) $5,537,000 in fiscal year 2001 is appropriated from the
16.21 natural resources fund to the commissioner of natural resources
16.22 for payment of a grant to the metropolitan council for
16.23 metropolitan area regional parks and trails maintenance and
16.24 operations. This is a one-time appropriation and is from the
16.25 revenue deposited to the natural resources fund under Minnesota
16.26 Statutes, section 297A.44, subdivision 1, paragraph (e), clause
16.27 (3).
16.28 (d) $738,000 in fiscal year 2001 is appropriated from the
16.29 natural resources fund to the commissioner of natural resources
16.30 for trail grants to local units of government on land to be
16.31 maintained for at least 20 years for the purposes of the grant.
16.32 This is a one-time appropriation and is from the revenue
16.33 deposited to the natural resources fund under Minnesota
16.34 Statutes, section 297A.44, subdivision 1, paragraph (e), clause
16.35 (4).
16.36 (e) $492,000 in fiscal year 2001 is appropriated from the
17.1 natural resources fund to the commissioner of natural resources
17.2 for grants of $164,000 each to the Minnesota zoological garden,
17.3 the city of St. Paul for the Como Zoo and Conservatory, and the
17.4 city of Duluth for the Duluth Zoo. This is a one-time
17.5 appropriation and is from the revenue deposited to the natural
17.6 resources fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 297A.44,
17.7 subdivision 1, paragraph (e), clause (5).
17.8 Sec. 24. [EFFECTIVE DATE.]
17.9 Section 1 is effective July 1, 2001. Sections 5 to 14 are
17.10 effective March 1, 2001.