Legislative Session number- 83

Bill Name: SF0842

E Relating to natural resources and public safety ARTICLE 1 � NATURAL
RESOURCES REGULATORY PROVISIONSExempting state park fees and charges established
by the commissioner+ of natural resources (DNR) from legislative approval
requirements; +modifying the authority of the commissioner relating to
employees, gifts and +grants; making optional the required number of assistant
commissioners; authorizing +the commissioner to enter into grant agreements for
provision of natural +resources services; authorizing subgrants from grant money
received to private individuals and organizations; authorizing the commissioner
to enter +into reciprocity agreements with other states for the certification of
off+ highway motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and boat safety education and
+training courses or programs from the states as substantially similar to in
+state courses or programs; removing the authority of the commissioner of
+public safety to register snowmobiles and to license watercraft; authorizing
acceptance of snowmobile safety course certificates from other states+ under
reciprocity agreements; expanding the state park littering +prohibition to all
units of the outdoor recreation system and including debris from +fireworks in
the littering prohibition; exempting purchases from the state parks +working
capital fund from competitive bidding requirements; making optional +the
requirement for the commissioner of natural resources to reimburse +counties for
the costs of keeping prisoners prosecuted for violations of game and +fish laws;
authorizing the commissioner to certify hunter safety courses in +other states
as substantially similar for firearms safety certificate eligibility +purposes;
expanding identification requirements and modifying license tag +display
requirements for dark or fish houses; expanding the prohibition on +highway,
street or public land or waters littering to cigarette filters and +fireworks
debris; repealing the provision requiring the commissioner to publish+ a
compilation of current laws and rules relating to wild animals and a +certain
rule providing for the display of license tags on fish houses ARTICLE 2 �
PUBLIC SAFETY REGULATORY PROVISIONS"Minnesota Citizens Personal Protection Act
of 2003", recognizing the+ inherent right of law abiding citizens to self
protection through the lawful +use of self defense; authorizing and providing
for the issuance of state permits +to carry pistols to residents or nonresidents
by county sheriffs, specifying eligibility, training, application, fee and
background investigation requirements, specifying certain qualification
requirements of +certified firearms instructors; authorizing sheriff contracts
with police +chiefs for permit application processing purposes; providing for
the granting or+ denial of permits, requiring notice of denial and
reconsideration under certain conditions; specifying certain permit and data
sharing requirements +and the validity period, providing for renewal and for
replacement of lost or+ destroyed permits; requiring revocation for a
disqualifying offense, specifying+ certain duties of prosecutors and the court;
authorizing and providing for +the issuance of emergency permits under certain
conditions; providing for hearings+ on denial or revocation and for denial or
suspension by court order under +certain conditions; restricting the records
maintenance authority of +sheriffs; authorizing the commissioner of public
safety to contract for the implementation and maintenance of an automated
database of persons +authorized to carry pistols; providing for the recognition
of permits from other+ states; authorizing the banning of guns in certain
establishments and +providing for the posting of notices; authorizing public and
private employers and +public colleges and universities to establish policies to
restrict the carry+ or possession of firearms by employees and students;
exempting sheriffs,+ involved police chiefs and instructors from liability for
damages resulting +from acts with firearms committed by permit holders,
exception; requiring +annual statistical reports by the commissioner to the
legislature, +specifying certain report content requirements; restricting the
use of fees collected by+ sheriffs and not forwarded to the commissioner for
administration costs; +providing for severability; exclusivity clause;
prohibiting carrying under the +influence of alcohol or controlled substance,
authorizing peace officer arrest +without warrant upon probable cause, providing
for chemical testing and for +the admission of evidence in prosecutions and
imposing certain penalties; appropriating money to the commissioner of public
safety for +implementation purposes; requiring the sheriff to temporarily submit
a fee to the +commissioner for each permit application; grandfathering in
current permits to +carry, permits to be valid until date of expiration;
imposing penalties for +certain violations including possession without a
permit; providing +exceptions to the felony penalty for possession of certain
dangerous weapons on school +property and expanding the definition of school
property to licensed child +care centers; repealing certain existing permit
eligibility and penalty provisions ARTICLE 3 � LIFETIME BAN ON FIREARM
POSSESSION FOR VIOLENT FELONSProhibiting persons convicted of certain crimes of
violence from +possessing, receiving, shipping or transporting firearms for
life; providing for +judicial restoration of civil rights through adult or
juvenile offender +petition under certain conditions, authorizing the court to
grant relief sought upon+ a showing of good cause; redefining crime of violence
(ra, ja)