1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to drainage; appropriating money for cost-sharing to implement riparian 
1.3 	buffer strips or alternative practices along public drainage ditches and outreach to 
1.4 	landowners, drainage authorities, and their advisors.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. APPROPRIATION; COST SHARE FOR PUBLIC DRAINAGE DITCH 
1.7 	BUFFER STRIPS OR ALTERNATIVE PRACTICES.
 1.8 	$....... in fiscal year 2018 is appropriated from the ..... fund to the Board of Water and 
1.9 	Soil Resources for grants to soil and water conservation districts for cost-sharing contracts 
1.10 	with landowners or authorized agents to implement riparian buffer strips or alternative 
1.11 	practices along public drainage ditches consistent with Minnesota Statutes, section 103F.48.

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

1.13 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; OUTREACH TO LANDOWNERS, DRAINAGE 
1.14 	AUTHORITIES, AND THEIR ADVISORS.
 1.15 	$....... in fiscal year 2019 is appropriated from the ..... fund to the Board of Water and 
1.16 	Soil Resources to coordinate with the Association of Minnesota Counties and Minnesota 
1.17 	Association of Watershed Districts for development of an outreach program to landowners, 
1.18 	drainage authorities, and their advisors to inform them of Minnesota Statutes, section 
1.19 	103F.48, and the provisions of Minnesota Statutes, chapter 103E, and potential external 
1.20 	sources of financial assistance, for acquisition and establishment of drainage ditch buffer 
1.21 	strips and alternative practices required by Minnesota Statutes, section 103F.48. This outreach 
1.22 	program must also provide an overview of drainage law, based on the Understanding 
2.1 	Minnesota Public Drainage Law document, with links to the Minnesota Public Drainage 
2.2 	Manual. The program must be conducted in coordination with the Minnesota Association 
2.3 	of Soil and Water Conservation Districts and other partners. This is a onetime appropriation.