HF 3668

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 02/21/2022 02:50pm

A bill for an act
relating to higher education; appropriating money for a weather resilience program
in the University of Minnesota Extension Service.

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

Section 1. new text begin APPROPRIATION; UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION
SERVICE WEATHER RESILIENCE PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin (a) $....... in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the general fund to the Board of Regents
of the University of Minnesota for a program in the University of Minnesota Extension
Service that will enhance the capacity of the state's farmers and communities to plan for
and adapt to meteorologic change. This is a onetime appropriation.
new text end

new text begin (b) This appropriation may be used to support existing extension service staff members
and to hire additional staff members for a program with broad geographic reach throughout
the state to enhance the capacity of the state's agricultural sector, land and resource managers,
and communities to plan for and adapt to meteorologic change, including the increased
frequency of extreme weather events like droughts and flooding. The program shall:
new text end

new text begin (1) identify, develop, implement, and evaluate educational programs that increase the
capacity of Minnesota's agricultural producers and communities to adapt and be resilient
to projected physical changes in temperature, precipitation, and other meteorologic parameters
that affect lands, horticulture, pests, and wildlife in ways that present challenges to the state's
agricultural sector and the communities that depend on it; and
new text end

new text begin (2) communicate and interpret the latest research on critical meteorologic trends and the
science behind them to assist extension educators throughout the state to transfer to actors
at the local level the technical information on water resource management, agriculture and
forestry, engineering and infrastructure design, and individual and community health that
is necessary for the development of strategies to mitigate the effects of meteorologic change.
new text end