1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to natural resources; proposing an amendment to the Minnesota 
1.3 	Constitution, article XI, section 14; providing for the renewal of the environment 
1.4 	and natural resources trust fund;amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 
1.5 	349A.08, subdivision 5.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	ARTICLE 1
1.8 	CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

1.9 	Section 1. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROPOSED.
 1.10 	An amendment to the Minnesota Constitution is proposed to the people. If the amendment 
1.11 	is adopted, article XI, section 14, will read:

1.12 	Sec. 14. A permanent environment and natural resources trust fund is established in the 
1.13 	state treasury. Loans may be made of up to five percent of the principal of the fund for water 
1.14 	system improvements as provided by law. The assets of the fund shall be appropriated by 
1.15 	law for the public purpose of protection, conservation, preservation, and enhancement of 
1.16 	the state's air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources. The assets of the fund 
1.17 	shall not be used to pay the principal or interest of any bonds. The assets of the fund shall 
1.18 	not be used to pay for any costs related to the construction, repair, improvement, or operation 
1.19 	of any facility or system that processes wastewater, but may be used to pay for research 
1.20 	related to wastewater. The amount appropriated each year of a biennium, commencing on 
1.21 	July 1 in each odd-numbered year and ending on and including June 30 in the next 
1.22 	odd-numbered year, may be up to 5-1/2 seven percent of the market value of the fund on 
2.1 	June 30 one year before the start of the biennium. Not less than 40 50 percent of the net 
2.2 	proceeds from any state-operated lottery must be credited to the fund until the year 2025.

2.3 	Sec. 2. SUBMISSION TO VOTERS.
 2.4 	(a) The proposed amendment must be submitted to the people at the 2024 general election. 
2.5 	The question submitted must be:
2.6 	"Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to protect drinking water sources; protect 
2.7 	the water quality of lakes, rivers, and streams; and protect forests to improve air quality, 
2.8 	wildlife habitat, natural areas, parks, and trails by extending the transfer of proceeds from 
2.9 	the state-operated lottery to the environment and natural resources trust fund, to increase 
2.10 	the portion of lottery proceeds transferred to the fund from the lottery from 40 to 50 percent, 
2.11 	and to limit the uses of trust fund money?

2.12		Yes ........
		
2.13		No ........
	"
	
2.14 	(b) The title required under Minnesota Statutes, section 204D.15, subdivision 1, for the 
2.15 	question submitted to the people under paragraph (a) shall be: "Environment and Natural 
2.16 	Resources Trust Fund Renewal."

2.17 	ARTICLE 2
2.18 	STATUTORY CHANGE

2.19 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 349A.08, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
2.20 		Subd. 5.Payment; unclaimed prizes. A prize in the state lottery must be claimed by 
2.21 	the winner within one year of the date of the drawing at which the prize was awarded or 
2.22 	the last day sales were authorized for a game where a prize was determined in a manner 
2.23 	other than by means of a drawing. If a valid claim is not made for a prize payable directly 
2.24 	by the lottery by the end of this period, the prize money is considered unclaimed and the 
2.25 	winner of the prize shall have no further claim to the prize. A prize won by a person who 
2.26 	purchased the winning ticket in violation of section 349A.12, subdivision 1, or won by a 
2.27 	person ineligible to be awarded a prize under subdivision 7 must be treated as an unclaimed 
2.28 	prize under this section. The director must transfer all unclaimed prize money at the end of 
2.29 	each fiscal year from the lottery cash flow account to the general environment and natural 
2.30 	resources trust fund.