Minnesota Session Laws - 1991, Regular Session

  

                         Laws of Minnesota 1991 

                        CHAPTER 116-S.F.No. 437 
           An act relating to agriculture; changing the shade 
          tree disease and wood use programs; amending Minnesota 
          Statutes 1990, sections 18.023, subdivisions 10a and 
          11; and 18.024, subdivision 1. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
    Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1990, section 18.023, 
subdivision 10a, is amended to read: 
    Subd. 10a.  [EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAMS.] The commissioner may 
establish experimental programs for sanitation or treatment of 
shade tree diseases and for research into tree varieties most 
suitable for municipal reforestation.  The research must include 
considerations of disease resistance, energy conservation, and 
other factors considered appropriate.  The commissioner may make 
grants to municipalities, or enter into contracts 
with municipal, municipalities, nurseries, colleges, 
universities, or state or federal agencies in connection with 
experimental shade tree programs including research to assist 
municipalities in establishing priority designation areas in an 
approved disease control program for shade tree disease control 
and energy conservation. 
    Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1990, section 18.023, 
subdivision 11, is amended to read: 
    Subd. 11.  [REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE.] On or before 
January 31 of each odd-numbered year, the commissioner shall 
report to the legislature on the preceding year's 
approved community shade tree disease and insect control 
programs and any experimental programs conducted pursuant to 
under subdivision 10a during the previous fiscal biennium. The 
commissioner, with the assistance of the commissioner of trade 
and economic development and the director of public service, 
shall investigate and evaluate the potential uses of wood 
infected with shade tree disease, including the uses as an 
alternative energy source and as a component in the construction 
or manufacture of new products.  
    Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1990, section 18.024, 
subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
     Subdivision 1.  [RECOMMENDATIONS WOOD UTILIZATION.] 
The department departments of agriculture, in cooperation and 
natural resources, after consultation with the commissioner of 
trade and economic development, the director of public service, 
and the Minnesota shade tree advisory committee and the 
commissioners of public service, and trade and economic 
development, shall draft recommendations for investigate, 
evaluate, and make recommendations to the legislature concerning 
the potential uses of wood from community trees removed due to 
disease or other disorders.  These recommendations shall include 
maximum resource recovery through recycling, use as an 
alternative energy source, or use in construction or the 
manufacture of new products.  Wood utilization or disposal 
systems as defined in section 18.023.  These recommendations 
shall encourage must be included to ensure maximum utilization 
of diseased shade trees.  In addition to ensuring maximum 
utilization, the recommendations must be designed with designs 
and procedures to ensure public safety and to assure compliance 
with approved disease control programs. 
    Presented to the governor May 16, 1991 
    Signed by the governor May 19, 1991, 7:18 p.m.