Minnesota Session Laws - 2001, Regular Session

                            CHAPTER 99-S.F.No. 1164 
                  An act relating to conservation; modifying the 
                  definition of landowner for purposes of participation 
                  in the RIM program; increasing the amount of funding 
                  available to participants; amending Minnesota Statutes 
                  2000, sections 103F.511, subdivision 6; and 103F.515, 
                  subdivision 6. 
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 103F.511, 
        subdivision 6, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 6.  [LANDOWNER.] "Landowner" means individuals, 
        family farms, family farm partnerships, authorized farm 
        partnerships, family farm corporations and authorized farm 
        corporations as defined under section 500.24, subdivision 2, and 
        estates and testamentary trusts, which either own eligible land 
        or are purchasing eligible land under a contract for deed an 
        individual or entity that is not prohibited from owning 
        agricultural land under section 500.24 and either owns eligible 
        land or is purchasing eligible land under a contract for deed.  
           Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 103F.515, 
        subdivision 6, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 6.  [PAYMENTS FOR CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AND 
        ESTABLISHMENT OF COVER.] (a) The board must make the following 
        payments to the landowner for the conservation easement and 
        agreement: 
           (1) to establish the perennial cover or other improvements 
        required by the agreement: 
           (i) except as provided in items (ii) and (iii), up to 75 
        percent of the total eligible cost not to exceed $75 $125 per 
        acre for limited duration easements and 100 percent of the total 
        eligible cost not to exceed $100 $150 per acre for perpetual 
        easements; 
           (ii) for native species restoration, 75 percent of the 
        total eligible cost not to exceed $150 $200 per acre for limited 
        duration easements and 100 percent of the total eligible cost 
        not to exceed $200 $300 per acre for perpetual easements; and 
           (iii) 100 percent of the total eligible cost of wetland 
        restoration not to exceed $300 $600 per acre; 
           (2) for the cost of planting trees required by the 
        agreement, up to 75 percent of the total eligible cost not to 
        exceed $200 $250 per acre for limited duration easements, and 
        100 percent of the total eligible cost not to exceed $300 $400 
        per acre for perpetual easements; 
           (3) for a permanent easement, 70 percent of the township 
        average equalized estimated market value of agricultural 
        property as established by the commissioner of revenue at the 
        time of easement application; 
           (4) for an easement of limited duration, 90 percent of the 
        present value of the average of the accepted bids for the 
        federal conservation reserve program, as contained in Public Law 
        Number 99-198, in the relevant geographic area and on bids 
        accepted at the time of easement application; or 
           (5) an alternative payment system for easements based on 
        cash rent or a similar system as may be determined by the board. 
           (b) For hillside pasture conservation easements, the 
        payments to the landowner in paragraph (a) for the conservation 
        easement and agreement must be reduced to reflect the value of 
        similar property.  
           (c) The board may establish a payment system for flowage 
        easements acquired under this section. 
           (d) For wetland restoration projects involving more than 
        one conservation easement, state payments for restoration costs 
        may exceed the limits set forth in this section for an 
        individual easement provided the total payment for the 
        restoration project does not exceed the amount payable for the 
        total number of acres involved. 
           (e) The board may use available nonstate funds to exceed 
        the payment limits in this section. 
           Presented to the governor May 11, 2001 
           Signed by the governor May 15, 2001, 1:58 p.m.