Journal of the House - 59th Day - Wednesday, May 18, 2011 - Top of Page 4165


 

 

 

STATE OF MINNESOTA

 

 

EIGHTY-SEVENTH SESSION - 2011

 

_____________________

 

FIFTY-NINTH DAY

 

Saint Paul, Minnesota, Wednesday, May 18, 2011

 

 

      The House of Representatives convened at 3:00 p.m. and was called to order by Kurt Zellers, Speaker of the House.

 

      Prayer was offered by the Reverend Dean Nadasdy, Woodbury Lutheran Church, Woodbury, Minnesota.

 

      The members of the House gave the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

 

      The roll was called and the following members were present:

 


Abeler

Anderson, B.

Anderson, D.

Anderson, P.

Anderson, S.

Anzelc

Atkins

Banaian

Barrett

Beard

Benson, J.

Benson, M.

Bills

Brynaert

Buesgens

Carlson

Champion

Clark

Cornish

Crawford

Daudt

Davids

Davnie

Dean

Dettmer

Dill

Dittrich

Doepke

Downey

Drazkowski

Eken

Erickson

Fabian

Falk

Franson

Fritz

Garofalo

Gauthier

Gottwalt

Greene

Greiling

Gruenhagen

Gunther

Hackbarth

Hamilton

Hancock

Hansen

Hausman

Hayden

Hilstrom

Hilty

Holberg

Hoppe

Hornstein

Hortman

Hosch

Howes

Huntley

Johnson

Kahn

Kath

Kelly

Kieffer

Kiel

Kiffmeyer

Knuth

Koenen

Kriesel

Laine

Lanning

Leidiger

LeMieur

Lenczewski

Lesch

Liebling

Lillie

Loeffler

Lohmer

Loon

Mack

Mahoney

Mariani

Marquart

Mazorol

McDonald

McElfatrick

McFarlane

McNamara

Melin

Moran

Morrow

Mullery

Murdock

Murphy, E.

Murphy, M.

Murray

Myhra

Nelson

Nornes

Norton

O'Driscoll

Paymar

Pelowski

Peppin

Persell

Petersen, B.

Peterson, S.

Poppe

Quam

Rukavina

Runbeck

Sanders

Scalze

Schomacker

Scott

Shimanski

Simon

Slawik

Slocum

Smith

Stensrud

Swedzinski

Thissen

Tillberry

Torkelson

Urdahl

Vogel

Wagenius

Ward

Wardlow

Westrom

Winkler

Woodard

Spk. Zellers


 

      A quorum was present.

 

      The Chief Clerk proceeded to read the Journal of the preceding day.  There being no objection, further reading of the Journal was dispensed with and the Journal was approved as corrected by the Chief Clerk.


Journal of the House - 59th Day - Wednesday, May 18, 2011 - Top of Page 4166


 

      Champion was excused between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. 

 

 

      Hayden was excused between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

 

 

REPORTS OF CHIEF CLERK

 

      S. F. No. 54 and H. F. No. 104, which had been referred to the Chief Clerk for comparison, were examined and found to be identical.

 

      Koenen moved that S. F. No. 54 be substituted for H. F. No. 104 and that the House File be indefinitely postponed.  The motion prevailed.

 

 

      S. F. No. 149 and H. F. No. 211, which had been referred to the Chief Clerk for comparison, were examined and found to be identical with certain exceptions.

 

SUSPENSION OF RULES

 

      Wardlow moved that the rules be so far suspended that S. F. No. 149 be substituted for H. F. No. 211 and that the House File be indefinitely postponed.  The motion prevailed.

 

 

      S. F. No. 302 and H. F. No. 122, which had been referred to the Chief Clerk for comparison, were examined and found to be identical with certain exceptions.

 

SUSPENSION OF RULES

 

      Davids moved that the rules be so far suspended that S. F. No. 302 be substituted for H. F. No. 122 and that the House File be indefinitely postponed.  The motion prevailed.

 

 

      S. F. No. 361 and H. F. No. 287, which had been referred to the Chief Clerk for comparison, were examined and found to be identical with certain exceptions.

 

SUSPENSION OF RULES

 

      Hamilton moved that the rules be so far suspended that S. F. No. 361 be substituted for H. F. No. 287 and that the House File be indefinitely postponed.  The motion prevailed.

 

 

      S. F. No. 885 and H. F. No. 1220, which had been referred to the Chief Clerk for comparison, were examined and found to be identical.

 

      Wardlow moved that S. F. No. 885 be substituted for H. F. No. 1220 and that the House File be indefinitely postponed.  The motion prevailed.

 

 

      S. F. No. 1266 and H. F. No. 1470, which had been referred to the Chief Clerk for comparison, were examined and found to be identical with certain exceptions.

 

SUSPENSION OF RULES

 

      Stensrud moved that the rules be so far suspended that S. F. No. 1266 be substituted for H. F. No. 1470 and that the House File be indefinitely postponed.  The motion prevailed.


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      S. F. No. 1270 and H. F. No. 1411, which had been referred to the Chief Clerk for comparison, were examined and found to be identical.

 

      Kahn moved that S. F. No. 1270 be substituted for H. F. No. 1411 and that the House File be indefinitely postponed.  The motion prevailed.

 

 

PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS

 

 

      The following communications were received:

 

 

STATE OF MINNESOTA

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

SAINT PAUL 55155

 

May 13, 2011

 

The Honorable Kurt Zellers

Speaker of the House of Representatives

The State of Minnesota

 

Dear Speaker Zellers:

 

      Please be advised that I have received, approved, signed, and deposited in the Office of the Secretary of State H. F. No. 529.

 

 

                                                                                                                                Sincerely,

 

                                                                                                                                Mark Dayton

                                                                                                                                Governor

 

 

STATE OF MINNESOTA

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

SAINT PAUL 55155

 

May 13, 2011

 

The Honorable Kurt Zellers

Speaker of the House of Representatives

The State of Minnesota

 

Dear Speaker Zellers:

 

      Please be advised that I have received, approved, signed, and deposited in the Office of the Secretary of State H. F. No. 569.

 

 

                                                                                                                                Sincerely,

 

                                                                                                                                Mark Dayton

                                                                                                                                Governor


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STATE OF MINNESOTA

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE

ST. PAUL 55155

 

 

The Honorable Kurt Zellers

Speaker of the House of Representatives

 

The Honorable Michelle L. Fischbach

President of the Senate

 

      I have the honor to inform you that the following enrolled Acts of the 2011 Session of the State Legislature have been received from the Office of the Governor and are deposited in the Office of the Secretary of State for preservation, pursuant to the State Constitution, Article IV, Section 23:

 

 

S. F.

No.

 

H. F.

No.

 

Session Laws

Chapter No.

Time and

Date Approved

2011

 

Date Filed

2011

 

                               529                         20                                       10:29 a.m. May 13                                  May 13

                               569                         21                                       10:29 a.m. May 13                                  May 13

       626                                                 22                                       10:40 a.m. May 13                                  May 13

 

 

                                                                                                                                Sincerely,

 

                                                                                                                                Mark Ritchie

                                                                                                                                Secretary of State

 

 

REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES AND DIVISIONS

 

 

      Holberg from the Committee on Ways and Means to which was referred: 

 

H. F. No. 959, A bill for an act relating to capital investment; appropriating money for flood hazard mitigation and renovation of the Coon Rapids dam; making changes to certain state bond provisions; modifying prior appropriations; reducing certain bond sale authorizations; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds; amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 16A.641, subdivisions 4a, 7; 16A.642, subdivision 2; Laws 2006, chapter 258, section 7, subdivisions 3, as amended, 23, as amended; Laws 2008, chapter 179, sections 15, subdivision 8; 18, subdivisions 3, 6, as amended; 19, subdivision 4; 24, subdivision 4; Laws 2009, chapter 93, article 1, section 14, subdivision 3; Laws 2010, chapter 189, sections 6, subdivisions 2, 4; 7, subdivision 22; 14, subdivision 3; 19, subdivision 4, as amended; Laws 2010, chapter 333, article 2, section 23; Laws 2010, Second Special Session chapter 1, article 1, section 9, subdivision 5.

 

Reported the same back with the following amendments: 

 

Delete everything after the enacting clause and insert: 

 

"Section 1.  CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT APPROPRIATIONS. 

