HF 1128

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; providing for no net loss of forest land and hunting
opportunities; requiring a report; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapters 89; 97B.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [89.003] NO NET LOSS OF FOREST LAND.
new text end

new text begin (a) To the greatest practicable extent, the commissioner's land management decisions
and actions may not result in any net loss of forest land acreage available for timber
production that exists on July 1, 2007.
new text end

new text begin (b) Before January 1 of each year, the commissioner shall submit to the chairs of
the house and senate committees having jurisdiction over natural resources a written
report containing:
new text end

new text begin (1) the acreage managed by the commissioner that was closed to timber production
during the previous year and the reasons for the closures; and
new text end

new text begin (2) the acreage managed by the commissioner that was opened to timber production
to compensate for the acreage that was closed during the previous year.
new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin [97B.15] NO NET LOSS OF HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES.
new text end

new text begin (a) Subject to existing rights, lands managed by the commissioner are open to access
and use for recreational hunting except as limited by the commissioner for reasons of
public safety, homeland security, or as otherwise limited by law.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner shall exercise the commissioner's authority to manage lands
in a manner to support, promote, and enhance recreational hunting opportunities to the
extent authorized by law.
new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner is not required to give preference to hunting over other uses or
priorities established by state law.
new text end

new text begin (d) To the greatest practicable extent, the commissioner's land management decisions
and actions may not result in any net loss of acreage available for hunting opportunities
that exists on July 1, 2007.
new text end

new text begin (e) Before January 1 of each year, the commissioner shall submit to the chairs of
the house and senate committees having jurisdiction over game and fish a written report
containing:
new text end

new text begin (1) the acreage managed by the commissioner that was closed to recreational hunting
during the previous year and the reasons for the closures; and
new text end

new text begin (2) the acreage managed by the commissioner that was opened to recreational
hunting to compensate for the acreage that was closed during the previous year.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin FOREST LAND SURVEY AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
new text end

new text begin By January 15, 2008, the commissioner of natural resources shall survey the quantity
of public and private forest land in the state available for timber production and submit
the results, together with recommendations on how to keep forest lands from being
taken out of timber production, to the house and senate committees having jurisdiction
over natural resources.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end

new text begin Sections 1 to 3 are effective July 1, 2007.
new text end