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SF 2204

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 05/17/2015 02:39pm

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.

Current Version - as introduced

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A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; establishing Minnesota River Basin Commission;
appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 103B.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [103B.70] MINNESOTA RIVER BASIN COMMISSION.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The Minnesota River Basin Commission is
established to provide strong, diverse public and private interest-based planning,
development, implementation, administration, construction, and maintenance of water
resources projects and programs of benefit to the Minnesota River Basin.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Member appointments; terms. new text end

new text begin (a) The governor shall appoint one person
from each of the 13 major watersheds in the Minnesota River Basin and five citizens at
large. Six members serve initial appointments of three years, six members serve initial
appointments of four years, and six members serve initial appointments of five years.
Terms are for five years thereafter. Initial appointments must be finalized by July 1, 2016.
new text end

new text begin (b) Commission members must include:
new text end

new text begin (1) four soil and water conservation district supervisors;
new text end

new text begin (2) three county commissioners;
new text end

new text begin (3) three watershed managers;
new text end

new text begin (4) three city council members or mayors; and
new text end

new text begin (5) five citizens at large representing nongovernmental, private interests in the
Minnesota River Basin.
new text end

new text begin (c) The executive director of the Board of Water and Soil Resources is a nonvoting
member of the commission. The state organizations representing local governments and
the Minnesota River Congress may submit recommendations for appointments to the
governor during the open appointment period.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Advisory committee. new text end

new text begin The Minnesota River Congress may serve as the
citizen advisory committee to the commission. If the Minnesota River Congress serves
as the citizen advisory committee, the congress must be representative of the 13 major
watersheds, represent the diversity of the various interests or sectors in the Minnesota
River Basin, and meet at least once annually to advise the commission.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Technical and scientific advisory committee. new text end

new text begin The commission must
appoint a technical and scientific advisory committee to provide technical and scientific
information and analysis in support of the water quality and water quantity efforts. The
technical and scientific advisory committee must represent a range of diverse public and
private disciplines, including hydrology, engineering, ecology, soil science, and economics.
The technical and scientific advisory committee's work must be based on consensus and
its work products must reflect consensus recommendations of the committee.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Governing procedures. new text end

new text begin The commission must establish bylaws and
governing documents guiding the executive, administrative, and operational activities of
the commission. The commission must elect a chair, vice chair, secretary, and treasurer
with terms and responsibilities set forth in the commission bylaws. The commission may
hire staff to assist in the administration and operation of the commission.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Administrative oversight. new text end

new text begin The Board of Water and Soil Resources is
responsible for providing oversight and assistance to the commission. The Board of
Water and Soil Resources may provide guidance relating to bylaws, administration, and
operation of the commission. The Board of Water and Soil Resources must provide
interagency coordination with the commission.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Budget. new text end

new text begin The commission must submit a biennial budget request to the
Board of Water and Soil Resources by September 1 each even-numbered year for the
administrative, organizational, and technical operations of the commission. The request
must identify any funding authorities needed for the commission's ongoing administration,
operation, programs, and projects and for matching state and federal funds for project and
program implementation.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Water management implementation. new text end

new text begin (a) The commission must
coordinate with each of the 13 major watersheds in the Minnesota River Basin to complete
a comprehensive water quantity and water quality enhancement plan of action for
achieving a proportional share of the basin's water quality and water quantity management
goals. Each plan and plan cycle must identify priority projects and programs that will
achieve a minimum ..... percent reduction in phosphorus, nitrogen, and sediment and a .....
percent reduction in flow by distributed and managed water storage from the respective
watersheds to the Minnesota River. The watershed action plans must be updated at
least every five years to reflect realized outcomes and to update targeted priorities. The
commission must submit an annual report on the progress of outcomes to the Board of
Water and Soil Resources and the chairs of the legislative committees and divisions having
jurisdiction over environment and agriculture policy and finance and the legacy funds.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commission must prepare and submit to the Board of Water and Soil
Resources a five-year request for funding from the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage
Council, the clean water fund, and the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota
Resources for implementation of targeted priority water quality and quantity projects and
programs. The request must optimize leveraging of federal, local, and private funding
sources as matching funds toward achieving the desired outcomes.
new text end

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

new text begin $500,000 is appropriated in fiscal year 2017 from the clean water fund to the Board
of Water and Soil Resources for a grant to the Minnesota River Basin Commission for
initial organizational and administrative start-up.
new text end