 

The sums shown in the column under "Appropriations" are appropriated from the bond proceeds fund, or another named fund, to the state agencies or officials indicated, to be spent for public purposes.  Appropriations of bond proceeds must be spent as authorized by the Minnesota Constitution, article XI, section 5, paragraph (a), to acquire


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and better public land and buildings and other public improvements of a capital nature, or as authorized by the Minnesota Constitution, article XI, section 5, paragraphs (b) to (j), or article XIV.  Unless otherwise specified, money appropriated in this act for a capital program or project may be used to pay state agency staff costs that are attributed directly to the capital program or project in accordance with accounting policies adopted by the commissioner of management and budget.  Unless otherwise specified, the appropriations in this act are available until the project is completed or abandoned subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.642.

 

SUMMARY

 

Natural Resources

 

$45,000,000

Public Safety

 

5,000,000

Bond Sale Expenses

 

45,000

 

 

 

TOTAL

 

$50,045,000

 

 

 

Bond Proceeds Fund (General Fund Debt Service)

 

45,045,000

General Fund

 

5,000,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPROPRIATIONS

 

Sec. 2.  NATURAL RESOURCES

 

 

 

 

 

Subdivision 1.  Total Appropriation

 

 

 

$45,000,000

 

To the commissioner of natural resources for the purposes specified in this section.

 

The appropriations in this section are subject to the requirements of the natural resources capital improvement program under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.12, unless this section or the statutes referred to in this section provide more specific standards, criteria, or priorities for projects than Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.12.

 

Subd. 2.  Flood Hazard Mitigation Grants

 

 

 

45,000,000

 

(a) For the state share of flood hazard mitigation grants for publicly owned capital improvements to prevent or alleviate flood damage under Minnesota Statutes, section 103F.161.  Project priorities shall be determined by the commissioner as appropriate, based on need.

 

(b) To the extent that the cost of a project exceeds two percent of the median household income in the municipality or unit of government on the commissioner's priority list multiplied by the number of households in the municipality or unit of government on the commissioner's priority list, this appropriation is also for the local share of the project.

 

(c) Up to $6,000,000 of this appropriation is for the project in the city of Roseau.


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(d) Up to $3,000,000 of this appropriation is for the project in the city of Georgetown.

 

(e) Up to $16,500,000 of this appropriation is for the project in the city of Moorhead.

 

Subd. 3.  Unspent Appropriations

 

 

 

 

 

The unspent portion of an appropriation, but not to exceed ten percent of the appropriation, for a project in this section that is complete, other than an appropriation for flood hazard mitigation, is available for asset preservation under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.946.  Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.642, applies from the date of the original appropriation to the unspent amount transferred for asset preservation.

 

Sec. 3.  BOND SALE EXPENSES

 

 

 

$45,000

 

To the commissioner of management and budget for bond sale expenses under Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.641, subdivision 8.

 

Sec. 4.  BOND SALE SCHEDULE.

 

The commissioner of management and budget shall schedule the sale of state general obligation bonds so that, during the biennium ending June 30, 2013, no more than $1,175,188,000 needs to be transferred from the general fund to the state bond fund to pay principal and interest due and to become due on outstanding state general obligation bonds.  During the biennium, before each sale of state general obligation bonds, the commissioner of management and budget shall calculate the amount of debt service payments needed on bonds previously issued and shall estimate the amount of debt service payments that will be needed on the bonds scheduled to be sold.  The commissioner shall adjust the amount of bonds scheduled to be sold so as to remain within the limit set by this section.  The amount needed to make the debt service payments is appropriated from the general fund as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.641.

 

Sec. 5.  BOND SALE AUTHORIZATION.

 

To provide the money appropriated in this act from the bond proceeds fund, the commissioner of management and budget shall sell and issue bonds of the state in an amount up to $45,045,000 in the manner, upon the terms, and with the effect prescribed by Minnesota Statutes, sections 16A.631 to 16A.675, and by the Minnesota Constitution, article XI, sections 4 to 7.

 

Sec. 6.  APPROPRIATION; FEDERAL MATCH.

 

$5,000,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of public safety to provide a match for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster assistance to state agencies and political subdivisions under Minnesota Statutes, section 12.221, in the area designated under Presidential Declaration of Major Disaster DR-1982, for the flooding in Minnesota in the spring of 2011, whether included in the original declaration or added later by federal government action.  This is a onetime appropriation.  This appropriation does not lapse.


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Sec. 7.  Laws 2006, chapter 258, section 7, subdivision 3, as amended by Laws 2007, chapter 122, section 4, and Laws 2008, chapter 179, section 59, is amended to read: 

 

Subd. 3.  Flood Hazard Mitigation Grants

 

 

 

25,000,000

 

For the state share of flood hazard mitigation grants for publicly owned capital improvements to prevent or alleviate flood damage under Minnesota Statutes, section 103F.161.

 

The commissioner shall determine project priorities as appropriate, based on need.

 

This appropriation includes money for the following projects: 

 

(a) Austin

 

(b) Albert Lea

 

(c) Browns Valley

 

(d) Crookston

 

(e) Canisteo Mine

 

(f) Delano

 

(g) East Grand Forks

 

(h) Golden Valley

 

(i) Grand Marais Creek

 

(j) Granite Falls

 

(k) Inver Grove Heights

 

(l) Manston Slough

 

(m) Oakport Township

 

(n) Riverton Township

 

(o) Roseau

 

(p) Shell Rock Watershed District

 

(q) St. Vincent

 

(r) Wild Rice River Watershed District


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For any project listed in this subdivision that the commissioner determines is not ready to proceed or does not expend all the money allocated to it, the commissioner may allocate that project's money to a project on the commissioner's priority list.

 

To the extent that the cost of a project in Ada, Breckenridge, Browns Valley, Crookston, Dawson, East Grand Forks, Granite Falls, Montevideo, Oakport Township, Roseau, St. Vincent, or Warren exceeds two percent of the median household income in the municipality multiplied by the number of households in the municipality, this appropriation is also for the local share of the project.  The local share for the St. Vincent dike may not exceed $30,000.

 

Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.642, the bond authorization and appropriation of bond proceeds in this subdivision are available until June 30, 2014.

 

Sec. 8.  EFFECTIVE DATE.

 

This act is effective the day following final enactment."

 

Delete the title and insert: 

 

"A bill for an act relating to capital investment; appropriating money for flood hazard mitigation; appropriating money for a match for federal disaster assistance; authorizing sale and issuance of state bonds; providing a bond sale schedule; amending Laws 2006, chapter 258, section 7, subdivision 3, as amended."

 

 

With the recommendation that when so amended the bill pass.

 

      The report was adopted.

 

 

Peppin from the Committee on Government Operations and Elections to which was referred:

 

H. F. No. 1647, A bill for an act relating to retirement; major general employee statewide retirement plans; revising statutory salary scale actuarial assumptions; revising payroll growth actuarial assumptions; amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 356.215, subdivision 8.

 

Reported the same back with the following amendments:

 

Delete everything after the enacting clause and insert:

 

"ARTICLE 1

PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION

 

Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 353.01, subdivision 2a, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 2a.  Included employees; mandatory membership.  (a) Public employees whose salary exceeds $425 in any month and who are not specifically excluded under subdivision 2b or who have not been provided an option to participate under subdivision 2d, whether individually or by action of the governmental subdivision, must participate as members of the association with retirement coverage by the general employees retirement plan under this chapter,


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the public employees police and fire retirement plan under this chapter, or the local government correctional employees retirement plan under chapter 353E, whichever applies.  Membership commences as a condition of their employment on the first day of their employment or on the first day that the eligibility criteria are met, whichever is later.  Public employees include but are not limited to:

 

(1) persons whose salary meets the threshold in this paragraph from employment in one or more positions within one governmental subdivision;

 

(2) elected county sheriffs;

 

(3) persons who are appointed, employed, or contracted to perform governmental functions that by law or local ordinance are required of a public officer, including, but not limited to:

 

(i) town and city clerk or treasurer;

 

(ii) county auditor, treasurer, or recorder;

 

(iii) city manager as defined in section 353.028 who does not exercise the option provided under subdivision 2d; or

 

(iv) emergency management director, as provided under section 12.25;

 

(4) physicians under section 353D.01, subdivision 2, who do not elect public employees defined contribution plan coverage under section 353D.02, subdivision 2;

 

(5) full-time employees of the Dakota County Agricultural Society; and

 

(6) employees of the Minneapolis Firefighters Relief Association or Minneapolis Police Relief Association who are not excluded employees under subdivision 2b due to coverage by the relief association pension plan and who elected general employee retirement plan coverage before August 20, 2009; and

 

(7) employees of the Red Wing Port Authority who were first employed by the Red Wing Port Authority before May 1, 2011, and who are not excluded employees under subdivision 2b.

