1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to natural resources; appropriating money to 
  1.3             restore and regenerate white pine forests. 
  1.4   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.5      Section 1.  [APPROPRIATIONS.] 
  1.6      Subdivision 1.  [WHITE PINE RESTORATION.] (a) $600,000 is 
  1.7   appropriated in fiscal year 1998 and $600,000 is appropriated in 
  1.8   fiscal year 1999 from the general fund to the commissioner of 
  1.9   natural resources for programs and practices on state, county, 
  1.10  and private lands to restore and regenerate this state's white 
  1.11  pine forests. 
  1.12     (b) Up to $300,000 of the appropriation in paragraph (a) in 
  1.13  each fiscal year may be used for private forest ownership 
  1.14  programs that will restore and regenerate white pine.  Money may 
  1.15  be made available to provide 50 percent matching funds to 
  1.16  implement cultural practices for white pine management on 
  1.17  nonindustrial private forest lands at rates specified in the 
  1.18  Minnesota stewardship incentives program manual. 
  1.19     Subd. 2.  [WHITE PINE BLISTER RUST RESEARCH.] $150,000 is 
  1.20  appropriated in fiscal year 1998 and $150,000 is appropriated in 
  1.21  fiscal year 1999 from the general fund to the board of regents 
  1.22  of the University of Minnesota for grants and programs to 
  1.23  research blister rust as it affects white pine forests.