1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to natural resources; making technical 
  1.3             changes and clarifications; modifying certain 
  1.4             requirements for nonresident youth small game hunting; 
  1.5             modifying requirements for firearms safety 
  1.6             certificate; modifying prohibitions of hunting while 
  1.7             under the influence; providing for taking unprotected 
  1.8             birds; making certain stamp exemptions; eliminating 
  1.9             certain report requirements; amending Minnesota 
  1.10            Statutes 2000, sections 86B.311, subdivision 5; 
  1.11            97A.015, subdivisions 16, 17; 97A.085, subdivision 7; 
  1.12            97A.451, subdivision 3a; 97B.020; 97B.065, subdivision 
  1.13            1; 97B.651; 97B.655, subdivision 1; 97B.715, 
  1.14            subdivision 1; 97B.801; 97C.031; 97C.317; 169A.03, 
  1.15            subdivision 3; Minnesota Statutes 2001 Supplement, 
  1.16            section 97C.305, subdivision 2; Laws 1989, chapter 
  1.17            335, article 1, section 21, subdivision 8. 
  1.18  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.19     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 86B.311, 
  1.20  subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
  1.21     Subd. 5.  [RIDING ON GUNWALES OR DECKING.] A person may not 
  1.22  ride or sit and a person may not operate a motorboat while a 
  1.23  person is riding or sitting on (i) the starboard or port 
  1.24  gunwales,; (ii) the decking over the bow, sides, or stern; or 
  1.25  (iii) the transom, of a motorboat while underway unless the 
  1.26  motorboat is provided with adequate guards or railing to prevent 
  1.27  passengers from falling overboard.  
  1.28     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 97A.015, 
  1.29  subdivision 16, is amended to read: 
  1.30     Subd. 16.  [DIRECTOR.] "Director" means the director of the 
  1.31  division of fish and wildlife any or all of the divisions of 
  2.1   enforcement, fisheries, wildlife, and ecological services unless 
  2.2   a specific division is identified.  
  2.3      Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 97A.015, 
  2.4   subdivision 17, is amended to read: 
  2.5      Subd. 17.  [DIVISION.] "Division" means the division of 
  2.6   fish and wildlife of the department of natural resources any or 
  2.7   all of the divisions of enforcement, fisheries, wildlife, and 
  2.8   ecological services unless a specific division is identified.  
  2.9      Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 97A.085, 
  2.10  subdivision 7, is amended to read: 
  2.11     Subd. 7.  [GAME REFUGE BOUNDARY POSTING.] (a) The 
  2.12  designation of a state game refuge is not effective until the 
  2.13  boundary has been posted with notices that measure at least 12 
  2.14  inches.  
  2.15     (b) The notices must be posted at intervals of not more 
  2.16  than 500 feet or less along the boundary.  The notices must also 
  2.17  be posted at all public road entrances to the refuges, except 
  2.18  where the boundary is also an international or state boundary in 
  2.19  public waters.  Where the boundary of a refuge extends more than 
  2.20  500 feet continuously through a body of water, instead of 
  2.21  placing notices in the water, notices with the words, "Adjacent 
  2.22  Waters Included," may be placed on the shoreline at the 
  2.23  intersection of the boundary and the water 20 feet or less above 
  2.24  the high water mark and at intervals of 500 feet or less along 
  2.25  the shoreline.  
  2.26     (c) A certification by the commissioner or the director of 
  2.27  the wildlife division, or a certification filed with the 
  2.28  commissioner or director by a conservation officer, refuge 
  2.29  supervisor, or other authorized officer or employee, stating 
  2.30  that the required notices have been posted is prima facie 
  2.31  evidence of the posting.  
  2.32     Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 97A.451, 
  2.33  subdivision 3a, is amended to read: 
  2.34     Subd. 3a.  [NONRESIDENTS UNDER AGE 16; SMALL GAME.] (a) A 
  2.35  nonresident under age 16 may obtain a small game license at the 
  2.36  resident fee if the nonresident: 
  3.1      (1) possesses a firearms safety certificate; or 
  3.2      (2) if age 13 12 or under, is accompanied by a parent or 
  3.3   guardian when purchasing the license. 
  3.4      (b) A nonresident age 13 12 or under must be accompanied by 
  3.5   a parent or guardian to take small game and is not required to 
  3.6   possess a firearms safety certificate under section 97B.020. 
  3.7      Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 97B.020, is 
  3.8   amended to read: 
  3.9      97B.020 [FIREARMS SAFETY CERTIFICATE REQUIRED.] 
