1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to state government; modifying administration of the Lessard Outdoor 
1.3 	Heritage Council;amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 97A.056, 
1.4 	subdivisions 2, 7.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 97A.056, subdivision 2, is amended to 
1.7 	read:
1.8 		Subd. 2.Lessard Outdoor Heritage Council. (a) The Lessard Outdoor Heritage 
1.9 	Council of 12 members is created in the legislative branch, consisting of:
1.10 	(1) two public members appointed by the senate Subcommittee on Committees of 
1.11 	the Committee on Rules and Administration;
1.12 	(2) two public members appointed by the speaker of the house;
1.13 	(3) four public members appointed by the governor;
1.14 	(4) two members of the senate appointed by the senate Subcommittee on Committees 
1.15 	of the Committee on Rules and Administration; and
1.16 	(5) two members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the 
1.17 	house.
1.18 	(b) Members appointed under paragraph (a) must not be registered lobbyists. 
1.19 	In making appointments, the governor, senate Subcommittee on Committees of the 
1.20 	Committee on Rules and Administration, and the speaker of the house shall consider 
1.21 	geographic balance, gender, age, ethnicity, and varying interests including hunting and 
1.22 	fishing. The governor's appointments to the council are subject to the advice and consent 
1.23 	of the senate.
2.1 	(c) Public members appointed under paragraph (a) shall have practical experience 
2.2 	or expertise or demonstrated knowledge in the science, policy, or practice of restoring, 
2.3 	protecting, and enhancing wetlands, prairies, forests, and habitat for fish, game, and 
2.4 	wildlife.
2.5 	(d) Legislative members appointed under paragraph (a) shall include the chairs 
2.6 	of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over environment and natural resources 
2.7 	finance or their designee, one member from the minority party of the senate, and one 
2.8 	member from the minority party of the house of representatives.
2.9 	(e) Members serve four-year terms and shall be initially appointed according to 
2.10 	the following schedule of terms:
2.11 	(1) two public members appointed by the governor for a term ending the first 
2.12 	Monday in January 2011;
2.13 	(2) one public member appointed by the senate Subcommittee on Committees of the 
2.14 	Committee on Rules and Administration for a term ending the first Monday in January 
2.15 	2011;
2.16 	(3) one public member appointed by the speaker of the house for a term ending 
2.17 	the first Monday in January 2011;
2.18 	(4) two public members appointed by the governor for a term ending the first 
2.19 	Monday in January 2013;
2.20 	(5) one public member appointed by the senate Subcommittee on Committees of the 
2.21 	Committee on Rules and Administration for a term ending the first Monday in January 
2.22 	2013; 
2.23 	(6) one public member appointed by the speaker of the house for a term ending the 
2.24 	first Monday in January 2013; and
2.25 	(7) two members of the senate appointed by the senate Subcommittee on Committees 
2.26 	of the Committee on Rules and Administration for a term ending the first Monday in 
2.27 	January 2013, and two members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker 
2.28 	of the house for a term ending the first Monday in January 2013.
2.29 	(f) Compensation and removal of public members are as provided in section 
2.30 	15.0575. A vacancy on the council may be filled by the appointing authority for the 
2.31 	remainder of the unexpired term.
2.32 	(g) The first meeting of the council shall be convened by the chair of the Legislative 
2.33 	Coordinating Commission no later than December 1, 2008. Members shall elect a chair, 
2.34 	vice-chair, secretary, and other officers as determined by the council. The chair may 
2.35 	convene meetings as necessary to conduct the duties prescribed by this section.
3.1 	(h) The Department of Natural Resources shall provide administrative support for
3.2 	Legislative Coordinating Commission may employ staff and contract with consultants 
3.3 	as necessary to carry out the functions of the council. Up to one percent of the money 
3.4 	appropriated from the fund may be used to cover the staffing and related administrative 
3.5 	expenses of the department and to cover the compensation and travel expenses pay for 
3.6 	administrative expenses of the council and for compensation and expense reimbursement
3.7 	of council members.

3.8 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 97A.056, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
3.9 		Subd. 7.Legislative oversight. (a) The senate and house of representatives chairs 
3.10 	of the committees with jurisdiction over the environment and natural resources budget 
3.11 	shall convene a joint hearing to review the activities and evaluate the effectiveness of the 
3.12 	council and evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the department's administration 
3.13 	and staffing of the council after five years but no later than June 30, 2014.
3.14 	(b) By January 15, 2013, a professional outside review authority shall be chosen by 
3.15 	the chairs of the house of representatives and senate committees with jurisdiction over 
3.16 	environment and natural resources to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the 
3.17 	department's administration and staffing of the council. A report shall be submitted to 
3.18 	the chairs by January 15, 2014.

3.19 	Sec. 3. LESSARD OUTDOOR HERITAGE COUNCIL; CERTAIN TRAVEL 
3.20 	DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A MEETING.
 3.21 	Travel to and from site visits by members of the Lessard Outdoor Heritage Council 
3.22 	paid for by administrative funds appropriated from the outdoor heritage fund in fiscal 
3.23 	years 2010 and 2011 are not meetings of the council for purposes of receiving information 
3.24 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 5.