HF 4454

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 02/29/2024 02:58pm

A bill for an act
relating to education; requiring a study to determine the extent to which school
trust lands are used for recreational purposes; requiring a report; appropriating
money.

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

Section 1. new text begin REPORT ON RECREATIONAL USE OF PERMANENT SCHOOL
LANDS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Office of School Trust Lands. new text end

new text begin The school trust lands director shall
conduct a study of the recreational use of school trust lands in the state. The study shall be
used to determine the amount of money to be allocated to the permanent school fund for
fees paid to the state for outdoor recreation purposes. The Department of Natural Resources
must assist the office by providing existing outdoor recreation use data. The office may
contract for additional survey data to complete the study. The study shall include the
following:
new text end

new text begin (1) the estimated annual number of daily visits by individuals with a Minnesota hunting
license accessing school trust lands, and as a percentage of annual days hunted by all
individuals with a Minnesota hunting license;
new text end

new text begin (2) the estimated annual number of daily visits by individuals with a Minnesota fishing
license using a public water access site that contains school trust lands, and as a percentage
of annual days fishing by all individuals with a Minnesota fishing license;
new text end

new text begin (3) the estimated annual visits by Minnesota licensed watercrafts to state-owned public
water access sites that contain school trust lands, and as a percentage of all visits by
Minnesota licensed watercrafts using public water access sites;
new text end

new text begin (4) the total number of miles of state-maintained snowmobile trails and all-terrain vehicle
trails that are on school trust lands, and as a percentage of total miles of state-operated trails
for each purpose;
new text end

new text begin (5) the total amount of acres of school trust lands located within state parks and recreation
areas, and as a percentage of all acres of land in state parks and recreation areas;
new text end

new text begin (6) any other uses of school trust lands for outdoor recreation that include individuals
purchasing a permit or paying a fee for access to the school trust lands, and the percentage
of the total permits or fees for that purpose;
new text end

new text begin (7) the estimated cost of posting signage near entrances to school trust lands declaring
that certain portions of the public land that are being used for outdoor recreation is school
trust land;
new text end

new text begin (8) the estimated cost of updating recreational use maps and other electronic and printed
documents to distinctly label school trust lands that are contained within or are part of state
recreational areas, parks, and trails.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Report to the legislature. new text end

new text begin By January 15, 2025, the school trust lands director
shall report the findings in subdivision 1 to the chairs and ranking minority members of the
legislative committees with jurisdiction over environment and natural resources.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Appropriation. new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the ..... fund to
the Office of School Trust Lands for conducting the study of the recreational use of school
trust lands required under subdivision 1.
new text end