1999 Minnesota Statutes

     3.887 Legislative water commission. 

    Subdivision 1.    Establishment.  A legislative water 
 commission is established.  

    Subd. 2.    Membership.  (a) The legislative water 
 commission shall consist of ten members appointed as follows: 

    (1) five members of the senate with minority representation 
 proportionate to minority membership in the senate to be 
 appointed by the subcommittee on committees and to serve until 
 their successors are appointed; and 

    (2) five members of the house of representatives with 
 minority representation proportionate to minority membership in 
 the house to be appointed by the speaker of the house and to 
 serve until their successors are appointed.  

    (b) Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the 
 original positions. 

    (c) Vacancies occurring on the commission do not affect the 
 authority of the remaining members of the legislative water 
 commission to carry out the function of the commission.  

    Subd. 3.    Subcommittees.  Two subcommittees shall be 
 established in the legislative water commission, one on 
 groundwater and one on surface water. 

    Subd. 4.    Staff.  The legislative water commission may 
 appoint and fix the compensation of additional legal and other 
 personnel and consultants necessary to enable the commission to 
 carry out its function, or to contract for services to supply 
 necessary data subject to the approval of the legislative 
 coordinating commission under section 3.305.  State employees 
 subject to civil service laws and regulations who may be 
 assigned to the commission shall retain civil service status 
 without interruption or loss of status or privilege.  

    Subd. 5.    Powers and duties.  (a) The legislative 
 water commission shall review water policy reports and 
 recommendations of the environmental quality board, the biennial 
 report of the board of water and soil resources, and other 
 water-related reports as may be required by law or the 
 legislature.  

    (b) The commission shall oversee the activities of the 
 pollution control agency under sections 116.16 to 116.181 
 relating to water pollution control. 

    (c) The commission may conduct public hearings and 
 otherwise secure data and comments.  

    (d) The commission shall hold annual hearings on issues 
 relating to groundwater including, in every even-numbered year, 
 a hearing on the groundwater policy report required by section 
 103A.204. 

    (e) The commission shall make recommendations as it deems 
 proper to assist the legislature in formulating legislation.  

    (f) Data or information compiled by the legislative water 
 commission or its subcommittees shall be made available to the 
 legislative commission on Minnesota resources and standing and 
 interim committees of the legislature on request of the chair of 
 the respective commission or committee. 

    Subd. 6.    Review of policy report.  The legislative 
 water commission shall study the recommendations of the 
 environmental quality board for the management and protection of 
 water resources in the state, and hold a hearing on the 
 groundwater policy report submitted every even-numbered year by 
 the environmental quality board under section 103A.204. 

    Subd. 7.    Effects of sustainable agriculture.  The 
 legislative water commission shall study the implementation and 
 effects of sustainable agriculture in the state including 
 current and potential practices and their effect on water and 
 groundwater. 

    Subd. 8.    Repealer.  This section is repealed 
 effective June 30, 1999. 

    HIST: 1989 c 326 art 2 s 1; 1989 c 335 art 1 s 269; 1991 c 337 
 s 2; 1994 c 557 s 1-3