SF 2256

1st Engrossment - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 03/20/2014 08:42am

A bill for an act
relating to game and fish; modifying wolf management provisions; creating a
wolf management plan review advisory council; providing limits on wolf baiting;
providing for temporary suspension of wolf hunt; amending Minnesota Statutes
2012, sections 97B.646; 97B.647, subdivision 3, by adding a subdivision;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 97B.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 97B.646, is amended to read:

97B.646 WOLF MANAGEMENT PLAN.

The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of agriculture, shall adopt
a wolf management plan that includes new text begin :
new text end

new text begin (1) new text end goals to ensure the long-term survival of the wolf in Minnesota, to reduce
conflicts between wolves and humans, to minimize depredation of livestock and domestic
pets, and to manage the ecological impact of wolves on prey species and other predators deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin ;
new text end

new text begin (2) an annual wolf census; and
new text end

new text begin (3) educational strategies and development of materials for reducing conflicts
between wolves and humans.
new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin [97B.6461] WOLF MANAGEMENT PLAN REVIEW ADVISORY
COUNCIL.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Established; members. new text end

new text begin The Wolf Management Plan Review
Advisory Council has 17 members appointed by the commissioner as follows:
new text end

new text begin (1) two representatives of environmental organizations;
new text end

new text begin (2) two representatives of agricultural organizations;
new text end

new text begin (3) two representatives of hunting and trapping organizations;
new text end

new text begin (4) two representatives of wolf advocate organizations;
new text end

new text begin (5) two representatives of government agencies;
new text end

new text begin (6) two representatives of federally recognized Indian tribes and bands that have
jurisdiction over land within the state;
new text end

new text begin (7) two biologists or scientists who have expertise in the study of wolves or
modeling of animal populations, and who are not employed by and do not receive funding
from the Department of Natural Resources;
new text end

new text begin (8) one representative of an animal protection organization; and
new text end

new text begin (9) two at-large members who do not fit the categories in clauses (1) to (8), and who
have a specific interest in wolf management issues.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Terms. new text end

new text begin Except for initial appointees, members will serve three-year terms.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Compensation; expenses. new text end

new text begin Members shall not receive compensation for
serving on the council, but shall receive expenses in the same manner and amount as
provided in the commissioner's plan under section 43A.18, subdivision 2. Members
who, as a result of time spent attending council meetings, incur child care expenses that
would not otherwise have been incurred, may be reimbursed for those expenses upon
the commissioner's authorization. Members who are state employees or employees of
political subdivisions of the state may be reimbursed for child care expenses only for time
spent on council activities that are outside their normal working hours.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Removal. new text end

new text begin The commissioner may remove members (1) for cause, after
notice and a hearing; or (2) after missing three consecutive meetings. The chair of the
council shall inform the commissioner of a member missing three consecutive meetings.
After the second consecutive missed meeting and before the next meeting, the chair of
the council shall notify the member in writing that the member may be removed for
missing the next meeting.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Vacancies. new text end

new text begin In the case of a vacancy, the commissioner must, within 90
days of the vacancy, appoint a member to serve the remainder of the unexpired term.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Chair; meetings. new text end

new text begin The council must elect a chair from among its members.
The chair shall convene meetings at least twice each year.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin The council must report by January 15 of each year to the
commissioner and to the chairs and ranking minority members of the committees and
divisions in the senate and the house of representatives that have primary jurisdiction over
the environment on the efficacy of the wolf management plan adopted under section
97B.646 to ensure the maintenance of a healthy wolf population within the state. The
report must include suggestions for altering the plan to ensure the maintenance of a
healthy wolf population within the state.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 97B.647, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Open areas.

new text begin (a) new text end The commissioner may by rule designate areas where
wolves may be taken.

new text begin (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), if requested by tribal leadership, the
commissioner shall close federally recognized tribal lands to hunting and trapping wolves.
new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 97B.647, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Baiting limitation. new text end

new text begin Baiting wolves is prohibited within ten miles of tribal
lands where taking wolves is prohibited.
new text end

Sec. 5. new text begin INITIAL APPOINTMENTS AND TERMS FOR THE WOLF
MANAGEMENT PLAN REVIEW ADVISORY COUNCIL; FIRST MEETING.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner must make initial appointments of the Wolf Management Plan
Review Advisory Council by September 1, 2014, and must convene the council's first
meeting by October 1, 2014. When making initial appointments, the commissioner must
designate five members to serve a one-year term, six members to serve a two-year term, and
six members to serve a three-year term. The council must elect a chair at its first meeting.
new text end

Sec. 6. new text begin SUSPENSION OF WOLF HUNT; WOLF MANAGEMENT PLAN.
new text end

new text begin (a) The open seasons for taking wolves authorized under Minnesota Statutes,
section 97B.647, are suspended in order to study outcomes of the wolf hunt on the wolf
population and to implement the wolf management plan under Minnesota Statutes, section
97B.646. The suspension continues and no wolves may be taken until the requirements in
paragraphs (b) to (e) are met and the results are submitted to the house of representatives
and senate committees with jurisdiction over natural resource policy.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner of natural resources must provide comprehensive, publicly
accessible data of all known wolf deaths and illnesses in the state, including deaths
from the destruction of wolves authorized under Minnesota Statutes, section 97B.645,
poaching, and car kills.
new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner of natural resources must conduct a study of public sentiment
towards wolves, including issues related to intolerance.
new text end

new text begin (d) The commissioner of natural resources, in consultation with the commissioner of
agriculture, must develop comprehensive best management practices (BMPs) that may be
used by livestock producers to reduce and prevent wolf depredation. The BMPs should
include both lethal and nonlethal control methods. The commissioner must disseminate
the BMPs to livestock producers through traditional and digital media platforms.
new text end

new text begin (e) The commissioner of natural resources must produce a map of wolf and human
conflicts, including wolf predation on livestock.
new text end

new text begin (f) In support of the annual wolf census required under Minnesota Statutes, section
97B.646, the commissioner of natural resources must increase the number of trained
wolf counters in zone B.
new text end