 

(b) A public employee or elected official who was a member of the association on June 30, 2002, based on employment that qualified for membership coverage by the public employees retirement plan or the public employees police and fire plan under this chapter, or the local government correctional employees retirement plan under chapter 353E as of June 30, 2002, retains that membership for the duration of the person's employment in that position or incumbency in elected office.  Except as provided in subdivision 28, the person shall participate as a member until the employee or elected official terminates public employment under subdivision 11a or terminates membership under subdivision 11b.

 

(c) If the salary of an included public employee is less than $425 in any subsequent month, the member retains membership eligibility.

 

(d) For the purpose of participation in the MERF division of the general employees retirement plan, public employees include employees who were members of the former Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund on June 29, 2010, and who participate as members of the MERF division of the association.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.


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Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 353.01, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 6.  Governmental subdivision.  (a) "Governmental subdivision" means a county, city, town, school district within this state, or a department, unit or instrumentality of state or local government, or any public body established under state or local authority that has a governmental purpose, is under public control, is responsible for the employment and payment of the salaries of employees of the entity, and receives a major portion of its revenues from taxation, fees, assessments or from other public sources.

 

(b) Governmental subdivision also means the Public Employees Retirement Association, the League of Minnesota Cities, the Association of Metropolitan Municipalities, charter schools formed under section 124D.10, service cooperatives exercising retirement plan participation under section 123A.21, subdivision 5, joint powers boards organized under section 471.59, subdivision 11, paragraph (a), family service collaboratives and children's mental health collaboratives organized under section 471.59, subdivision 11, paragraph (b) or (c), provided that the entities creating the collaboratives are governmental units that otherwise qualify for retirement plan membership, public hospitals owned or operated by, or an integral part of, a governmental subdivision or governmental subdivisions, the Association of Minnesota Counties, the Minnesota Inter-county Association, the Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association, the Metropolitan Airports Commission, the University of Minnesota with respect to police officers covered by the public employees police and fire retirement plan, the Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund for employment initially commenced after June 30, 1979, the Range Association of Municipalities and Schools, soil and water conservation districts, economic development authorities created or operating under sections 469.090 to 469.108, the Port Authority of the city of St. Paul, the Red Wing Port Authority, the Spring Lake Park Fire Department, incorporated, the Lake Johanna Volunteer Fire Department, incorporated, the Red Wing Environmental Learning Center, the Dakota County Agricultural Society, Hennepin Healthcare System, Inc., and the Minneapolis Firefighters Relief Association and Minneapolis Police Relief Association with respect to staff covered by the Public Employees Retirement Association general plan.

 

(c) Governmental subdivision does not mean any municipal housing and redevelopment authority organized under the provisions of sections 469.001 to 469.047; or any port authority organized under sections 469.048 to 469.089 other than the Port Authority of the city of St. Paul; and other than the Red Wing Port Authority; or any hospital district organized or reorganized prior to July 1, 1975, under sections 447.31 to 447.37 or the successor of the district; or the board of a family service collaborative or children's mental health collaborative organized under sections 124D.23, 245.491 to 245.495, or 471.59, if that board is not controlled by representatives of governmental units.

 

(d) A nonprofit corporation governed by chapter 317A or organized under Internal Revenue Code, section 501(c)(3), which is not covered by paragraph (a) or (b), is not a governmental subdivision unless the entity has obtained a written advisory opinion from the United States Department of Labor or a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service declaring the entity to be an instrumentality of the state so as to provide that any future contributions by the entity on behalf of its employees are contributions to a governmental plan within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code, section 414(d).

 

(e) A public body created by state or local authority may request membership on behalf of its employees by providing sufficient evidence that it meets the requirements in paragraph (a).

 

(f) An entity determined to be a governmental subdivision is subject to the reporting requirements of this chapter upon receipt of a written notice of eligibility from the association.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 3.  VALIDATION OF PAST RETIREMENT COVERAGE AND CONTRIBUTIONS FOR RED WING PORT AUTHORITY EMPLOYEES. 

 

(a) Retirement coverage by the general employees retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement Association, allowable service credit, and salary credit for employees of the Red Wing Port Authority who were so employed after December 31, 1984, and were first so employed before May 1, 2011, who had monthly salary in any


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month of at least $325 until June 30, 1988, and who had monthly salary in any month of at least $425 after June 30, 1988, who were not otherwise excluded under the applicable edition of Minnesota Statutes, section 353.01, subdivision 2b, and who had member deductions taken and transferred in a timely manner to the general employees retirement fund before the effective date of this section are hereby validated.

 

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of Minnesota Statutes, chapter 353, to the contrary, employee contributions deducted from employees of the Red Wing Port Authority described in paragraph (a) before the effective date of this section and associated employer contributions are valid assets of the general employees retirement fund and are not subject to refund or adjustment for erroneous receipt except as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 353.32, subdivision 1 or 2; or 353.34, subdivisions 1 and 2.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 4.  CITY OF DULUTH AND DULUTH AIRPORT AUTHORITY; CORRECTING ERRONEOUS EMPLOYEE DEDUCTIONS, EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS, AND ADJUSTING OVERPAID BENEFITS. 

 

Subdivision 1.  Application.  Notwithstanding any provisions of Minnesota Statutes, section 353.27, subdivisions 7 and 7b, or Minnesota Statutes 2010, chapters 353 and 356, to the contrary, this section establishes the procedures by which the executive director of the Public Employees Retirement Association shall adjust erroneous employee deductions and employer contributions paid on behalf of active employees and former members by the city of Duluth and by the Duluth Airport Authority on amounts determined by the executive director to be invalid salary under Minnesota Statutes, section 353.01, subdivision 10, reported between January 1, 1997, and October 23, 2008, and for adjusting benefits that were paid to former members and their beneficiaries based upon invalid salary amounts.

 

Subd. 2.  Refunds of employee deductions.  (a) The executive director shall refund to active employees or former members who are not receiving retirement annuities or benefits all erroneous employee deductions identified by the city of Duluth or by the Duluth Airport Authority as deductions taken from amounts determined to be invalid salary.  The refunds must include interest at the rate specified in Minnesota Statutes, section 353.34, subdivision 2, from the date each invalid employee deduction was received through the date each refund is paid.

 

(b) The refund payment for active employees must be sent to the applicable members who are employees of the city of Duluth or who are employees of the Duluth Airport Authority, whichever is applicable.

 

(c) Refunds to former members must be mailed by the executive director of the Public Employees Retirement Association to the former member's last known address.

 

Subd. 3.  Benefit adjustments.  (a) For a former member who is receiving a retirement annuity or disability benefit, or for a person receiving an optional annuity or survivor benefit, the executive director must:

 

(1) adjust the annuity or benefit payment to the correct monthly benefit amount payable by reducing the average salary under Minnesota Statutes, section 353.01, subdivision 17a, by the invalid salary amounts;

 

(2) determine the amount of the overpaid benefits paid from the effective date of the annuity or benefit payment to July 1, 2009;

 

(3) calculate the amount of employee deductions taken in error on invalid salary, including interest at the rate specified in Minnesota Statutes, section 353.34, subdivision 2, from the date each invalid employee deduction was received through the first day of the month in which the refund under paragraph (b), or action to recover net overpayments under subdivision 4, occurs; and


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(4) determine the net amount of overpaid benefits by reducing the amount of the overpaid annuity or benefit as determined in clause (2) by the amount of the erroneous employee deductions with interest determined in clause (3).

 

(b) If a former member's erroneous employee deductions plus interest determined under this section exceeds the amount of the person's overpaid benefits, the balance must be refunded to the person to whom the annuity or benefit is being paid.

 

(c) The executive director shall recover the net amount of all overpaid annuities or benefits as provided under subdivision 4.

