1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to natural resources; modifying and renaming the Legislative 
1.3 	Commission on Minnesota Resources; adding citizens and making structural 
1.4 	changes; appropriating money;amending Minnesota Statutes 2004, sections 
1.5 	116P.02, subdivision 4; 116P.03; 116P.04, subdivision 5; 116P.05, as amended; 
1.6 	116P.07; 116P.08, subdivisions 3, 4, 5, 6; 116P.09, subdivisions 1, 6, by adding 
1.7 	a subdivision; 116P.11; Minnesota Statutes 2005 Supplement, section 10A.01, 
1.8 	subdivision 35; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2004, sections 116P.02, subdivision 
1.9 	2; 116P.06; Laws 2005, First Special Session chapter 1, article 2, section 156, 
1.10 	subdivision 2.
1.11 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.12 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2005 Supplement, section 10A.01, subdivision 35, 
1.13 	is amended to read:
1.14 		Subd. 35.Public official. "Public official" means any:
1.15 	(1) member of the legislature;
1.16 	(2) individual employed by the legislature as secretary of the senate, legislative 
1.17 	auditor, chief clerk of the house, revisor of statutes, or researcher, legislative analyst, or 
1.18 	attorney in the Office of Senate Counsel and Research or House Research;
1.19 	(3) constitutional officer in the executive branch and the officer's chief administrative 
1.20 	deputy;
1.21 	(4) solicitor general or deputy, assistant, or special assistant attorney general;
1.22 	(5) commissioner, deputy commissioner, or assistant commissioner of any state 
1.23 	department or agency as listed in section 15.01 or 15.06, or the state chief information 
1.24 	officer;
1.25 	(6) member, chief administrative officer, or deputy chief administrative officer of a 
1.26 	state board or commission that has either the power to adopt, amend, or repeal rules under 
1.27 	chapter 14, or the power to adjudicate contested cases or appeals under chapter 14;
2.1 	(7) individual employed in the executive branch who is authorized to adopt, amend, 
2.2 	or repeal rules under chapter 14 or adjudicate contested cases under chapter 14;
2.3 	(8) executive director of the State Board of Investment;
2.4 	(9) deputy of any official listed in clauses (7) and (8);
2.5 	(10) judge of the Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals;
2.6 	(11) administrative law judge or compensation judge in the State Office of 
2.7 	Administrative Hearings or referee in the Department of Employment and Economic 
2.8 	Development;
2.9 	(12) member, regional administrator, division director, general counsel, or operations 
2.10 	manager of the Metropolitan Council;
2.11 	(13) member or chief administrator of a metropolitan agency;
2.12 	(14) director of the Division of Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement in the 
2.13 	Department of Public Safety;
2.14 	(15) member or executive director of the Higher Education Facilities Authority;
2.15 	(16) member of the board of directors or president of Minnesota Technology, Inc.; or
2.16 	(17) member of the board of directors or executive director of the Minnesota State 
2.17 	High School League.; or 
2.18 	(18) a citizen member of the Legislative and Citizen Commission on Minnesota 
2.19 	Resources.

2.20 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 116P.02, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
2.21 		Subd. 4.Commission. "Commission" means the Legislative and Citizen 
2.22 	Commission on Minnesota Resources.

2.23 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 116P.03, is amended to read:
2.24 	116P.03 TRUST FUND NOT TO SUPPLANT EXISTING FUNDING; 
2.25 	APPROPRIATIONS.
2.26 	(a) The trust fund may not be used as a substitute for traditional sources of funding 
2.27 	environmental and natural resources activities, but the trust fund shall supplement the 
2.28 	traditional sources, including those sources used to support the criteria in section  116P.08, 
2.29 	subdivision 1. The trust fund must be used primarily to support activities whose benefits 
2.30 	become available only over an extended period of time. 
2.31 	(b) The commission must determine the amount of the state budget spent from 
2.32 	traditional sources to fund environmental and natural resources activities before and after 
2.33 	the trust fund is established and include a comparison of the amount in the report under 
2.34 	section  116P.09, subdivision 7. 
3.1 	(c) For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, and each year thereafter, the amount of 
3.2 	the environment and natural resources trust fund that is available for appropriation under 
3.3 	the terms of the Minnesota Constitution, article XI, section 14, shall be appropriated by a 
3.4 	law passed by the legislature and signed by the governor. 
3.5 	(d) The amount appropriated from the environment and natural resources trust fund 
3.6 	may be spent only for the public purpose of protection, conservation, preservation, and 
3.7 	enhancement of the state's air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources. 
3.8 	Recommendations made by the commission under this chapter must be consistent with 
3.9 	the Minnesota Constitution, article XI, section 14; chapter 116P; and the strategic plan 
3.10 	adopted under section 116P.08, subdivision 3, and must demonstrate a direct benefit to the 
3.11 	state's environment and natural resources. 

