1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to natural resources; providing for the 
  1.3             designation of consolidated conservation lands as 
  1.4             wildlife management areas by rule; amending Minnesota 
  1.5             Statutes 1998, section 84A.55, subdivisions 5, 7a, and 
  1.6             11. 
  1.7   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.8      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 84A.55, 
  1.9   subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
  1.10     Subd. 5.  [WILDLIFE.] The commissioner shall care for, 
  1.11  protect, and preserve any species of wildlife there, so far as 
  1.12  means are available.  The commissioner may only designate 
  1.13  conservation lands as wildlife management areas if: 
  1.14     (1) the lands have been classified as nonagricultural under 
  1.15  section 282.14; and 
  1.16     (2) the designation is by rule under subdivision 11. 
  1.17     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 84A.55, 
  1.18  subdivision 7a, is amended to read: 
  1.19     Subd. 7a.  [SNOWMOBILES ON CERTAIN LANDS.] Unless 
  1.20  specifically prohibited by a rule of the commissioner adopted 
  1.21  under subdivision 11, snowmobiles may be operated on lands 
  1.22  subject to this section that have been identified designated by 
  1.23  the commissioner as wildlife management areas. 
  1.24     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 84A.55, 
  1.25  subdivision 11, is amended to read: 
  1.26     Subd. 11.  [RULES.] The commissioner may promulgate rules 
  2.1   necessary for the execution of this section, including the 
  2.2   conditions of licenses and permits under subdivision 7 and, the 
  2.3   amount of license fees, and the designation of wildlife 
  2.4   management areas under subdivision 5.  In addition to notice 
  2.5   required by other law, the commissioner must give 30 days' 
  2.6   notice posted in each township affected by the rules.  The rules 
  2.7   have the force of law, and any violation of rules is a 
  2.8   misdemeanor.  Lands within a game preserve, area, or project 
  2.9   referred to in subdivision 1, whether owned privately or by the 
  2.10  state or any governmental subdivision, are subject to the rules 
  2.11  consistent with the constitutional rights of private owners or 
  2.12  other applicable state law. 
  2.13     Sec. 4.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.14     Sections 1 to 3 are effective retroactively to December 1, 
  2.15  1998, and apply to the designation of wildlife management areas 
  2.16  after that date.