 

Subd. 4.  Employer credits and obligations.  (a) The executive director shall provide a credit without interest to the city of Duluth and to the Duluth Airport Authority for the amount of that governmental subdivision's erroneous employer contributions.  The credit must first be used to offset the net amount of the overpaid retirement annuities and the disability and survivor benefits that remain after applying the amount of erroneous employee deductions with interest as provided under subdivision 3, paragraph (a), clause (4).  The remaining erroneous employer contributions, if any, must be credited against future employer contributions required to be paid by the applicable governmental subdivision.  If the overpaid benefits exceed the employer contribution credit, the balance of the overpaid benefits is the obligation of the city of Duluth or the Duluth Airport Authority, whichever is applicable.

 

(b) The Public Employees Retirement Association board of trustees shall determine the period of time and manner for the collection of overpaid retirement annuities and benefits, if any, from the city of Duluth and the Duluth Airport Authority.

 

Subd. 5.  Treatment of invalid salary amounts in process.  (a) The governing body of the city of Duluth or the Duluth Airport Authority, as applicable, may elect to limit the period of adjustment for amounts determined to be invalid salary to apply to the fiscal year in which the error was reported to, and the salary determined to be invalid by, the Public Employees Retirement Association, and the immediate two preceding fiscal years, by a resolution of the applicable governing body transmitted to the Public Employees Retirement Association executive director within 30 days following the effective date of this section.

 

(b) If the governing body of the applicable governmental subdivision declines the treatment permitted under paragraph (a) or fails to submit a resolution in a timely manner, the statute of limitations specified in paragraph (a) does not apply.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  (a) This section is effective for the city of Duluth the day after the Duluth city council and the chief clerical officer of the city of Duluth timely complete their compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, subdivisions 2 and 3, for members who are, and former members who were, employees of the city of Duluth.

 

(b) This section is effective for the Duluth Airport Authority the day after the Duluth Airport Authority board of directors and the chief clerical officer of the Duluth Airport Authority timely complete their compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, subdivisions 2 and 3, for members who are, and former members who were, employees of the Duluth Airport Authority.

 

ARTICLE 2

TEACHER RETIREMENT COVERAGE

 

Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 354A.011, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

 

Subd. 29.  Vesting; vested.  (a) "Vesting" or "vested" means having entitlement to a nonforfeitable annuity or benefit from a coordinated member program administered by a teachers retirement fund association by having credit for sufficient allowable service under paragraph (b) or (c), whichever applies.


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(b) For purposes of qualifying for an annuity or a benefit as a coordinated plan member of the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association, the teacher is vested when the teacher has accrued credit for at least three years of service.

 

(c) For purposes of qualifying for an annuity or a benefit as a coordinated plan member of the Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund Association:

 

(1) a teacher who first became a member of the plan before July 1, 2010, is vested when the teacher has accrued at least three years of service; and

 

(2) a teacher who first became a member of the plan after June 30, 2010, is vested when the teacher has accrued at least five years of service.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 354A.094, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 3.  Qualified part-time teacher program participation requirements.  (a) A teacher in the public schools of a city of the first class who has three years or more allowable service in the applicable retirement fund association is vested, or three who has combined years or more of full-time teaching service in Minnesota public elementary schools, Minnesota secondary schools, and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system at least equal to the number of years specified for vesting in the applicable first class city teacher plan, may, by agreement with the board of the employing district, be assigned to teaching service within the district in a part-time teaching position.  The agreement must be executed before October 1 of the year for which the teacher requests to make retirement contributions under subdivision 4.  A copy of the executed agreement must be filed with the executive director of the retirement fund association.  If the copy of the executed agreement is filed with the association after October 1 of the year for which the teacher requests to make retirement contributions under subdivision 4, the employing school district shall pay a fine of $5 for each calendar day that elapsed since the October 1 due date.  The association may not accept an executed agreement that is received by the association more than 15 months late.  The association may not waive the fine required by this section.

 

(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), if the teacher is also a legislator:

 

(1) the agreement in paragraph (a) must be executed before March 1 of the school year for which the teacher requests to make retirement contributions under subdivision 4; and

 

(2) the fines specified in paragraph (a) apply if the employing unit does not file the executed agreement with the executive director of the applicable Teachers Retirement Fund Association by March 1.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 354A.29, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

 

Subd. 7.  Eligibility for payment of postretirement adjustments.  (a) Annually, after June 30, the board of trustees of the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association must determine the amount of any postretirement adjustment using the procedures in this subdivision and subdivision 8 or 9, whichever is applicable.

 

(b) On January 1, each eligible person who has been receiving an annuity or benefit under the articles of incorporation, the bylaws, or this chapter for at least three calendar months as of the end of the last day of the previous calendar year is eligible to receive a postretirement increase as specified in subdivision 8 or 9.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective July 1, 2011.


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Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 354A.29, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

 

Subd. 8.  Calculation of postretirement adjustments; transitional provision.  (a) For purposes of computing postretirement adjustments for eligible benefit recipients of the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association, the accrued liability funding ratio based on the actuarial value of assets of the plan as determined by the most recent actuarial valuation prepared under sections 356.214 and 356.215 determines the postretirement increase, as follows:

 

 

 

Funding ratio

 

Postretirement increase

 

 

 

Less than 80 percent

 

1 percent

 

 

At least 80 percent but less than 90 percent

2 percent

 

(b) The amount determined under paragraph (a) is the full postretirement increase to be applied as a permanent increase to the regular payment of each eligible member on January 1 of the next calendar year.  For any eligible member whose effective date of benefit commencement occurred during the calendar year before the postretirement increase is applied, the full increase amount must be prorated on the basis of whole calendar quarters in benefit payment status in the calendar year prior to the January 1 on which the postretirement increase is applied, calculated to the third decimal place.

 

(c) If the accrued liability funding ratio based on the actuarial value of assets is at least 90 percent, this subdivision expires and subsequent postretirement increases must be paid as specified in subdivision 9.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective July 1, 2011.

 

Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 354A.29, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

 

Subd. 9.  Calculation of postretirement adjustments.  (a) This subdivision applies if subdivision 8 has expired.

 

(b) A percentage adjustment must be computed and paid under this subdivision to eligible persons under subdivision 7.  This adjustment is determined by reference to the Consumer Price Index for urban wage earners and clerical workers all items index as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics within the United States Department of Labor each year as part of the determination of annual cost-of-living adjustments to recipients of federal old-age, survivors, and disability insurance.  For calculations of postretirement adjustments under paragraph (c), "average third quarter Consumer Price Index value" means the sum of the monthly index values as initially reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the months of July, August, and September, divided by three.

 

(c) Before January 1 of each year, the executive director must calculate the amount of the postretirement adjustment by dividing the most recent average third quarter index value by the same average third quarter index value from the previous year, subtract one from the resulting quotient, and express the result as a percentage amount, which must be rounded to the nearest one-tenth of one percent.

 

(d) The amount calculated under paragraph (c) is the full postretirement adjustment to be applied as a permanent increase to the regular payment of each eligible member on January 1 of the next calendar year.  For any eligible member whose effective date of benefit commencement occurred during the calendar year before the postretirement adjustment is applied, the full increase amount must be prorated on the basis of whole calendar quarters in benefit payment status in the calendar year prior to the January 1 on which the postretirement adjustment is applied, calculated to the third decimal place.

 

(e) The adjustment must not be less than zero nor greater than five percent.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective July 1, 2011.


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Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 354A.31, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

 

Subdivision 1.  Age and service requirements.  Any coordinated member or former coordinated member of the Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund Association or of the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association who has ceased to render teaching service for the school district in which the teachers retirement fund association exists, who is vested and who has either attained the age of at least 55 years with not less than three years of allowable service credit or received credit for not less than 30 years of allowable service regardless of age, shall be entitled upon written application to a retirement annuity.  Any coordinated member or former coordinated member of the Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund Association who has ceased to render teaching service for the school district in which the teacher retirement fund association exists and who has either attained the age of at least 55 years with not less than three years of allowable service credit if the member became an employee before July 1, 2010, or not less than five years of allowable service credit if the member became an employee after June 30, 2010, or received service credit for not less than 30 years of allowable service regardless of age, shall be entitled upon written application to a retirement annuity.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 354A.31, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 5.  Unreduced normal retirement annuity.  Upon retirement at normal retirement age with at least three years of service credit, a vested coordinated member is entitled to a normal retirement annuity calculated under subdivision 4 or 4a, whichever applies.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 8.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 354A.31, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 6.  Reduced retirement annuity.  This subdivision applies only to a person who first became a coordinated member or a member of a pension fund listed in section 356.30, subdivision 3, before July 1, 1989, and whose annuity is higher when calculated using the retirement annuity formula percentage in subdivision 4, paragraph (c), or subdivision 4a, paragraph (c), in conjunction with this subdivision than when calculated under subdivision 4, paragraph (d), or subdivision 4a, paragraph (d), in conjunction with subdivision 7.

