SF 1622

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

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; providing for emergency management of invasive
species; appropriating money for invasive species management; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 84D.02, by adding a subdivision.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 84D.02, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Contracts for services for emergency invasive species prevention work;
commissions to persons employed. new text end

new text begin The commissioner may contract for or accept the
services of any persons whose aid is available, temporarily or otherwise, in emergency
invasive species prevention work, either gratuitously or for compensation not in excess of
the limits provided by law with respect to the employment of labor by the commissioner.
The commissioner may issue a commission, or other written evidence of authority, to any
person whose services are so arranged for and may thereby empower the person to act,
temporarily or otherwise, in any other capacity, with powers and duties as may be specified
in the commission or other written evidence of authority, but not in excess of the powers
conferred by law. The commissioner of agriculture, under authority provided by law, must
cooperate with the commissioner in emergency control of invasive species prevention.
new text end

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

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Terrestrial invasive plant management program. new text end

new text begin $650,000 in
fiscal year 2008 and $650,000 in fiscal year 2009 are appropriated from the general fund
to the commissioner of natural resources to provide for a terrestrial plant invasive species
management program for local governments and nonprofit organizations. Priority for
grants shall be based on those entities that provide a matching contribution. The funding
is for the following components each year:
new text end

new text begin (1) $150,000 to begin county cooperative weed management programs on natural
lands and lands enrolled under the federal conservation reserve program;
new text end

new text begin (2) $100,000 to counties and other local units of government to develop invasive
plant species management systems;
new text end

new text begin (3) $150,000 to restore native plants in selected invasive species management sites
by providing local native seeds and plants to landowners for implementation;
new text end

new text begin (4) $100,000 to support local units of government by providing equipment and
services in assisting the public to participate in invasive species management;
new text end

new text begin (5) $80,000 to local units of government for emergency situations to control new
occurrences of high priority invasive species infestations;
new text end

new text begin (6) $20,000 for local education efforts on the identification, control, and prevention
of invasive species; and
new text end

new text begin (7) $50,000 to encourage the creation of local neighborhood groups to eradicate and
control invasive species.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Emergency management of invasive species. new text end

new text begin $350,000 in fiscal year
2008 and $350,000 in fiscal year 2009 are appropriated from the general fund as an
open appropriation to the commissioner of natural resources for controlling emergency
infestations of aquatic and terrestrial invasive species under the authority of Minnesota
Statutes, section 84D.02, subdivision 7. Any unencumbered balance in the first year does
not cancel and is available for the second year.
new text end