1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to natural resources; requiring participation and payment of assessments 
1.3 	for consolidated conservation land drainage projects undertaken by local drainage 
1.4 	authorities;amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 84A.55, subdivision 9.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 84A.55, subdivision 9, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subd. 9.Drainage. The commissioner may make necessary investigations and 
1.8 	surveys for and may undertake projects for the drainage of state-owned lands within a game 
1.9 	preserve, conservation area, or other area subject to this section so far as the commissioner 
1.10 	determines that the lands will benefit from the project for the purposes for which the area 
1.11 	was established. The commissioner may pay the cost of drainage projects out of funds 
1.12 	appropriated and available for them. ~~If the commissioner finds after investigation that~~ The 
1.13 	commissioner shall participate in a project for the construction, repair, or improvement 
1.14 	of a public ditch or ditch system undertaken by a county or other public agency as 
1.15 	otherwise provided by law ~~will benefit the lands for those purposes,~~. The commissioner 
1.16 	~~may~~ shall cooperate in the project by joining in the petition for the project or consenting 
1.17 	to or approving it ~~on any conditions the commissioner determines~~. The commissioner 
1.18 	shall ~~authorize the imposition of~~ pay the assessments for the projects on the lands in 
1.19 	~~any amounts the commissioner determines, or may make lump-sum contributions to the~~ 
1.20 	~~county or other public funds established for the payment of the cost of the project. The~~ 
1.21 	~~assessments or contributions must not exceed the value of benefits to the state-owned lands~~ 
1.22 	~~as determined by the commissioner and specified by written certificates or other statement~~ 
1.23 	~~filed in the proceedings~~ the amounts necessary to cover the assessments determined by the 
1.24 	county or other public agency. The commissioner may appeal the assessments as provided 
2.1 	under chapters 103D and 103E. Assessments or contributions are payable only out of 
2.2 	funds appropriated and available for them ~~in amounts the commissioner determines. The~~ 
2.3 	~~commissioner of natural resources shall establish by rule before January 1, 1986, the criteria~~ 
2.4 	~~for determining benefits to state-owned lands held or used to protect or propagate wildlife,~~ 
2.5 	~~provide hunting or fishing for the public, or serve other purposes relating to conservation,~~ 
2.6 	~~development, or use of soil, water, forests, wild animals, or related natural resources~~.