2006 Minnesota Statutes

88.6435 BOUGH BUYERS.
    Subdivision 1. Permits. A person may not buy more than 100 pounds of decorative boughs
in any calendar year without a bough buyer's permit issued by the commissioner of natural
resources. The annual fee for a permit for a resident or nonresident to buy decorative boughs is
$25. The annual fee may be reduced to $10 if the buyer attends an approved annual workshop or
other orientation session for balsam bough harvesters and buyers.
    Subd. 2. Buying and record requirements. (a) When buying or otherwise receiving
decorative boughs, a person permitted under this section must record:
(1) the seller's name and address;
(2) the form of written consent; and
(3) the government permit number or legal description or property tax identification number
of the land from which the boughs were obtained.
The information must be provided on a form furnished or otherwise approved by the
commissioner of natural resources in consultation with the balsam bough industry groups.
(b) Boughs may not be purchased if the seller fails to exhibit the written consent required
under section 88.642, subdivision 1, or if the boughs do not conform to the standards specified
on the consent. Decorative boughs cut from public lands must conform to standards specified in
the written consent.
(c) Records shall be maintained from July 1 until June 30 of the following calendar year and
shall be open to inspection to an officer during reasonable hours.
(d) Customer name and address records created and maintained by permittees under this
section are classified as private or nonpublic government data.
    Subd. 3. Revocation of permits. (a) The commissioner may deny, modify, suspend, or
revoke a permit issued under this section for cause, including falsification of records required
under this section or violation of any other provision of sections 88.641 to 88.648.
(b) A person convicted of two or more violations of sections 88.641 to 88.648 within three
years may not obtain a bough buyer's permit for three years from the date of the last conviction.
    Subd. 4. Forest bough account; disposition of fees. (a) The forest bough account is
established in the state treasury within the natural resources fund.
(b) Fees for permits issued under this section shall be deposited in the state treasury and
credited to the forest bough account and, except for the electronic licensing system commission
established by the commissioner under section 84.027, subdivision 15, are annually appropriated
to the commissioner of natural resources for costs associated with balsam bough educational
programs for harvesters and buyers.
History: 1Sp2001 c 2 s 97; 1Sp2005 c 1 art 2 s 69