1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to natural resources; providing for continued 
  1.3             exemption for the adopt-a-park program from 
  1.4             administrative rulemaking procedures; exempting timber 
  1.5             appraisal standards from certain rulemaking 
  1.6             provisions; amending Minnesota Statutes 1996, sections 
  1.7             85.045, subdivision 3; and 90.045. 
  1.8   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.9      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 85.045, 
  1.10  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
  1.11     Subd. 3.  [AGREEMENTS.] (a) The commissioner shall enter 
  1.12  into informal agreements with business and civic groups or 
  1.13  individuals for volunteer services to maintain and make 
  1.14  improvements to real and personal property in state parks, 
  1.15  monuments, historic sites, and trails in accordance with plans 
  1.16  devised by the commissioner after consultation with the groups. 
  1.17     (b) The commissioner may erect appropriate signs to 
  1.18  recognize and express appreciation to groups and individuals 
  1.19  providing volunteer services under the adopt-a-park program. 
  1.20     (c) The commissioner may provide assistance to enhance the 
  1.21  comfort and safety of volunteers and to facilitate the 
  1.22  implementation and administration of the adopt-a-park program.  
  1.23     (d) This section is not subject to chapter 
  1.24  14.  Notwithstanding section 14.387 or other law to the 
  1.25  contrary, agreements entered on or before May 26, 1995, continue 
  1.26  to be valid after July 1, 1997, and the authority to enter 
  2.1   agreements under this section does not expire. 
  2.2      Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 90.045, is 
  2.3   amended to read: 
  2.4      90.045 [APPRAISAL STANDARDS.] 
  2.5      By July 1, 1983, The commissioner shall establish maintain 
  2.6   specific timber appraisal standards according to which all 
  2.7   timber appraisals will be conducted under this chapter.  The 
  2.8   standards shall include a specification of the maximum allowable 
  2.9   appraisal sampling error, and the procedures for tree defect 
  2.10  allowance, tract area estimation, product volume estimation, and 
  2.11  product value determination.  The timber appraisal standards 
  2.12  shall be included in each edition of the timber sales manual 
  2.13  published by the commissioner.  In addition to the duties 
  2.14  pursuant to section 90.061, every state appraiser shall work 
  2.15  within the guidelines of the timber appraisal standards.  The 
  2.16  standards shall not be subject to the rulemaking provisions of 
  2.17  chapter 14.  The standards are exempt from the provisions of 
  2.18  sections 14.386 and 14.387. 
  2.19     Sec. 3.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.20     Sections 1 and 2 are effective the day following final 
  2.21  enactment.