SF 324

as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to forest protection; establishing a program
of grants administered by the commissioner of
agriculture to municipalities for monitoring,
detection, and control or extermination of forest
pests; appropriating money; proposing coding for new
law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 18G.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [18G.15] MUNICIPAL GRANTS FOR FOREST
PROTECTION.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) The definitions in this
subdivision apply to this section.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Municipality" means a county, town, or home rule
charter or statutory city in Minnesota. "Municipality" also
means a forest protection joint powers agency or board organized
and authorized by any two or more counties, towns, or home rule
charter or statutory cities under section 471.59.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Forest protection" means a program implemented by a
municipality for purposes of monitoring, detection, control, and
extermination of invasive species and plant pests that pose an
economic or environmental harm to forests within the
municipality. "Forest protection" does not include
reforestation activities.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Municipal authority for forest protection. new text end

new text begin A
municipality is eligible to receive grants from the commissioner
or other public or private sources for purposes of activities
coordinated with the commissioner under section 18G.12 or for
other forest protection activities.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Commissioner to establish a forest protection
grant program. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall establish guidelines that
are not subject to chapter 14 for a program of forest protection
grants to applicants that are municipalities for activities
under this section. The commissioner shall prioritize the award
of grants based on local needs and the urgency of allocating
resources within certain geographic areas to monitor, detect,
control, and exterminate invasive species.
new text end

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

new text begin $....... is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of agriculture in fiscal year 2006 for purposes of
making grants to municipalities under Minnesota Statutes,
section 18G.15. Any amount of this appropriation that remains
unencumbered on June 30, 2006, remains available until expended.
new text end