 

(a) Upon retirement at an age before normal retirement age with three years of service credit or prior to age 62 with at least 30 years of service credit, a vested coordinated member shall be entitled to a retirement annuity in an amount equal to the normal retirement annuity calculated using the retirement annuity formula percentage in subdivision 4, paragraph (c), or subdivision 4a, paragraph (c), reduced by one-quarter of one percent for each month that the coordinated member is under normal retirement age if the coordinated member has less than 30 years of service credit or is under the age of 62 if the coordinated member has at least 30 years of service credit.

 

(b) Any coordinated member whose attained age plus credited allowable service totals 90 years is entitled, upon application, to a retirement annuity in an amount equal to the normal retirement annuity calculated using the retirement annuity formula percentage in subdivision 4, paragraph (c), or subdivision 4a, paragraph (c), without any reduction by reason of early retirement.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 9.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 354A.35, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 2.  Death while eligible to retire; surviving spouse optional annuity.  (a) The surviving spouse of a vested coordinated member who has credit for at least three years of service and dies prior to retirement may elect to receive, instead of a refund with interest under subdivision 1, an annuity equal to the 100 percent joint and survivor annuity the member could have qualified for had the member terminated service on the date of death.  The surviving


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spouse eligible for a surviving spouse benefit under this paragraph may apply for the annuity at any time after the date on which the deceased employee would have attained the required age for retirement based on the employee's allowable service.  A surviving spouse eligible for surviving spouse benefits under paragraph (b) or (c) may apply for an annuity at any time after the member's death.  The member's surviving spouse shall be paid a joint and survivor annuity under section 354A.32 and computed under section 354A.31. 

 

(b) If the member was under age 55 and has credit for at least 30 years of allowable service on the date of death, the surviving spouse may elect to receive a 100 percent joint and survivor annuity based on the age of the member and surviving spouse on the date of death.  The annuity is payable using the full early retirement reduction under section 354A.31, subdivision 6, paragraph (a), to age 55 and one-half of the early retirement reduction from age 55 to the age payment begins. 

 

(c) If the a vested member was under age 55 and has credit for at least three years of allowable service on the date of death but did not yet qualify for retirement, the surviving spouse may elect to receive the 100 percent joint and survivor annuity based on the age of the member and the survivor at the time of death.  The annuity is payable using the full early retirement reduction under section 354A.31, subdivision 6 or 7, to age 55 and one-half of the early retirement reduction from age 55 to the date payment begins. 

 

(d) Sections 354A.37, subdivision 2, and 354A.39 apply to a deferred annuity or surviving spouse benefit payable under this section.  The benefits are payable for the life of the surviving spouse, or upon expiration of the term certain benefit payment under subdivision 2b. 

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 10.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 354A.36, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

 

Subdivision 1.  Minimum age, service, and salary requirements.  Any coordinated member who has at least three years of allowable service credit is vested, who has an average salary of at least $75 per month, and who has become totally and permanently disabled shall be entitled to a disability benefit.  If the disabled coordinated member's allowable service credit has not been continuous, at least two years of the required allowable service shall be required to have been rendered subsequent to the last interruption in service.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 11.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 354A.37, is amended to read:

 

354A.37 REFUNDS; DEFERRED ANNUITY. 

 

Subdivision 1.  Eligibility for refund.  Any coordinated member who ceases to render teaching service for the school district in which the teachers retirement fund association is located shall be entitled to a refund in lieu of any other annuity or benefit from the teachers retirement fund association, other than an annuity from a tax shelter annuity program and fund as authorized pursuant to under section 354A.021, subdivision 5.  The amount of the refund shall must be calculated pursuant to under subdivision 3.  The application for the refund shall must not be made prior to 30 days after the cessation of teaching services if the coordinated member has not resumed active teaching services for the district.  Payment of the refund shall must be made within 90 days after receipt of the refund application by the board.

 

Subd. 2.  Eligibility for deferred retirement annuity.  (a) Any coordinated member who ceases to render teaching services for the school district in which the teachers retirement fund association is located, with sufficient allowable service credit to meet the minimum service requirements specified in section 354A.31, subdivision 1, shall be entitled to a deferred retirement annuity in lieu of a refund pursuant to under subdivision 1.  The deferred


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retirement annuity shall must be computed pursuant to under section 354A.31 and shall be augmented as provided in this subdivision.  The deferred annuity shall commence commences upon application after the person on deferred status attains at least the minimum age specified in section 354A.31, subdivision 1.

 

(b) The monthly annuity amount that had accrued when the member ceased to render teaching service must be augmented from the first day of the month following the month during which the member ceased to render teaching service to the effective date of retirement.  There is no augmentation if this period is less than three months.  For a member of the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association, the rate of augmentation is three percent compounded annually until January 1 of the year following the year in which the former member attains age 55, and five percent compounded annually after that date to the effective date of retirement if the employee became an employee before July 1, 2006, and at 2.5 percent compounded annually if the employee becomes an employee after June 30, 2006.  For a member of the Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund Association, The rate of augmentation is three percent compounded annually until January 1 of the year following the year in which the former member attains age 55, five percent compounded annually after that date to July 1, 2012, and two percent compounded annually after that date to the effective date of retirement if the employee became an employee before July 1, 2006, and at 2.5 percent compounded annually to July 1, 2012, and two percent compounded annually after that date to the effective date of retirement if the employee becomes became an employee after June 30, 2006.  If a person has more than one period of uninterrupted service, a separate average salary determined under section 354A.31 must be used for each period, and the monthly annuity amount related to each period must be augmented as provided in this subdivision.  The sum of the augmented monthly annuity amounts determines the total deferred annuity payable.  If a person repays a refund, the service restored by the repayment must be considered as continuous with the next period of service for which the person has credit with the fund.  If a person does not render teaching services in any one fiscal year or more consecutive fiscal years and then resumes teaching service, the formula percentages used from the date of resumption of teaching service are those applicable to new members.  The mortality table and interest assumption used to compute the annuity are the table established by the fund to compute other annuities, and the interest assumption under section 356.215 in effect when the member retires.  A period of uninterrupted service for the purpose of this subdivision means a period of covered teaching service during which the member has not been separated from active service for more than one fiscal year.

 

(c) The augmentation provided by this subdivision applies to the benefit provided in section 354A.35, subdivision 2.  The augmentation provided by this subdivision does not apply to any period in which a person is on an approved leave of absence from an employer unit.

 

Subd. 3.  Computation of refund amount.  A former coordinated member of the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association who qualifies for a refund under subdivision 1 shall receive a refund equal to the amount of the former coordinated member's accumulated employee contributions with interest at the rate of six percent per annum compounded annually.  A former coordinated member of the Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund Association who qualifies for a refund under subdivision 1 shall receive a refund equal to the amount of the former coordinated member's accumulated employee contributions with interest at the rate of six percent per annum compounded annually to July 1, 2010, if the person is a former member of the Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund Association, or to July 1, 2011, if the person is a former member of the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association, and four percent per annum compounded annually thereafter.

 

Subd. 4.  Certain refunds at normal retirement age.  Any coordinated member who has attained the normal retirement age with less than ten years of allowable service credit and has terminated active teaching service shall be entitled to a refund in lieu of a proportionate annuity pursuant to under section 356.32.  The refund for a member of the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association shall be equal to the coordinated member's accumulated employee contributions plus interest at the rate of six percent compounded annually.  The refund for a member of the Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund Association shall must be equal to the coordinated member's accumulated employee contributions plus interest at the rate of six percent compounded annually to July 1, 2010, if the person is a former member of the Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund Association, or to July 1, 2011, if the person is a former member of the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association, and four percent per annum compounded annually thereafter.


