HF 4860

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/13/2024 12:17pm

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; modifying forest cost certification requirements;
establishing account; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022,
sections 89.0385; 97A.055, subdivision 2, by adding a subdivision.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 89.0385, is amended to read:

89.0385 FOREST MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT ACCOUNT; COST
CERTIFICATION.

(a) The commissioner shall certify the total costs incurred for forest management, forest
improvement, and road improvement on state-managed lands new text begin , excluding lands that are not
school trust lands within wildlife management areas and aquatic management areas, new text end during
each fiscal year. The commissioner shall distribute forest management receipts credited to
various accounts according to this section.

(b) The amount of the certified costs incurred for forest management activities on state
lands shall be transferred from the account where receipts are deposited to the forest
management investment account in the natural resources fund, except for those costs certified
under section 16A.125. Transfers may occur quarterly, based on quarterly cost and revenue
reports, throughout the fiscal year, with final certification and reconciliation after each fiscal
year. Transfers in a fiscal year cannot exceed receipts credited to the account.

(c) The amount of the certified costs incurred for forest management activities on nonstate
lands managed under a good neighbor or joint powers agreement must be transferred from
the account where receipts are deposited to the forest management investment account in
the natural resources fund. Transfers for costs incurred may occur after projects or timber
permits are finalized.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 97A.055, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Receipts.

new text begin (a) Except as provided under paragraph (b), new text end the commissioner of
management and budget shall credit to the game and fish fund all money received under
the game and fish laws and all income from state lands acquired by purchase or gift for
game or fish purposes, including receipts from:

(1) licenses and permits issued;

(2) fines and forfeited bail;

(3) sales of contraband, wild animals, and other property under the control of the division,
except as provided in section 97A.225, subdivision 8, clause (2);

(4) fees from advanced education courses for hunters and trappers;

(5) reimbursements of expenditures by the division;

(6) contributions to the division; and

(7) revenue credited to the game and fish fund under section 297A.94, paragraph (h),
clause (1).

new text begin (b) The commissioner of management and budget must credit all revenue generated
from timber on state lands, excluding school trust lands, that are designated as wildlife
management areas and aquatic management areas to the wildlife and aquatic management
account under section 97A.055, subdivision 2c.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 97A.055, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:

new text begin Subd. 2c. new text end

new text begin Wildlife and aquatic management account. new text end

new text begin The wildlife and aquatic
management account is established in the game and fish fund. All money earned by the
wildlife and aquatic management account must be credited to the account. The account
consists of revenue generated from wildlife management areas and aquatic management
areas as provided under subdivision 2, paragraph (b). Money in the account is appropriated
to the commissioner to implement forest life-cycle activities, including but not limited to
site preparation, natural regeneration enhancements, tree planting, regeneration monitoring,
forest stand improvements, invasive species control, post-timber sale restoration, and other
final timber harvest activities necessary to ensure optimal forest wildlife habitat development.
new text end