3.12 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 116P.04, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
3.13 		Subd. 5.Audits required. The legislative auditor shall audit trust fund expenditures 
3.14 	to ensure that the money is spent for the purposes provided in the commission's budget 
3.15 	plan for which the money was appropriated.

3.16 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 116P.05, as amended by Laws 2005, First 
3.17 	Special Session chapter 1, article 2, section 135, is amended to read:
3.18 	116P.05 LEGISLATIVE AND CITIZEN COMMISSION ON MINNESOTA 
3.19 	RESOURCES.
3.20 		Subdivision 1.Membership. (a) A Legislative and Citizen Commission on 
3.21 	Minnesota Resources of 20 17 members is created, consisting of the chairs of the house 
3.22 	and senate committees on environment and natural resources or designees appointed for 
3.23 	the terms of the chairs, the chairs of the house and senate committees on environment and 
3.24 	natural resources finance or designees appointed for the terms of the chairs, the chairs of 
3.25 	the house Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees or designees appointed for 
3.26 	the terms of the chairs, seven four members of the senate appointed by the Subcommittee 
3.27 	on Committees of the Committee on Rules and Administration, and seven four  members 
3.28 	of the house appointed by the speaker. Legislative members must have knowledge and 
3.29 	expertise in the state's environment and natural resource issues across the various regions 
3.30 	of the state.
3.31 	At least three two members from the senate and three two members from the house 
3.32 	must be from the minority caucus. Members are entitled to reimbursement for per diem 
3.33 	expenses plus travel expenses incurred in the services of the commission.
4.1 	Seven citizens are members of the commission, five appointed by the governor, one 
4.2 	appointed by the Senate Subcommittee on Committees of the Committee on Rules and 
4.3 	Administration, and one appointed by the speaker of the house.  The citizen members 
4.4 	are selected and recommended to the appointing authorities according to subdivision 
4.5 	1a and must:
4.6 	(1) have experience and expertise in the science, policy, or practice of the protection, 
4.7 	conservation, preservation, and enhancement of the state's air, water, land, fish, wildlife, 
4.8 	and other natural resources; 
4.9 	(2) have strong knowledge in the state's environment and natural resource issues 
4.10 	around the state; and
4.11 	(3) have demonstrated ability to work in a collaborative environment.
4.12 	(b) Members shall appoint develop procedures to elect a chair who that rotates 
4.13 	between legislative and citizen members. The chair shall preside and convene meetings as 
4.14 	often as necessary to conduct duties prescribed by this chapter.
4.15 	(c) Appointed legislative members shall serve on the commission until their 
4.16 	successors are appointed for two-year terms, with a maximum of three full terms, and 
4.17 	citizen members shall serve for three-year terms, with a maximum of two full terms.
4.18 	(d) Vacancies occurring on the commission shall not affect the authority of the 
4.19 	remaining members of the commission to carry out their duties, and vacancies shall be 
4.20 	filled in the same manner under paragraph (a).
4.21 	(e) Citizen members shall be initially appointed according to the following schedule 
4.22 	of terms:
4.23 	(1) two members appointed by the governor for a three-year term;
4.24 	(2) one member appointed by the senate Subcommittee on Committees of the 
4.25 	Committee on Rules and Administration for a three-year term and one member appointed 
4.26 	by the speaker of the house for a three-year term; 
4.27 	(3) two members appointed by the governor for a two-year term; and 
4.28 	(4) one member appointed by the governor for a one-year term. 
4.29 	(f) Citizen members are entitled to per diem and reimbursement for expenses 
4.30 	incurred in the services of the commission, as provided in section 15.059, subdivision 3.
4.31 		Subd. 1a.Citizen selection committee. The governor shall appoint a trust fund 
4.32 	citizen selection committee of five to eight members who come from different regions 
4.33 	of the state and who have knowledge and experience of state environment and natural 
4.34 	resource issues.
4.35 	The duties of the trust fund citizen selection committee shall be to:
5.1 	(1) identify citizen candidates to be members of the commission as part of the open 
5.2 	appointments process under section 15.0597;
5.3 	(2) request and review citizen candidate applications to be members of the 
5.4 	commission; and
5.5 	(3) interview the citizen candidates and recommend an adequate pool of candidates 
5.6 	to be selected for commission membership by the governor, the senate, and the house 
5.7 	of representatives.
5.8 	Members are entitled to travel expenses incurred to fulfill their duties under this 
5.9 	subdivision as provided in section 15.059, subdivision 6.
5.10 		Subd. 2.Duties. (a) The commission shall recommend a budget plan an annual 
5.11 	legislative bill for expenditures appropriations from the environment and natural resources 
5.12 	trust fund and shall adopt a strategic plan as provided in section 116P.08. Approval of 
5.13 	the recommended legislative bill requires an affirmative vote of at least 12 members 
5.14 	of the commission. 
5.15 	(b) The commission shall recommend expenditures to the legislature from the state 
5.16 	land and water conservation account in the natural resources fund.
5.17 	(c) It is a condition of acceptance of the appropriations made from the Minnesota 
5.18 	environment and natural resources trust fund, and oil overcharge money under section 
5.19 	4.071, subdivision 2, that the agency or entity receiving the appropriation must submit a 
5.20 	work program and semiannual progress reports in the form determined by the Legislative 
5.21 	and Citizens Commission on Minnesota Resources, and comply with applicable reporting 
5.22 	requirements under section 116P.16. None of the money provided may be spent unless 
5.23 	the commission has approved the pertinent work program.
5.24 	(d) The peer review panel created under section 116P.08 must also review, comment, 
5.25 	and report to the commission on research proposals applying for an appropriation from the 
5.26 	oil overcharge money under section 4.071, subdivision 2.
5.27 	(e) The commission may adopt operating procedures to fulfill its duties under 
5.28 	chapter 116P.
5.29 	(f) As part of the operating procedures, the commission shall:
5.30 	(1) ensure that members' expectations are to participate in all meetings related to 
5.31 	funding decision recommendations;
5.32 	(2) recommend adequate funding for increased citizen outreach and communications 
5.33 	for trust fund expenditure planning;
5.34 	(3) allow administrative expenses as part of individual project expenditures based 
5.35 	on need;
5.36 	(4) provide for project outcome evaluation;
6.1 	(5) keep the grant application, administration, and review process as simple as 
6.2 	possible; and 
6.3 	(6) define and emphasize the leveraging of additional sources of money that project 
6.4 	proposers should consider when making trust fund proposals. 
6.5 		Subd. 3.Sunset. This section expires June 30, 2016, unless extended by the 
6.6 	legislature.

