Minnesota Session Laws - 1997, Regular Session

                            CHAPTER 109-H.F.No. 664 
                  An act relating to state government; adding authority 
                  for the board of water and soil resources to accept 
                  and administer federal grants, donations, gifts, and 
                  other contributions to achieve authorized objectives 
                  of the agency; amending Minnesota Statutes 1996, 
                  sections 103B.101, subdivision 9; and 103C.401, 
                  subdivision 1. 
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 103B.101, 
        subdivision 9, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 9.  [POWERS AND DUTIES.] In addition to the powers 
        and duties prescribed elsewhere, the board shall: 
           (1) coordinate the water and soil resources planning 
        activities of counties, soil and water conservation districts, 
        watershed districts, watershed management organizations, and any 
        other local units of government through its various authorities 
        for approval of local plans, administration of state grants, and 
        by other means as may be appropriate; 
           (2) facilitate communication and coordination among state 
        agencies in cooperation with the environmental quality board, 
        and between state and local units of government, in order to 
        make the expertise and resources of state agencies involved in 
        water and soil resources management available to the local units 
        of government to the greatest extent possible; 
           (3) coordinate state and local interests with respect to 
        the study in southwestern Minnesota under United States Code, 
        title 16, section 1009; 
           (4) develop information and education programs designed to 
        increase awareness of local water and soil resources problems 
        and awareness of opportunities for local government involvement 
        in preventing or solving them; 
           (5) provide a forum for the discussion of local issues and 
        opportunities relating to water and soil resources management; 
           (6) adopt an annual budget and work program that integrate 
        the various functions and responsibilities assigned to it by 
        law; and 
           (7) report to the governor and the legislature by October 
        15 of each even-numbered year with an assessment of board 
        programs and recommendations for any program changes and board 
        membership changes necessary to improve state and local efforts 
        in water and soil resources management. 
           The board may accept grants, gifts, donations, or 
        contributions in money, services, materials, or otherwise from 
        the United States, a state agency, or other source to achieve an 
        authorized purpose.  The board may enter into a contract or 
        agreement necessary or appropriate to accomplish the transfer. 
           Any money received is hereby appropriated and dedicated for 
        the purpose for which it is granted. 
           Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 103C.401, 
        subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
           Subdivision 1.  [POWERS AND DUTIES.] In addition to the 
        powers and duties of the state board provided by other law, the 
        state board shall:  
           (1) receive and disburse any grants made available to the 
        state by the United States Department of Agriculture under the 
        preferred program developed under United States Code, title 16, 
        sections 2001 to 2009; 
           (2) offer to assist the district boards to implement their 
        programs; 
           (3) (2) keep the district boards of the state informed of 
        the activities and experience of other districts and facilitate 
        cooperation and an interchange of advice and experience among 
        the districts; 
           (4) (3) coordinate the programs and activities of the 
        districts with appropriate agencies by advice and consultation; 
           (5) (4) approve or disapprove the plans or programs of 
        districts relating to the use of state funds administered by the 
        state board; 
           (6) (5) secure the cooperation and assistance of agencies 
        in the work of the districts and develop a program to advise and 
        assist appropriate agencies in obtaining state and federal funds 
        for erosion, sedimentation, flooding, and agriculturally related 
        pollution control programs; 
           (7) (6) develop and implement a public information program 
        concerning the districts' activities and programs, the problems 
        and preventive practices relating to erosion control, 
        sedimentation, agriculturally related pollution, flood 
        prevention, and the advantages of formation of districts in 
        areas where their organization is desirable; 
           (8) (7) divide and consolidate districts without a hearing 
        or a referendum to confine districts within county limits, 
        without allowing a district, if feasible and practicable, to 
        contain less than four full or fractional congressional 
        townships; 
           (9) (8) assist the statewide program to inventory and 
        classify the types of soils in the state as determined by the 
        Minnesota cooperative soil survey; 
           (10) (9) identify research needs and cooperate with other 
        public agencies in research concerning the nature and extent of 
        erosion, sedimentation, flooding and agriculturally related 
        pollution, the amounts and sources of sediment and pollutants 
        delivered to the waters of the state, and long-term soil 
        productivity; 
           (11) (10) develop structural, land use management practice, 
        and other programs to reduce or prevent soil erosion, 
        sedimentation, flooding, and agriculturally related pollution; 
           (12) (11) develop a system of priorities to identify the 
        erosion, flooding, sediment, and agriculturally related 
        pollution problem areas that most need control systems; and 
           (13) (12) ensure compliance with statewide programs and 
        policies established by the state board by advice, consultation, 
        and approval of grant agreements with the districts. 
           Presented to the governor May 7, 1997 
           Signed by the governor May 8, 1997, 10:50 a.m.