1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to natural resources; appropriating money for 
  1.3             ecological services. 
  1.4   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.5      Section 1.  [PURPOSE.] 
  1.6      The purpose of this act is to provide ecological 
  1.7   information on Minnesota's native habitat that: 
  1.8      (1) preserves Minnesota's natural heritage for public 
  1.9   understanding and enjoyment, as provided in Minnesota Statutes, 
  1.10  section 86A.02, subdivision 3; 
  1.11     (2) delivers natural resource information at the request of 
  1.12  individual citizens and local units of government; 
  1.13     (3) facilitates decision making for voluntary local efforts 
  1.14  to protect critical natural resources; and 
  1.15     (4) assists in restoring and protecting natural communities 
  1.16  and habitats through nonregulatory means. 
  1.17     Sec. 2.  [APPROPRIATIONS.] 
  1.18     Subdivision 1.  [GENERAL FUND.] $1,000,000 is appropriated 
  1.19  in fiscal year 1998, and $1,000,000 in fiscal year 1999, from 
  1.20  the general fund to the commissioner of natural resources for 
  1.21  collecting and delivering ecological information to state 
  1.22  agencies, individual citizens, and local units of government for 
  1.23  voluntary local efforts to preserve, protect, and restore 
  1.24  natural areas in their communities.  The money is appropriated 
  2.1   in each fiscal year as follows:  (1) to stabilize funding and 
  2.2   develop ecological expertise, $394,000; (2) for delivery of 
  2.3   ecological information to local government and citizens, 
  2.4   $436,000; (3) to coordinate stewardship volunteers and manage 
  2.5   scientific and natural areas, $95,000; and (4) for information 
  2.6   systems management, $75,000. 
  2.7      Subd. 2.  [GAME AND FISH FUND.] $200,000 is appropriated in 
  2.8   fiscal year 1998, and $200,000 is appropriated in fiscal year 
  2.9   1999, from the game and fish fund to the commissioner of natural 
  2.10  resources for ecological services regarding lake and stream 
  2.11  resources that support fisheries management, including lake 
  2.12  mapping and managing information.