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Subd. 5.  Unclaimed minimal refund amounts; disposition.  If a coordinated member ceases to render teaching services for the school district in which the teachers retirement fund association is located but does not apply for a refund pursuant to under subdivision 1 within five years after the end of the plan year next following the cessation of teaching services and if the amount of the refund that the former coordinated member would have been entitled to pursuant to under subdivision 3 is $500 or less, then the amount of the refund and any accumulated interest shall must be credited to and become a part of the retirement fund.  If the former coordinated member subsequently renders teaching services for the school district in which the teachers retirement fund association is located and the amount of the refund that the former coordinated member would have previously been entitled to pursuant to under subdivision 3 is at least $5, then the amount of the refund and any accumulated interest shall be must be restored to the member's individual account.  If the amount of the refund that the former coordinated member would have previously been entitled to pursuant to under subdivision 3 is at least $5 and the former coordinated member applies for a refund pursuant to under subdivision 1 or for an annuity pursuant to under sections 354A.31 and 354A.32 or section 356.30, the amount of the refund and any accumulated interest shall must be restored to the member's individual account.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective July 1, 2011.

 

Sec. 12.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 354B.21, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

 

Subdivision 1.  Eligibility.  The following persons are eligible to have coverage by the individual retirement account plan and to be participants in the or coverage by another plan as further specified in this section:

 

(1) employees of the board who are employed as faculty in an employment classification included in the state university instructional unit or the state college instructional unit under section 179A.10, subdivision 2;

 

(2) the chancellor and employees of the board in eligible unclassified administrative positions;

 

(3) the employees in eligible unclassified administrative positions in the state universities;

 

(4) the employees in eligible unclassified administrative positions in the technical colleges; and

 

(5) the employees in eligible unclassified administrative positions of the Minnesota Office of Higher Education or of the community colleges.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective July 1, 2011.

 

Sec. 13.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 354B.21, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

 

Subd. 1a.  Required notice; counseling.  (a) No later than 90 days before the end of any applicable election period specified in this section, the employer must provide to a person beginning work in a position subject to this section for which an option to elect alternative retirement plan coverage is authorized the following information:

 

(1) the default retirement coverage;

 

(2) election procedures, if applicable, for electing coverage other than the default coverage; and

 

(3) the Web site and the telephone number for the plan providing default coverage and comparable information for the plan that the person is eligible to elect.

 

(b) The election of coverage forms must include a certification statement that the employee has received and reviewed materials on the optional coverage and the default coverage prior to making the election.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective July 1, 2011.


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Sec. 14.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 354B.21, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 2.  Coverage; election.  (a) An eligible persons who were employed by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System on or after June 30, 2009, unless otherwise person employed by the board has the default coverage specified in subdivision 3, or other subdivisions of this section, whichever is applicable, and retains that coverage for the period of covered employment unless a timely election to change that coverage is made as specified in this section, are.

 

(b) An eligible person under subdivision 3, paragraph (b) or (c), is authorized to elect prospective Teachers Retirement Association plan coverage rather than.

 

(c) An eligible person under subdivision 3, paragraph (d), is authorized to elect prospective coverage by the plan established by this chapter.

 

(d) The election of prospective Teachers Retirement Association plan coverage under paragraph (a) must be made within one year of commencing eligible Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system employment.  If an election is not made within the specified election period due to a termination of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system employment, an election may be made within 90 days of returning to eligible Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system employment.  Except as specified in paragraph (f), all elections are irrevocable.  Before making an election, the eligible person is covered by the plan indicated as default coverage under subdivision 3.

 

(b) (e) Except as provided in paragraph (c) (f), a purchase of service credit in the Teachers Retirement Association plan for any period or periods of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system employment occurring before the election under paragraph (a) this section is prohibited.

 

(c) (f) Notwithstanding other paragraphs (a) and (b) in this subdivision, a faculty member who is a member of the individual retirement account plan who first achieves tenure or its equivalent at a Minnesota state college or university after June 30, 2009, may elect to transfer retirement coverage under to the teachers retirement plan within one year of the faculty member first achieving tenure or its equivalent at a Minnesota state college or university.  The faculty member electing Teachers Retirement Association coverage under this paragraph must purchase service credit in the Teachers Retirement Association for the entire period of time covered under the individual retirement account plan and the purchase payment amount must be determined under section 356.551.  The Teachers Retirement Association may charge a faculty member transferring coverage a reasonable fee to cover the costs associated with computing the actuarial cost of purchasing service credit and making the transfer.  A faculty member transferring from the individual retirement account plan to the Teachers Retirement Association may use any balances to the credit of the faculty member in the individual retirement account plan, any balances to the credit of the faculty member in the higher education supplemental retirement plan established under chapter 354C, or any source specified in section 356.441, subdivision 1, to purchase the service credit in the Teachers Retirement Association.  If the total amount of payments under this paragraph are less than the total purchase payment amount under section 356.551, the payment amounts must be refunded to the applicable source.  The retirement coverage transfer and service credit purchase authority under this paragraph expires with respect to any Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System faculty initially hired after June 30, 2014.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective July 1, 2011.

 

Sec. 15.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 354B.21, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 3.  Default coverage.  (a) Prior to making an election under subdivision 2, or if an eligible person fails to elect coverage by the plan under subdivision 2 or if the person fails to make a timely election, the following retirement coverage specified in this subdivision applies:.


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(1) for employees of the board who are employed in faculty positions in the technical colleges, in the state universities or in the community colleges, the retirement coverage is by the plan established by this chapter;

 

(2) for employees of the board who are employed in faculty positions in the technical colleges, the retirement coverage is by the plan established by this chapter unless on June 30, 1997, the employee was a member of the Teachers Retirement Association established under chapter 354 and then the retirement coverage is by the Teachers Retirement Association, or, unless the employee was a member of a first class city teacher retirement fund established under chapter 354A on June 30, 1995, and then the retirement coverage is by the Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund Association if the person was a member of that plan on June 30, 1995, or the Teachers Retirement Association if the person was a member of the former Minneapolis Teachers Retirement Fund Association on June 30, 1995, or the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association if the person was a member of that plan on June 30, 1995; and

 

(3) for employees of the board who are employed in eligible unclassified administrative positions, the retirement coverage is by the plan established by this chapter.

 

(b) If an employee fails to correctly certify prior membership in the Teachers Retirement Association to the Minnesota State colleges and Universities system, the system shall not pay interest on employee contributions, employer contributions, and additional employer contributions to the Teachers Retirement Association under section 354.52, subdivision 4.

 

(b) If an eligible person is employed by the board before July 1, 2011, in an eligible unclassified administrative position or in a faculty position in a technical college, community college, or state university, the retirement coverage is by the plan established by this chapter, unless otherwise specified in this section.

 

(c) An eligible person described in paragraph (b), except that first employment by the board is on or after July 1, 2011, has retirement coverage by the plan established by this chapter if the eligible person has no:

 

(1) allowable service credit in any plan listed in section 356.30, subdivision 3; or

 

(2) prior employment covered by the state unclassified employees retirement program under chapter 352D.

 

(d) An eligible person described in paragraph (c) has retirement coverage by the Teachers Retirement Association if the person has:

 

(1) prior employment covered by the state unclassified employees retirement program under chapter 352D and has not withdrawn or transferred assets from that account; or

 

(2) allowable service credit in a plan listed in section 356.30, subdivision 3.

 

(e) To ensure that coverage is provided by the proper plan, the employee must certify to the board the existence of any service credit in any plan listed in section 356.30, subdivision 3, or whether the person retains a state unclassified employees retirement program account.  If an employee fails to correctly certify prior membership in a plan or the existence of an unclassified program account, the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system and its board shall be held harmless, and notwithstanding any law to the contrary, any resulting cost or financial liability becomes the employee's responsibility.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective July 1, 2011.


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Sec. 16.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 354B.21, subdivision 3a, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 3a.  Continuation of Plan coverage in and election; certain instances past service technical college faculty.  For a person with retirement coverage by a first class city teacher retirement fund association instead of the individual retirement account plan under subdivision 3, clause (2), coverage by the applicable retirement fund association continues (a) Notwithstanding subdivision 3, if an employee of the board was employed in a faculty position in a technical college on June 30, 1997, with coverage by the Teachers Retirement Association, the employee retains that coverage.  If the employee was a technical college faculty member on June 30, 1995, covered by a first class city teacher retirement fund established under chapter 354A, the retirement coverage continues with the Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund Association or the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association, whichever is applicable.  If the person was a technical college faculty member on June 30, 1995, covered by the former Minneapolis Teachers Retirement Fund Association, the Teachers Retirement Association shall provide coverage.

