HF 1929

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/02/2017 12:53pm

A bill for an act
relating to state lands; requiring no net loss of state hunting lands; proposing coding
for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 97A.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [97A.132] NO NET LOSS OF HUNTING LANDS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Lands open for hunting. new text end

new text begin Lands administered by the commissioner are
open to access and use for hunting except as limited by the commissioner for demonstrable
reasons of public safety or fish or wildlife management or as otherwise limited by law.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Hunting land inventory. new text end

new text begin By October 1, 2017, the commissioner must inventory
all lands administered by the commissioner and determine the number of acres available
for hunting opportunities as of July 1, 2017. Lands designated as units within a state park
are not considered hunting lands under this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin No net loss of hunting lands. new text end

new text begin (a) Beginning October 1, 2017, the land
management decisions and actions of the commissioner must not result in a net loss of state
land acreage that is available for hunting opportunities as determined in subdivision 2. The
commissioner must expeditiously find replacement acreage for hunting to compensate for
sales or closures of any existing hunting land. Replacement lands must, to the greatest extent
possible, be located within the same Department of Natural Resources administrative region
and must be consistent with the hunting opportunities allowed on the sold or closed land.
new text end

new text begin (b) A state agency that owns or manages lands must assist, coordinate, and cooperate
with the commissioner to allow hunting on such lands if the commissioner determines the
lands are suitable for hunting. To ensure no net loss of land acreage available for hunting,
state agencies must cooperate with the commissioner to open new, additional hunting lands
to replace lost hunting acreage.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Reports. new text end

new text begin (a) Beginning October 1, 2018, the commissioner must submit a
report, by October 1 each year, to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of
representatives and senate committees and divisions having jurisdiction over environment
and natural resources policy and finance describing:
new text end

new text begin (1) the acreage managed by the commissioner that was sold or closed to hunting during
the previous fiscal year and the reasons for the sales or closures; and
new text end

new text begin (2) the acreage managed by the commissioner that was opened to hunting to compensate
for sales and closures of existing land pursuant to subdivision 3.
new text end

new text begin (b) Beginning October 1, 2018, a state agency that owns or manages lands that are
available for hunting opportunities must submit a written report, by October 1 each year,
to the commissioner and to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of
representatives and senate committees and divisions having jurisdiction over environment
and natural resources policy and finance that includes:
new text end

new text begin (1) a list of properties that were open for hunting during the previous fiscal year;
new text end

new text begin (2) a list of properties that were sold or closed to hunting during the previous fiscal year
and the reasons for the sales or closures; and
new text end

new text begin (3) the acreage for each property and the county where each property is located, except
for a right-of-way or a parcel under 50 acres.
new text end