HF 4078

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/28/2018 01:49pm

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; recognizing Red River Basin Commission; providing
for membership and duties of commission; appropriating money; proposing coding
for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 103B.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [103B.461] RED RIVER BASIN COMMISSION.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Purposes. new text end

new text begin The Red River Basin Commission was created to:
new text end

new text begin (1) facilitate transboundary and basin-wide dialogue and consultation with citizens, land
users, organizations, and governments; and
new text end

new text begin (2) coordinate basin-wide interstate and international efforts on water management,
including but not limited to flood mitigation, water quality, water supply, drainage, aquatic
health, and recreation.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Membership. new text end

new text begin The Red River Basin Commission must have basin-wide
representation of members and alternates to serve on the commission consistent with the
adopted bylaws of the commission. Selection and terms of members are as defined in the
commission's bylaws.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin The Red River Basin Commission must:
new text end

new text begin (1) develop and coordinate comprehensive water management goals for the Red River
basin by aligning the work plans in the major watersheds in the states of Minnesota, North
Dakota, and South Dakota and the Canadian province of Manitoba;
new text end

new text begin (2) advise on developing and using systems to monitor and evaluate the Red River basin
and incorporating the data obtained from these systems into planning and implementation
processes;
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new text begin (3) conduct public meetings at locations in the Red River basin regarding the public's
perspective on water resource issues, needs, and priorities in the basin;
new text end

new text begin (4) conduct an ongoing information and education program on water management in
the Red River basin, including an annual conference;
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new text begin (5) advise on developing projects in the major watersheds that are scientifically sound,
have landowner and local government support, and reduce potential flood damages and
inputs of pollutants into the Red River;
new text end

new text begin (6) develop and implement a framework plan for natural resources and provide periodic
budget requests and reports to the governors of Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota,
to the premier of Manitoba, and to the respective legislatures, provincial members, and
congressional representatives of the respective states and province regarding progress on
meeting water management goals and funding or policy recommendations;
new text end

new text begin (7) administer funds for implementing projects and track and report the results achieved
for each project; and
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new text begin (8) assess the collective work in the Red River basin and make recommendations to the
states of Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, to the Canadian province of Manitoba,
and to their respective legislatures, provincial members, and congressional representatives
on the actions needed to sustain or accelerate components of the framework plan for natural
resources in the Red River basin and the major watersheds of the Red River basin.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $50,000 in fiscal year 2019 is added to the appropriation to the Board of Water and Soil
Resources for a grant to the Red River Basin Commission in Laws 2017, chapter 93, article
1, section 4, paragraph (i). This amount is added to the agency base.
new text end