 

(b) An employee under paragraph (a) who has coverage by a first class city teacher fund association retains that coverage for the duration of the person's employment by the board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities unless, within 90 days one year of a change in employment within the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, the person elects the individual retirement account plan for all future employment by the board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.  The election is irrevocable.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective July 1, 2011.

 

Sec. 17.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 354B.21, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 5.  Payment for certain prior uncovered service.  (a) A person employed in a faculty position or in an eligible unclassified administrative position by the board who was initially excluded from participation in the individual retirement account plan coverage, who was not covered by any other Minnesota public pension plan for that service, and who is subsequently eligible to participate in the individual retirement account plan may make member contributions for that period of prior uncovered teaching employment or eligible unclassified administrative employment with the board.

 

(b) The member contributions for prior uncovered board service are the amount that the person would have paid if the prior service had been covered employment.  The payment must be made to the individual retirement account plan administrator and may be made only by payroll deduction.  The payment must be made by the later of:

 

(1) 45 days of the start of covered employment; or

 

(2) the end of the fiscal year in which covered employment began.

 

(c) The board must contribute an amount to match any contribution made by a plan participant under this subdivision.

 

(d) Payments of contributions for prior uncovered board service under this subdivision must be invested in the same manner as the regular contributions made by or on behalf of the plan participant.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective July 1, 2011.

 

Sec. 18.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 354B.21, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 6.  Continuation of coverage.  Except as otherwise specified in this section, once a person is employed in a position that qualifies for participation in the individual retirement account plan and elects to participate in the plan, all subsequent service by the person as a faculty member or in an eligible unclassified administrative position employed by the board or other employing unit is covered by the individual retirement account plan.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective July 1, 2011.


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Sec. 19.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 354B.21, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

 

Subd. 7.  Coverage; certain part-time employees.  A person employed in a part-time faculty position or in a part-time eligible unclassified administrative position who does not meet the definition of covered employment under section 354B.20, subdivision 4, because the employment does not meet the threshold required under that provision, must certify prior membership in the Teachers Retirement Association to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.  If the certification is incorrect, the employee, and not the employer, is required to pay interest on the employee and employer contributions, and, if applicable, on the employer additional contributions to the Teachers Retirement Association under section 354.52, subdivision 4.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective July 1, 2011.

 

Sec. 20.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 356.47, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 3.  Payment.  (a) Beginning one year after the reemployment withholding period ends relating to the reemployment that gave rise to the limitation, and the filing of a written application, the retired member is entitled to the payment, in a lump sum, of the value of the person's amount under subdivision 2, plus annual compound interest.  For the general state employees retirement plan, the correctional state employees retirement plan, the general employees retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement Association, the public employees police and fire retirement plan, the local government correctional employees retirement plan, and the teachers retirement plan, the annual interest rate is six percent from the date on which the amount was deducted from the retirement annuity to the date of payment or until January 1, 2011, whichever is earlier, and no interest after January 1, 2011.  For the Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund Association, the annual interest is six percent from the date on which the amount was deducted from the retirement annuity to the date of payment or until June 30, 2010, whichever is earlier, and with no interest accrual after June 30, 2010.  For the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association, the annual interest is the rate of six percent from the date that the amount was deducted from the retirement annuity to the date of payment or June 30, 2011, whichever is earlier, and with no interest accrual after June 30, 2011.

 

(b) The written application must be on a form prescribed by the chief administrative officer of the applicable retirement plan.

 

(c) If the retired member dies before the payment provided for in paragraph (a) is made, the amount is payable, upon written application, to the deceased person's surviving spouse, or if none, to the deceased person's designated beneficiary, or if none, to the deceased person's estate.

 

(d) In lieu of the direct payment of the person's amount under subdivision 2, on or after the payment date under paragraph (a), if the federal Internal Revenue Code so permits, the retired member may elect to have all or any portion of the payment amount under this section paid in the form of a direct rollover to an eligible retirement plan as defined in section 402(c) of the federal Internal Revenue Code that is specified by the retired member.  If the retired member dies with a balance remaining payable under this section, the surviving spouse of the retired member, or if none, the deceased person's designated beneficiary, or if none, the administrator of the deceased person's estate may elect a direct rollover under this paragraph.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective July 1, 2011.

 

Sec. 21.  BYLAW AUTHORIZATION. 

 

Consistent with the requirements of Minnesota Statutes, section 354A.12, subdivision 4, the board of the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association is authorized to revise the bylaws and articles of incorporation so that the requirements of this act, where applicable, apply to the basic program.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective July 1, 2011.


Journal of the House - 59th Day - Wednesday, May 18, 2011 - Top of Page 4187


Sec. 22.  REPEALER. 

 

(a) Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 354A.29, subdivision 3, is repealed.

 

(b) Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 354B.21, subdivision 3c; and 354B.32, are repealed.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective July 1, 2011.

 

ARTICLE 3

ACTUARIAL ASSUMPTION UPDATE

 

Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 356.215, subdivision 8, is amended to read:

 

Subd. 8.  Interest and salary assumptions.  (a) The actuarial valuation must use the applicable following preretirement interest assumption and the applicable following postretirement interest assumption:

 

 

 

plan

 

preretirement interest rate assumption

postretirement interest rate assumption

 

general state employees retirement plan

 

8.5%

6.0%

correctional state employees retirement plan

 

8.5

6.0

State Patrol retirement plan

 

8.5

6.0

legislators retirement plan

 

8.5

6.0

elective state officers retirement plan

 

8.5

6.0

judges retirement plan

 

8.5

6.0

general public employees retirement plan

 

8.5

6.0

public employees police and fire retirement plan

 

8.5

6.0

local government correctional service retirement plan

 

8.5

6.0

teachers retirement plan

 

8.5

6.0

Duluth teachers retirement plan

 

8.5

8.5

St. Paul teachers retirement plan

 

8.5

8.5

Minneapolis Police Relief Association

 

6.0

6.0

Fairmont Police Relief Association

 

5.0

5.0

Minneapolis Fire Department Relief Association

 

6.0

6.0

Virginia Fire Department Relief Association

 

5.0

5.0

Bloomington Fire Department Relief Association

 

6.0

6.0

local monthly benefit volunteer firefighters relief associations

 

5.0

5.0

 

(b) Before July 1, 2010, the actuarial valuation must use the applicable following single rate future salary increase assumption, the applicable following modified single rate future salary increase assumption, or the applicable following graded rate future salary increase assumption:

 

(1) single rate future salary increase assumption

 

plan

future salary increase assumption

 

legislators retirement plan

 

5.0%

judges retirement plan

 

4.0

Minneapolis Police Relief Association

 

4.0


Journal of the House - 59th Day - Wednesday, May 18, 2011 - Top of Page 4188


Fairmont Police Relief Association

 

3.5

Minneapolis Fire Department Relief Association

 

4.0

Virginia Fire Department Relief Association

 

3.5

Bloomington Fire Department Relief Association

 

4.0

 

(2) age-related select and ultimate future salary increase assumption or graded rate future salary increase assumption

 

plan

future salary increase assumption

 

general state employees retirement plan

select calculation and assumption A

correctional state employees retirement plan

assumption G D

State Patrol retirement plan

assumption F C

public employees police and fire fund retirement plan

assumption B

local government correctional service retirement plan

assumption F C

teachers retirement plan

assumption C

Duluth teachers retirement plan

assumption D A

St. Paul teachers retirement plan

assumption E B

 

The select calculation is:  during the designated select period, a designated percentage rate is multiplied by the result of the designated integer minus T, where T is the number of completed years of service, and is added to the applicable future salary increase assumption.  The designated select period is five years and the designated integer is five for the general state employees retirement plan.  The designated select period is ten years and the designated integer is ten for all other retirement plans covered by this clause.  The designated percentage rate is:  (1) 0.2 percent for the correctional state employees retirement plan, the State Patrol retirement plan, the public employees police and fire plan, and the local government correctional service retirement plan; (2) 0.6 percent for the general state employees retirement plan; and (3) 0.3 percent for the teachers retirement plan, the Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund Association, and the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association.  The select calculation for the Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund Association is 8.00 percent per year for service years one through seven, 7.25 percent per year for service years seven and eight, and 6.50 percent per year for service years eight and nine.

