1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to state government; establishing a legislative study group on Lake Mille 
1.3 	Lacs - 1837 Ceded Territory comanagement; providing appointments.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. LEGISLATIVE STUDY GROUP ON LAKE MILLE LACS - 1837 CEDED 
1.6 	TERRITORY COMANAGEMENT.
 1.7 		Subdivision 1.Study group established; duties. (a) A 12-member legislative study 
1.8 	group on comanagement of Lake Mille Lacs - 1837 Ceded Territory is created to review 
1.9 	the commissioner of natural resources' comanagement of Lake Mille Lacs - 1837 Ceded 
1.10 	Territory, including the impact of the comanagement structure on the local economy.
1.11 	(b) The study group must consider issues of accountability and transparency, including 
1.12 	a cost-benefit analysis of comanagement, and reviews and analysis of:
1.13 	(1) all fisheries technical agreements that date to the beginning of comanagement;
1.14 	(2) the process for reaching agreements in negotiations with the eight Ojibwe bands;
1.15 	(3) property value loss and revenue loss in the area resulting from decisions made by 
1.16 	the commissioner of natural resources related to comanagement; and
1.17 	(4) all data from previous research projects assigned by the commissioner of natural 
1.18 	resources related to comanagement.
1.19 		Subd. 2.Consultation required. (a) The study group must consult with members of 
1.20 	the commissioner's Mille Lacs Lake Fisheries Advisory Committee and members and 
2.1 	residents of the communities affected in Aitkin, Crow Wing, and Mille Lacs Counties, 
2.2 	including small businesses, resort owners, guides, and other industry-related interests.
2.3 	(b) In developing recommendations, the study group must consult with the commissioner 
2.4 	of natural resources, experts in management of a fishery, and affected stakeholders.
2.5 		Subd. 3.Membership; appointments. (a) The legislative study group includes:
2.6 	(1) six current members of the house of representatives, three appointed by the speaker 
2.7 	of the house and three appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives. One 
2.8 	appointee must be the chair of the house of representatives Environment and Natural 
2.9 	Resources Policy and Finance Committee; and
2.10 	(2) six current senators, three appointed by the senate majority leader and three appointed 
2.11 	by the senate minority leader. One appointee must be the current chair of the senate 
2.12 	Environment and Natural Resources Committee.
2.13 	(b) The appointments must be made by June 1, 2018. If a vacancy occurs, the leader of 
2.14 	the caucus in the house of representatives or senate to which the vacating study group 
2.15 	member belonged must fill the vacancy.
2.16 		Subd. 4.Meetings; staff assistance. (a) The chair of the house of representatives 
2.17 	Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee must convene the first 
2.18 	meeting of the study group. The study group must elect a chair or cochairs from among the 
2.19 	members at the first meeting. The study group must meet periodically.
2.20 	(b) The Legislative Coordinating Commission must provide technical and administrative 
2.21 	assistance to the study group upon request.
2.22 		Subd. 5.Report to legislature. The study group must submit a report to the chairs and 
2.23 	ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over environment 
2.24 	and natural resources policy and finance no later than February 2, 2019, describing its work 
2.25 	and recommendations. The study group is encouraged to identify and include in its report 
2.26 	any statutory changes needed to implement its recommendations.
2.27 		Subd. 6.Expiration. The study group expires February 2, 2019.

2.28 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.