1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to agriculture; establishing Minnesota emerald ash borer suppression 
1.3 	program; appropriating money;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
1.4 	Statutes, chapter 17.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [17.855] MINNESOTA EMERALD ASH BORER SUPPRESSION 
1.7 	PROGRAM.
1.8 	The commissioner of agriculture shall work with all necessary state agencies to 
1.9 	develop and implement the Minnesota emerald ash borer suppression program. The 
1.10 	program must include a matching grant component. A county, home rule charter or 
1.11 	statutory city, town, school district, park district, or other municipal corporation or 
1.12 	political subdivision of the state authorized by law to enter contracts is eligible for a 
1.13 	matching grant under the program. Activities eligible for partial reimbursement with state 
1.14 	money include sanitation, including removal of infested trees and stumps; protection 
1.15 	of ash trees using lowest risk treatments; and other integrated pest management and 
1.16 	suppression activities such as slow ash mortality strategies. Additional activities eligible 
1.17 	for inclusion as the local match but not for reimbursement include development of public 
1.18 	tree inventories, surveys, and response plans; removal and replacement of ash trees 
1.19 	damaged by or lost to emerald ash borers, including the purchase price of replacement 
1.20 	trees; and public education. The Minnesota Shade Tree Advisory Committee shall advise 
1.21 	the commissioner regarding all matters covered by the program and the commissioner 
1.22 	must consider the committee's advice.

1.23 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 2.1 	$13,000,000 in fiscal year 2017 and $13,000,000 in fiscal year 2018 are appropriated 
2.2 	from the ... fund to the commissioner of agriculture to develop and administer the program 
2.3 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 17.855.