6.7 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 116P.07, is amended to read:
6.8 	116P.07 INFORMATION GATHERING.
6.9 	The commission may convene public forums or employ other methods to gather 
6.10 	information for establishing priorities for funding.

6.11 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 116P.08, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
6.12 		Subd. 3.Strategic plan required. (a) The commission shall adopt a strategic 
6.13 	plan for making expenditures from the trust fund, including identifying the priority 
6.14 	areas for funding for the next six years. The strategic plan must be updated reviewed
6.15 	every two years. The plan is advisory only. The commission shall submit the plan, as a 
6.16 	recommendation, to the house of representatives Ways and Means and senate Finance 
6.17 	Committees by January 1 of each odd-numbered year. The strategic plan must have clearly 
6.18 	stated short- and long-term goals and strategies for trust fund expenditures, must provide 
6.19 	measurable outcomes for expenditures, and must determine areas of emphasis for funding. 
6.20 	(b) The commission may accept or modify the draft of the strategic plan submitted 
6.21 	to it by the advisory committee before voting on the plan's adoption shall consider the 
6.22 	long-term strategic plans of agencies with environment and natural resource programs 
6.23 	and responsibilities and plans of conservation and environmental organizations during the 
6.24 	development and review of the strategic plan.

6.25 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 116P.08, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
6.26 		Subd. 4.Budget plan Legislative recommendations. (a) Funding may be provided 
6.27 	only for those projects that meet the categories established in subdivision 1.
6.28 	(b) Projects submitted to the commission for funding may be referred to the advisory 
6.29 	committee for recommendation.
6.30 	(c) The commission must adopt a budget plan recommend an annual legislative bill
6.31 	to make expenditures appropriations from the trust fund for the purposes provided in 
6.32 	subdivision 1. The budget plan recommendations must be submitted to the governor for 
6.33 	inclusion in the biennial budget and supplemental budget submitted to the legislature.
7.1 	(c) The commission may recommend regional block grants for a portion of trust 
7.2 	fund expenditures to partner with existing regional organizations that have strong citizen 
7.3 	involvement, to address unique local needs and capacity, and to leverage all available 
7.4 	funding sources for projects. 
7.5 	(d) The commission may recommend the establishment of an annual emerging 
7.6 	issues account in its annual legislative bill for funding emerging issues, which come up 
7.7 	unexpectedly, but which still adhere to the commission's strategic plan, to be approved by 
7.8 	the governor after initiation and recommendation by the commission.
7.9 	(d)(e) Money in the trust fund may not be spent except under an appropriation 
7.10 	by law.

7.11 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 116P.08, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
7.12 		Subd. 5.Public meetings. All Technical advisory committee and commission 
7.13 	meetings must be open to the public. The commission shall attempt to meet at least once 
7.14 	in each of the state's congressional districtsthroughout various regions of the stateduring 
7.15 	each biennium.

