HF 3617

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/07/2024 03:41pm

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; modifying use of critical habitat private sector
matching account; requiring reports; appropriating money; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2022, section 84.943, subdivision 5, by adding subdivisions.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 84.943, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Pledges and contributions.

(a) 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 deleted text begin shall deleted text end new text begin must new text end 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 deleted text begin shall deleted text end new text begin must new text end 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, restoration, or enhancement of land or interests in land as provided
in section 84.944. 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

deleted text begin (c) deleted text end new text begin (b) new text end To the extent of available appropriations other than bond proceeds, the money
matched to the nongame wildlife management account may be used for:

(1) the management of nongame wildlife projects as specified in section 290.431;

(2) restoration and enhancement activities for critical natural habitat; or

(3) monitoring and evaluation activities for rare resources and native plant communities
that inform the management of critical natural habitat.

No more than 30 percent of the nongame wildlife management account appropriations each
fiscal year may be used to match money from the critical habitat private sector matching
account for monitoring and evaluation activities.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, 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 big game, turkey, or pheasant or license plates
not otherwise specified under this subdivision must be used:
new text end

new text begin (i) to acquire, restore, or enhance land or interests in land as provided in section 84.944;
new text end

new text begin (ii) for acceptance by the commissioner of gifts of land or interests in land as program
projects; or
new text end

new text begin (iii) to inventory and monitor lands acquired under this section;
new text end

new text begin (2) revenue from license plates depicting a loon, 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 area purposes under section 86A.05, subdivision 14, including acquisition,
development, and restoration;
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 under section 103B.104;
and
new text end

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

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 84.943, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin By January 15, 2026, and every two years thereafter, the commissioner
must report on the expenditure of money during the previous biennium from the critical
habitat private sector matching account and the nongame wildlife management account.
The commissioner must submit the report to the chairs and ranking minority members of
the legislative committees and divisions with jurisdiction over environment and natural
resources.
new text end