1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to natural resources; requiring recommendations for watercraft operators 
1.3 	safety program; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SAFETY PROGRAM FOR WATERCRAFT 
1.6 	OPERATORS; APPROPRIATION.
 1.7 	(a) The commissioner of natural resources, in consultation with interested parties, must 
1.8 	develop recommendations for establishing a safety program for watercraft operators. The 
1.9 	program must include:
1.10 	(1) requirements that a person complete and pass a watercraft safety course designed by 
1.11 	the commissioner in order to operate certain motorized watercraft over 16 feet;
1.12 	(2) a watercraft safety course that covers the following topics:
1.13 	(i) watercraft safety;
1.14 	(ii) best practices to reduce conflicts with other water resource users;
1.15 	(iii) ecological impacts of watercraft; and
1.16 	(iv) aquatic invasive species prevention;
1.17 	(3) an endorsement that is required for a watercraft operator to operate a watercraft with 
1.18 	enhanced wake technology and that requires completing and passing an additional course. 
1.19 	The course must incorporate:
2.1 	(i) recommendations of the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center for 
2.2 	reducing the risk of spreading aquatic invasive species by watercraft with enhanced wake 
2.3 	technology and mitigating other negative impacts of the watercraft; and
2.4 	(ii) research of the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory on the dynamics of enhanced wakes 
2.5 	and the impacts to lake sediments and aquatic plants; and
2.6 	(4) an optional endorsement for a watercraft operator to become certified as an aquatic 
2.7 	invasive species self-inspector, allowing the watercraft operator to serve as an aquatic 
2.8 	invasive species ambassador at special events and boat ramps and bypass certain inspection 
2.9 	programs if the operator completes and passes an additional course similar to the aquatic 
2.10 	invasive species watercraft inspector training.
2.11 	(b) The commissioner must submit the recommendations required under this section to 
2.12 	the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate 
2.13 	committees and divisions with jurisdiction over the environment and natural resources by 
2.14 	January 15, 2021.
2.15 	(c) $....... in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner 
2.16 	of natural resources to develop and submit the recommendations required under this section. 
2.17 	This is a onetime appropriation.