7.16 	Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 116P.08, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
7.17 		Subd. 6.Peer review. (a) Research proposals must include a stated purpose directly 
7.18 	connected to the trust fund's constitutional mandate, chapter 116P, and the adopted 
7.19 	strategic plan under subdivision 3, a timeline, potential outcomes, and an explanation of 
7.20 	the need for the research. All research proposals must be reviewed by a peer review 
7.21 	panel before receiving an appropriation.
7.22 	(b) In conducting research proposal reviews, the peer review panel shall:
7.23 	(1) comment on the methodology proposed and whether it can be expected to yield 
7.24 	appropriate and useful information and data;
7.25 	(2) comment on the need for the research and about similar existing information 
7.26 	available, if any; and
7.27 	(3) report to the commission and advisory committee on clauses (1) and (2).
7.28 	(c) The peer review panel also must review completed research proposals that have 
7.29 	received an appropriation and comment and report upon whether the project reached 
7.30 	the intended goals.

7.31 	Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 116P.09, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
7.32 		Subdivision 1.Administrative authority. The commission may appoint legal 
7.33 	and other personnel and consultants necessary to carry out functions and duties of the 
8.1 	commission. Permanent employees shall be in the unclassified service. In addition, 
8.2 	the commission may request staff assistance and data from any other agency of state 
8.3 	government as needed for the execution of the responsibilities of the commission and 
8.4 	advisory committee and an agency must promptly furnish it.

8.5 	Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 116P.09, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
8.6 		Subd. 6.Conflict of interest. A commission member, a technical advisory 
8.7 	committee member, a peer review panelist, or an employee of the commission may not 
8.8 	participate in or vote on a decision of the commission, advisory committee, or peer 
8.9 	review panel relating to an organization in which the member, panelist, or employee has 
8.10 	either a direct or indirect personal financial interest. While serving on the legislative
8.11 	commission, technical advisory committee, or peer review panel, or being an employee of 
8.12 	the commission, a person shall avoid any potential conflict of interest.

8.13 	Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 116P.09, is amended by adding a subdivision 
8.14 	to read:
8.15 		Subd. 8.Technical advisory committees. The commission shall make use of 
8.16 	available public and private expertise on environment and natural resource issues by 
8.17 	appointing necessary technical advisory committees to review funding proposals and 
8.18 	evaluate project outcomes. Compensation for technical advisory committee members is 
8.19 	governed by section 15.059, subdivision 6. 

8.20 	Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 116P.11, is amended to read:
8.21 	116P.11 AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS FOR DISBURSEMENT.
8.22 	(a) The amount biennially annually available from the trust fund for the budget plan
8.23 	legislative bill developed by the commission is as defined in the Minnesota Constitution, 
8.24 	article XI, section 14.
8.25 	(b) Any appropriated funds not encumbered in the biennium in which they are 
8.26 	appropriated cancel and must be credited to the principal of the trust fund.

8.27 	Sec. 15. CONTINUITY.
 8.28 	(a) The Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources shall continue to operate 
8.29 	until the full membership of the Legislative and Citizen Commission on Minnesota 
8.30 	Resources is appointed under section 5, but no later than August 15, 2006. 
9.1 	(b) The staff of the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources shall provide 
9.2 	administrative and professional services to the Legislative and Citizen Commission on 
9.3 	Minnesota Resources, as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 15.039, subdivision 7. 

9.4 	Sec. 16. APPROPRIATION.
 9.5 	(a) $450,000 in fiscal year 2007 is appropriated from the environment and natural 
9.6 	resources trust fund to the Legislative and Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources 
9.7 	for administration, as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.09, subdivision 5.
9.8 	(b) The fiscal year 2006 administrative budget under Laws 2005, First Special 
9.9 	Session chapter 1, article 2, section 11, subdivision 3, is for the Legislative Commission 
9.10 	on Minnesota Resources or its successor commission, as provided in Minnesota Statutes, 
9.11 	section 15.039, subdivision 6. 

9.12 	Sec. 17. REVISOR'S INSTRUCTION.
 9.13 	The revisor of statutes shall change the term "Legislative Commission on Minnesota 
9.14 	Resources" to "Legislative and Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources" wherever it 
9.15 	appears in Minnesota Statutes and Minnesota Rules. 

9.16 	Sec. 18.  REPEALER.
 9.17 	Minnesota Statutes 2004, sections 116P.02, subdivision 2; and 116P.06; and Laws 
9.18 	2005, First Special Session chapter 1, article 2, section 156, subdivision 2, are repealed.

9.19 	Sec. 19. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 9.20 	Sections 1 to 4; 5, subdivisions 1, 2, and 3; and 6 to 18, are effective June 1, 2006. 
9.21 	Section 5, subdivision 1a, is effective the day following final enactment.