  3.10     (a) Except as provided in this section and section 97A.451, 
  3.11  a person born after December 31, 1979, may not obtain an annual 
  3.12  license to take wild animals by firearms unless the person has a 
  3.13  firearms safety certificate or equivalent certificate, driver's 
  3.14  license or identification card with a valid firearms safety 
  3.15  qualification indicator issued under section 171.07, subdivision 
  3.16  13, previous hunting license, or other evidence indicating that 
  3.17  the person has completed in this state or in another state a 
  3.18  hunter safety course recognized by the department under a 
  3.19  reciprocity agreement.  A person who is on active duty and has 
  3.20  successfully completed basic training in the United States armed 
  3.21  forces, reserve component, or national guard may obtain a 
  3.22  hunting license or approval authorizing hunting regardless of 
  3.23  whether the person is issued a firearms safety certificate. 
  3.24     (b) A person born after December 31, 1979, may not use a 
  3.25  lifetime license to take wild animals by firearms, unless the 
  3.26  person meets the requirements for obtaining an annual license 
  3.27  under paragraph (a). 
  3.28     Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 97B.065, 
  3.29  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  3.30     Subdivision 1.  [ACTS PROHIBITED.] (a) A person may not 
  3.31  take wild animals with a firearm or by archery:  
  3.32     (1) when the person is under the influence of alcohol; 
  3.33     (2) when the person is under the influence of a controlled 
  3.34  substance, as defined in section 152.01, subdivision 4; 
  3.35     (3) when the person is under the influence of a combination 
  3.36  of any two or more of the elements in clauses (1) and (2); 
  4.1      (4) when the person's alcohol concentration is 0.10 or 
  4.2   more; 
  4.3      (5) when the person's alcohol concentration as measured 
  4.4   within two hours of the time of taking is 0.10 or more; or 
  4.5      (6) when the person is knowingly under the influence of any 
  4.6   chemical compound or combination of chemical compounds that is 
  4.7   listed as a hazardous substance in rules adopted under section 
  4.8   182.655 and that affects the nervous system, brain, or muscles 
  4.9   of the person so as to substantially impair the person's ability 
  4.10  to operate a firearm or bow and arrow. 
  4.11     (b) An owner or other person having charge or control of a 
  4.12  firearm or bow and arrow may not authorize or permit an 
  4.13  individual the person knows or has reason to believe is under 
  4.14  the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, as provided 
  4.15  under paragraph (a), to possess the firearm or bow and arrow in 
  4.16  this state or on a boundary water of this state. 
  4.17     (c) A person may not possess a loaded or uncased firearm or 
  4.18  an uncased bow afield under any of the conditions in paragraph 
  4.19  (a). 
  4.20     Sec. 8.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 97B.651, is 
  4.21  amended to read: 
  4.22     97B.651 [UNPROTECTED MAMMALS AND BIRDS.] 
  4.23     Mammals that are unprotected wild animals and unprotected 
  4.24  birds may be taken at any time and in any manner, except with 
  4.25  artificial lights, or by using a motor vehicle in violation of 
  4.26  section 97B.091.  Poison may not be used to take unprotected 
  4.27  mammals or unprotected birds unless the safety of humans and 
  4.28  domestic livestock is ensured.  Unprotected mammals and 
  4.29  unprotected birds may be possessed, bought, sold, or transported 
  4.30  in any quantity.  
  4.31     Sec. 9.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 97B.655, 
  4.32  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  4.33     Subdivision 1.  [OWNERS AND OCCUPANTS MAY TAKE CERTAIN 
  4.34  ANIMALS.] A person may take mink, squirrel, rabbit, hare, 
  4.35  raccoon, lynx, bobcat, fox, opossum, muskrat, or beaver on land 
  4.36  owned or occupied by the person where the animal is causing 
  5.1   damage.  The person may take the animal without a license and in 
  5.2   any manner except by poison, or artificial lights in the closed 
  5.3   season.  Raccoons may be taken under this subdivision with 
  5.4   artificial lights during open season.  A person that kills mink, 
  5.5   raccoon, lynx, bobcat, fox, opossum, muskrat, or beaver under 
  5.6   this subdivision must notify a conservation officer or employee 
  5.7   of the wildlife division within 24 hours after the animal is 
  5.8   killed. 
  5.9      Sec. 10.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 97B.715, 
  5.10  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  5.11     Subdivision 1.  [STAMP REQUIRED.] (a) Except as provided in 
  5.12  paragraph (b) or section 97A.405, subdivision 2, a person 
  5.13  required to possess a small game license may not hunt pheasants 
  5.14  without:  
  5.15     (1) a pheasant stamp in possession; and 
  5.16     (2) a pheasant stamp validation on the small game license 
  5.17  when issued electronically.  
  5.18     (b) The following persons are exempt from this subdivision: 
  5.19     (1) residents under age 18 or over age 65; and 
  5.20     (2) persons hunting on licensed commercial shooting 
  5.21  preserves; and 
  5.22     (3) resident disabled veterans with a license issued under 
  5.23  section 97A.441, subdivision 6a. 
  5.24     Sec. 11.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 97B.801, is 
  5.25  amended to read: 
  5.26     97B.801 [MINNESOTA MIGRATORY WATERFOWL STAMP REQUIRED.] 
