SF 399

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to game and fish; imposing a surcharge on deer licenses for deer
management and for reimbursing the cost of processing deer donated for
charitable purposes; authorizing rulemaking; appropriating money; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections 97A.055, subdivision 4; 97A.065, by adding a
subdivision; 97A.475, by adding a subdivision; 97A.485, subdivision 7.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 97A.055, subdivision 4, is amended to
read:

Subd. 4.

Game and fish annual reports.

(a) By December 15 each year,
the commissioner shall submit to the legislative committees having jurisdiction over
appropriations and the environment and natural resources reports on each of the following:

(1) the amount of revenue from the following and purposes for which expenditures
were made:

(i) the small game license surcharge under section 97A.475, subdivision 4;

(ii) the Minnesota migratory waterfowl stamp under section 97A.475, subdivision
5, clause (1);

(iii) the trout and salmon stamp under section 97A.475, subdivision 10;

(iv) the pheasant stamp under section 97A.475, subdivision 5, clause (2); deleted text begin and deleted text end

(v) the turkey stamp under section 97A.475, subdivision 5, clause (3); new text begin and
new text end

new text begin (vi) the deer license surcharge under section 97A.475, subdivision 3a;
new text end

(2) the amounts available under section 97A.075, subdivision 1, paragraphs (b) and
(c), and the purposes for which these amounts were spent;

(3) money credited to the game and fish fund under this section and purposes for
which expenditures were made from the fund;

(4) outcome goals for the expenditures from the game and fish fund; and

(5) summary and comments of citizen oversight committee reviews under
subdivision 4b.

(b) The report must include the commissioner's recommendations, if any, for
changes in the laws relating to the stamps and surcharge referenced in paragraph (a).

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 97A.065, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Deer license surcharge. new text end

new text begin (a) The surcharge collected under section
97A.475, subdivision 3a, shall be deposited in a special revenue account and is
appropriated to the commissioner for deer management, including assisting with the
cost of processing deer that are donated to charitable food assistance programs. Money
appropriated for deer management and assisting with the cost of processing deer is
available until expended. When the unencumbered balance in the account at the end of a
fiscal year exceeds $400,000, the commissioner shall cease collection of the deer license
surcharge specified in section 97A.475, subdivision 3a, until the balance in the account at
the end of a fiscal year is less than $400,000.
new text end

new text begin (b) A food handler holding a license under chapter 28A may be reimbursed by the
commissioner for the cost of processing a deer that is donated to a charitable organization
that is registered under chapter 309 and operates a food assistance program. A food
handler must apply annually to the commissioner of agriculture for a permit to process
deer under this subdivision and must receive written approval from the commissioner of
agriculture before processing a deer for donation.
new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner may adopt rules to implement this subdivision, including
establishment of the reimbursement amount per deer, and may use the rulemaking process
under section 84.027, subdivision 13, paragraph (b).
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 97A.475, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 3a. new text end

new text begin Deer license surcharge. new text end

new text begin Fees for annual resident and nonresident licenses
to take deer by firearms or archery established under subdivisions 2, clauses (4), (5), (9),
and (11), and 3, clauses (2), (3), and (7), must be increased by a surcharge of $1, except
as provided under section 97A.065, subdivision 6. An additional commission may not
be assessed on the surcharge and the following statement must be included in the annual
deer hunting regulations: "The $1 deer license surcharge is being paid by hunters for deer
management, including assisting with the costs of processing deer donated for charitable
purposes."
new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 97A.485, subdivision 7, is amended to read:

Subd. 7.

Electronic licensing system commission.

The commissioner shall retain
for the operation of the electronic licensing system the commission established under
section 84.027, subdivision 15, and issuing fees collected by the commissioner on all
license fees collected, excluding:

(1) the small game surcharge; deleted text begin and
deleted text end

(2) new text begin the deer license surcharge; and
new text end

new text begin (3) new text end $2.50 of the license fee for the licenses in section 97A.475, subdivisions 6,
clauses (1), (2), and (4), 7, 8, 12, and 13.