HF 813

1st Engrossment - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; providing for
evaluation of construction aggregate located on school
trust lands; appropriating money; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2004, section 16A.125, subdivision 5, by
adding a subdivision.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 16A.125,
subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Forest trust lands.

The term "state forest
trust fund lands" as used in this subdivision, means public land
in trust under the Constitution set apart as "forest lands under
the authority of the commissioner" of natural resources as
defined by section 89.001, subdivision 13.

The commissioner of finance shall credit the revenue from
the forest trust fund lands to the forest suspense account. The
account must specify the trust funds interested in the lands and
the respective receipts of the lands.

After a fiscal year, the commissioner of finance shall
certify the total costs incurred for forestry during that year
under appropriations for the protection, improvement,
administration, and management of state forest trust fund lands
and construction and improvement of forest roads to enhance the
forest value of the lands. The certificate must specify the
trust funds interested in the lands. The commissioner of
natural resources shall supply the commissioner of finance with
the information needed for the certificate.

After a fiscal year new text begin and after the appropriation under
subdivision 11 new text end , the commissioner shall distribute the receipts
credited to the suspense account during that fiscal year as
follows:

(a) The amount of the certified costs incurred by the state
for forest management during the fiscal year shall be
transferred to the general fund.

(b) The balance of the receipts shall then be returned
prorated to the trust funds in proportion to their respective
interests in the lands which produced the receipts.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 16A.125, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 11. new text end

new text begin Appropriation to evaluate construction
aggregate potential. new text end

new text begin $50,000 is annually appropriated from
money accruing and credited to the forest suspense account for
school trust lands to the Division of Lands and Minerals in the
Department of Natural Resources to identify, evaluate, and lease
construction aggregates located on school trust lands. The
appropriation is supervised and controlled by the commissioner
of natural resources.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin APPROPRIATION TO ACCELERATE LAND EXCHANGES.
new text end

new text begin $300,000 in fiscal year 2006 and $300,000 in fiscal year
2007 are appropriated from the state forest suspense account for
school trust lands to the commissioner of natural resources to
accelerate land exchanges, land sales, and commercial leasing of
school trust lands. This appropriation is to be used toward
meeting the provisions of Minnesota Statutes, section 92.121, to
exchange school trust lands or put alternatives in effect when
management practices have diminished or prohibited revenue
generation, and the direction of Minnesota Statutes, section
127A.31, to secure maximum long-term economic return from the
school trust lands consistent with fiduciary responsibilities
and sound natural resources conservation and management
principles.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin APPROPRIATION TO ENHANCE MINERALS REVENUE
GENERATION.
new text end

new text begin $252,000 in fiscal year 2006 and $252,000 in fiscal year
2007 are appropriated from the permanent school fund to the
commissioner of natural resources to enhance minerals
activities. This appropriation is to be used to inventory
school lands and analyze how best to expand income
opportunities. The commissioner must report to the education
finance committees of the legislature on the expenditure of the
appropriations under this section upon request.
new text end