  5.27     (a) Except as provided in this section or section 97A.405, 
  5.28  subdivision 2, a person required to possess a small game license 
  5.29  may not take migratory waterfowl without: 
  5.30     (1) a Minnesota migratory waterfowl stamp in possession; 
  5.31  and 
  5.32     (2) a migratory waterfowl stamp validation on the small 
  5.33  game license when issued electronically.  
  5.34     (b) Residents under age 18 or over age 65; resident 
  5.35  disabled veterans with a license issued under section 97A.441, 
  5.36  subdivision 6a; and persons hunting on their own property are 
  6.1   not required to possess a stamp or a license validation under 
  6.2   this section.  
  6.3      Sec. 12.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 97C.031, is 
  6.4   amended to read: 
  6.5      97C.031 [LAKES WITH UNBALANCED FISH POPULATIONS.] 
  6.6      The commissioner may establish and amend a list of lakes 
  6.7   and rivers that have been found by the fisheries director to 
  6.8   contain an unbalanced fish population, or to contain species of 
  6.9   fish that have become stunted from overpopulation.  The list may 
  6.10  not include more than 100 lakes and rivers, or more than six in 
  6.11  a county.  The commissioner may, by rule, establish open 
  6.12  seasons, limits, and methods of taking fish from lakes and 
  6.13  rivers on the list.  The rule must be published in each county 
  6.14  containing the lake or river.  
  6.15     Sec. 13.  Minnesota Statutes 2001 Supplement, section 
  6.16  97C.305, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  6.17     Subd. 2.  [EXCEPTION.] A trout and salmon stamp validation 
  6.18  is not required to take fish by angling or to possess trout and 
  6.19  salmon if:  
  6.20     (1) the person: 
  6.21     (i) possesses a license to take fish by angling for a 
  6.22  period of 24 hours from the time of issuance under section 
  6.23  97A.475, subdivision 6, clause (5), or subdivision 7, clause 
  6.24  (5), and 
  6.25     (ii) is taking fish by angling, or the trout or salmon were 
  6.26  taken by the person, during the period the license is valid; or 
  6.27     (2) the person is taking fish, or the trout or salmon were 
  6.28  taken by the person, as authorized under section 97C.035; or 
  6.29     (3) the person has a valid license issued under section 
  6.30  97A.441, subdivision 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5. 
  6.31     Sec. 14.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 97C.317, is 
  6.32  amended to read: 
  6.33     97C.317 [FISHING AS A PARTY.] 
  6.34     While two or more persons are taking fish by angling as a 
  6.35  party, the total number of fish taken and the total number of 
  6.36  fish possessed by the party may not exceed the limit of the 
  7.1   number of persons in the party that may take and possess fish by 
  7.2   angling.  For the purpose of this section, a party means,: 
  7.3      (1) for persons who are not on the water that, the persons 
  7.4   are maintaining unaided visual and vocal contact,; 
  7.5      (2) for persons who are on frozen water surfaces, the 
  7.6   persons are maintaining unaided visual and vocal contact; and 
  7.7      (3) for persons who are on the open water that surfaces, 
  7.8   the persons are angling from a single watercraft. 
  7.9      Sec. 15.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 169A.03, 
  7.10  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
  7.11     Subd. 3.  [AGGRAVATING FACTOR.] "Aggravating factor" 
  7.12  includes: 
  7.13     (1) a qualified prior impaired driving incident within the 
  7.14  ten years immediately preceding the current offense; 
  7.15     (2) having an alcohol concentration of 0.20 or more as 
  7.16  measured at the time, or within two hours of the time, of the 
  7.17  offense; or 
  7.18     (3) having a child under the age of 16 in the motor vehicle 
  7.19  at the time of the offense if the child is more than 36 months 
  7.20  younger than the offender. 
  7.21     Sec. 16.  Laws 1989, chapter 335, article 1, section 21, 
  7.22  subdivision 8, is amended to read: 
  7.23       Subd. 8.  Enforcement 
  7.24    $12,631,000   $12,952,000
  7.25                Summary by Fund 
  7.26  General            $ 2,246,000  $ 2,246,000 
  7.27  All-Terrain        $   152,000  $   152,000 
  7.28  Snowmobile         $   282,000  $   282,000 
  7.29  Water Recreation   $ 1,972,000  $ 1,972,000 
  7.30  Game and Fish      $ 7,979,000  $ 8,300,000 
  7.31  $1,124,300 the first year and 
  7.32  $1,124,300 the second year are from the 
  7.33  water recreation account for grants to 
  7.34  counties for boat and water safety. 
  7.35  The undercover operations unit within 
  7.36  this division shall submit an annual 
  7.37  finance report to the chair of the 
  7.38  house appropriations committee and the 
  7.39  chair of the senate finance committee 
  7.40  by January 1 of each year detailing the 
  8.1   expenditures for the previous fiscal 
  8.2   year and projecting the expenditures 
  8.3   for the forthcoming fiscal year.