1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to commerce; creating a tree care licensing and regulation task force; 
1.3 	requiring a report.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. TREE CARE LICENSING AND REGULATION TASK FORCE.
 1.6 	(a) A Tree Care Licensing and Regulation Task Force is created consisting of one 
1.7 	member of the senate appointed by the chair of the senate Committee on Agriculture, 
1.8 	Veterans and Gaming; one member of the house of representatives appointed by the 
1.9 	chair of the house Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development; the  commissioner 
1.10 	of agriculture or the commissioner's designee; and  13 public members appointed by 
1.11 	the commissioner. The public members must be skilled in the knowledge, science, and 
1.12 	practice of tree care. Public members of the task force must serve without compensation 
1.13 	or reimbursement of personal expenses.
1.14 	(b) The commissioner of agriculture must convene the first  meeting of the task force 
1.15 	and must provide office support  services to the task force as needed. The task force may 
1.16 	determine the date, location, and agenda of additional meetings.
1.17 	(c) The task force must review and make recommendations on at least the following 
1.18 	topics and practices:
1.19 	(1) the need for the licensing, education, and training of tree care professionals; and
1.20 	(2) the need for regulating employers offering tree care services or tree care 
1.21 	operations, including the establishment of insurance and solvency protection for the public.
1.22 	(d) On behalf of the task force, not later than February 15, 2007, the commissioner 
1.23 	of agriculture shall prepare and  deliver to the standing agriculture policy committees of 
2.1 	the senate and the house of representatives a report and list of its recommendations. The 
2.2 	commissioner shall also comply with Minnesota Statutes, sections 3.195 and 3.197.
2.3 	(e) For purposes of this section:
2.4 	(1) "tree care services" means in regard to trees, pruning, removal, repair, 
2.5 	fertilization, cabling and bracing, lightning protection, consulting, diagnosis and treatment 
2.6 	of tree problems, management during site planning and site development, tree assessment 
2.7 	and risk management, and all other forms of general tree maintenance and care; and
2.8 	(2) "tree care operations" means in regard to trees, pruning, repairing, maintaining 
2.9 	and removal, brush cutting, and all other forms of general tree maintenance and care.
2.10 	(f) The task force expires June 30, 2007.

2.11 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.