1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to agriculture; establishing a pilot program to provide grants to prevent 
1.3 	wolf-livestock conflict; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. WOLF-LIVESTOCK CONFLICT PREVENTION PILOT PROGRAM.
 1.6 	(a) The commissioner of agriculture may award grants to livestock producers to prevent 
1.7 	wolf-livestock conflicts. Livestock producers located in Minnesota are eligible to apply for 
1.8 	reimbursement for the cost of practices to prevent wolf-livestock conflicts. The commissioner 
1.9 	may establish a cap on the amount a recipient may receive annually.
1.10 	(b) To be eligible for the grant under this section, a livestock producer must raise livestock 
1.11 	within Minnesota's wolf range or on property determined by the commissioner to be affected 
1.12 	by wolf-livestock conflicts.
1.13 	(c) Eligible wolf-livestock conflict prevention activities include, but are not limited to:
1.14 	(1) the purchase of guard animals;
1.15 	(2) veterinary costs for guard animals;
1.16 	(3) the installation of wolf barriers; wolf barriers may include pens, fladry, and fencing;
1.17 	(4) the installation of wolf-deterring lights and alarms; and
1.18 	(5) calving or lambing shelters.
1.19 	(d) Eligible grant recipients must:
1.20 	(1) make a good-faith effort to avoid wolf-livestock conflicts;
2.1 	(2) make a good-faith effort to care for guard animals paid for under this section;
2.2 	(3) retain proper documentation of expenses;
2.3 	(4) report annually to the commissioner on the effectiveness of the nonlethal methods 
2.4 	employed; and
2.5 	(5) allow follow-up evaluation and monitoring by the commissioner.
2.6 	(e) Grant recipients shall continue to be eligible for depredation payments under 
2.7 	Minnesota Statutes, section 3.737.

2.8 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 2.9 	$200,000 in fiscal year 2018 and $200,000 in fiscal year 2019 are appropriated from the 
2.10 	general fund to the commissioner of agriculture for wolf-livestock conflict prevention grants 
2.11 	under section 1.