1999 Minnesota Statutes

     97A.055 Game and fish fund. 

    Subdivision 1.    Establishment; purposes.  The game and 
 fish fund is established as a fund in the state treasury.  

    Subd. 2.    Receipts.  The state treasurer shall credit 
 to the game and fish fund all money received under the game and 
 fish laws including receipts from:  

    (1) licenses issued; 

    (2) fines and forfeited bail; 

    (3) sales of contraband, wild animals, and other property 
 under the control of the division; 

    (4) fees from advanced education courses for hunters and 
 trappers; 

    (5) reimbursements of expenditures by the division; and 

    (6) contributions to the division.  

    Subd. 3.    Game and fish fund fees.  To reduce yearly 
 fluctuations of the game and fish fund balance and to provide 
 improved long-range planning of the fund, the policy of the 
 state is to make fee adjustments as part of the budget process.  
 Agency responsibilities are: 

    (a) The commissioner of natural resources must make 
 specific requests for fee adjustments for all receipt items in 
 the game and fish fund as a part of the fee report. 

    (b) The commissioner of finance must review the fee report 
 and make recommendations for each fee.  The commissioner of 
 finance must submit a six-year projection on revenues and 
 expenditures to the legislature. 

    Subd. 4.    Annual reports.  (a) By November 15 each 
 year, the commissioner shall submit to the legislative 
 committees having jurisdiction over appropriations and the 
 environment and natural resources reports on each of the 
 following: 

    (1) the amount of revenue from the following and purposes 
 for which expenditures were made: 

    (i) the small game license surcharge under section 97A.475, 
 subdivision 4; 

    (ii) the Minnesota migratory waterfowl stamp under section 
 97A.475, subdivision 5, clause (1); 

    (iii) the trout and salmon stamp under section 97A.475, 
 subdivision 10; 

    (iv) the pheasant stamp under section 97A.475, subdivision 
 5, clause (2); and 

    (v) the turkey stamp under section 97A.475, subdivision 5, 
 clause (3); 

    (2) the amounts available under section 97A.075, 
 subdivision 1, paragraphs (b) and (c), and the purposes for 
 which these amounts were spent; and 

    (3) money credited to the game and fish fund under this 
 section and purposes for which expenditures were made from the 
 fund. 

    (b) The report must include the commissioner's 
 recommendations, if any, for changes in the laws relating to the 
 stamps and surcharge referenced in paragraph (a).  

    Subd. 4a.    Citizen oversight committees.  (a) The 
 commissioner shall appoint committees of affected persons to 
 review the reports prepared under subdivision 4 and other 
 relevant information and make recommendations to the legislature 
 and the commissioner for improvements in the management and use 
 of money in the game and fish fund. 

    (b) The commissioner shall appoint the following committees:

    (1) a committee to review the annual game and fish fund 
 report and address general game and fish fund issues; 

    (2) a committee to address funding issues related to 
 fishing; 

    (3) a committee to review the report on the small game 
 license surcharge and the report required in subdivision 4, 
 paragraph (a), clause (2), and address funding issues related to 
 hunting; 

    (4) a committee to review the trout and salmon stamp report 
 and address funding issues related to trout and salmon; 

    (5) a committee to review the report on the migratory 
 waterfowl stamp and address funding issues related to migratory 
 waterfowl; 

    (6) a committee to review the report on the pheasant stamp 
 and address funding issues related to pheasants; and 

    (7) a committee to review the report on the turkey stamp 
 and address funding issues related to wild turkeys. 

    Subd. 5.    Pelting fees.  The commissioner may pay a 
 pelting fee to a person who recovers, treats, preserves, or 
 transports the pelt of a fur-bearing animal that is accidentally 
 killed or is lawfully taken under section 97B.655.  The 
 commissioner may adopt rules setting pelting fees and governing 
 their payment.  The amounts necessary to pay the fees are 
 appropriated from the game and fish fund to the commissioner. 

    HIST: 1986 c 386 art 1 s 10; 1987 c 149 art 1 s 7; 1989 c 335 
 art 1 s 85; 1993 c 172 s 51,52; 1993 c 231 s 7; 1994 c 561 s 
 2,3; 1996 c 364 s 1,2 

*   NOTE:  See section 15.059, subdivision 5a, for expiration 
*of game and fish fund citizen advisory committees.