 

The ultimate future salary increase assumption is:

 

age

A

B

C

D A

E B

F C

G D

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16

5.95%

11.00%

7.70%

8.00%

6.90%

7.7500%

7.2500%

17

5.90

11.00

7.65

8.00

6.90

7.7500

7.2500

18

5.85

11.00

7.60

8.00

6.90

7.7500

7.2500

19

5.80

11.00

7.55

8.00

6.90

7.7500

7.2500

20

5.75

11.00

5.50

6.90

6.90

7.7500

7.2500

21

5.75

11.00

5.50

6.90

6.90

7.1454

6.6454

22

5.75

10.50

5.50

6.90

6.90

7.0725

6.5725


Journal of the House - 59th Day - Wednesday, May 18, 2011 - Top of Page 4189


23

5.75

10.00

5.50

6.85

6.85

7.0544

6.5544

24

5.75

9.50

5.50

6.80

6.80

7.0363

6.5363

25

5.75

9.00

5.50

6.75

6.75

7.0000

6.5000

26

5.75

8.70

5.50

6.70

6.70

7.0000

6.5000

27

5.75

8.40

5.50

6.65

6.65

7.0000

6.5000

28

5.75

8.10

5.50

6.60

6.60

7.0000

6.5000

29

5.75

7.80

5.50

6.55

6.55

7.0000

6.5000

30

5.75

7.50

5.50

6.50

6.50

7.0000

6.5000

31

5.75

7.30

5.50

6.45

6.45

7.0000

6.5000

32

5.75

7.10

5.50

6.40

6.40

7.0000

6.5000

33

5.75

6.90

5.50

6.35

6.35

7.0000

6.5000

34

5.75

6.70

5.50

6.30

6.30

7.0000

6.5000

35

5.75

6.50

5.50

6.25

6.25

7.0000

6.5000

36

5.75

6.30

5.50

6.20

6.20

6.9019

6.4019

37

5.75

6.10

5.50

6.15

6.15

6.8074

6.3074

38

5.75

5.90

5.40

6.10

6.10

6.7125

6.2125

39

5.75

5.70

5.30

6.05

6.05

6.6054

6.1054

40

5.75

5.50

5.20

6.00

6.00

6.5000

6.0000

41

5.75

5.40

5.10

5.90

5.95

6.3540

5.8540

42

5.75

5.30

5.00

5.80

5.90

6.2087

5.7087

43

5.65

5.20

4.90

5.70

5.85

6.0622

5.5622

44

5.55

5.10

4.80

5.60

5.80

5.9048

5.4078

45

5.45

5.00

4.70

5.50

5.75

5.7500

5.2500

46

5.35

4.95

4.60

5.40

5.70

5.6940

5.1940

47

5.25

4.90

4.50

5.30

5.65

5.6375

5.1375

48

5.15

4.85

4.50

5.20

5.60

5.5822

5.0822

49

5.05

4.80

4.50

5.10

5.55

5.5404

5.0404

50

4.95

4.75

4.50

5.00

5.50

5.5000

5.0000

51

4.85

4.75

4.50

4.90

5.45

5.4384

4.9384

52

4.75

4.75

4.50

4.80

5.40

5.3776

4.8776

53

4.65

4.75

4.50

4.70

5.35

5.3167

4.8167

54

4.55

4.75

4.50

4.60

5.30

5.2826

4.7826

55

4.45

4.75

4.50

4.50

5.25

5.2500

4.7500

56

4.35

4.75

4.50

4.40

5.20

5.2500

4.7500

57

4.25

4.75

4.50

4.30

5.15

5.2500

4.7500

58

4.25

4.75

4.60

4.20

5.10

5.2500

4.7500

59

4.25

4.75

4.70

4.10

5.05

5.2500

4.7500

60

4.25

4.75

4.80

4.00

5.00

5.2500

4.7500

61

4.25

4.75

4.90

3.90

5.00

5.2500

4.7500

62

4.25

4.75

5.00

3.80

5.00

5.2500

4.7500

63

4.25

4.75

5.10

3.70

5.00

5.2500

4.7500

64

4.25

4.75

5.20

3.60

5.00

5.2500

4.7500

65

4.25

4.75

5.20

3.50

5.00

5.2500

4.7500

66

4.25

4.75

5.20

3.50

5.00

5.2500

4.7500

67

4.25

4.75

5.20

3.50

5.00

5.2500

4.7500

68

4.25

4.75

5.20

3.50

5.00

5.2500

4.7500

69

4.25

4.75

5.20

3.50

5.00

5.2500

4.7500

70

4.25

4.75

5.20

3.50

5.00

5.2500

4.7500

71

4.25

 

5.20

 

 

 

 


Journal of the House - 59th Day - Wednesday, May 18, 2011 - Top of Page 4190


(3) service-related ultimate future salary increase assumption

 

general state employees retirement plan of the Minnesota State Retirement System

assumption A

general employees retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement Association

assumption B

Teachers Retirement Association

assumption C

public employees police and fire retirement plan

assumption D

 

 

 

 

service length

general employees retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement Association

A

 

 

 

B

 

 

 

C

 

 

 

D

 

1

12.03% 10.75%

12.25%

12.00%

13.00%

2

8.90 8.35

9.15

9.00

11.00

3

7.46 7.15

7.75

8.00

9.00

4

6.58 6.45

6.85

7.50

8.00

5

5.97 5.95

6.25

7.25

6.50

6

5.52 5.55

5.75

7.00

6.10

7

5.16 5.25

5.45

6.85

5.80

8

4.87 4.95

5.15

6.70

5.60

9

4.63 4.75

4.85

6.55

5.40

10

4.42 4.65

4.65

6.40

5.30

11

4.24 4.45

4.45

6.25

5.20

12

4.08 4.35

4.35

6.00

5.10

13

3.94 4.25

4.15

5.75

5.00

14

3.82 4.05

4.05

5.50

4.90

15

3.70 3.95

3.95

5.25

4.80

16

3.60 3.85

3.85

5.00

4.80

17

3.51 3.75

3.75

4.75

4.80

18

3.50 3.75

3.75

4.50

4.80

19

3.50 3.75

3.75

4.25

4.80

20

3.50 3.75

3.75

4.00

4.80

21

3.50 3.75

3.75

3.90

4.70

22

3.50 3.75

3.75

3.80

4.60

23

3.50 3.75

3.75

3.70

4.50

24

3.50 3.75

3.75

3.60

4.50

25

3.50 3.75

3.75

3.50

4.50

26

3.50 3.75

3.75

3.50

4.50

27

3.50 3.75

3.75

3.50

4.50

28

3.50 3.75

3.75

3.50

4.50

29

3.50 3.75

3.75

3.50

4.50

30 or more

3.50 3.75

3.75

3.50

4.50

 

(c) Before July 2, 2010, the actuarial valuation must use the applicable following payroll growth assumption for calculating the amortization requirement for the unfunded actuarial accrued liability where the amortization retirement is calculated as a level percentage of an increasing payroll:

 

 

plan

payroll

growth assumption

 

general state employees retirement plan of the Minnesota State Retirement System

 

4.50% 3.75%

correctional state employees retirement plan

 

4.50

State Patrol retirement plan

 

4.50


Journal of the House - 59th Day - Wednesday, May 18, 2011 - Top of Page 4191


legislators retirement plan

 

4.50

judges retirement plan

 

4.00

general employees retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement Association

 

4.00 3.75

public employees police and fire retirement plan

 

4.50 3.75

local government correctional service retirement plan

 

4.50

teachers retirement plan

 

4.50 3.75

Duluth teachers retirement plan

 

4.50

St. Paul teachers retirement plan

 

5.00

 

(d) After July 1, 2010, the assumptions set forth in paragraphs (b) and (c) continue to apply, unless a different salary assumption or a different payroll increase assumption:

 

(1) has been proposed by the governing board of the applicable retirement plan;

 

(2) is accompanied by the concurring recommendation of the actuary retained under section 356.214, subdivision 1, if applicable, or by the approved actuary preparing the most recent actuarial valuation report if section 356.214 does not apply; and

 

(3) has been approved or deemed approved under subdivision 18.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section as it relates to the general state employees retirement plan of the Minnesota State Retirement System, the general employees retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement Association, and the teachers retirement plan is effective retroactively from June 30, 2010, and as it relates to the public employees police and fire retirement plan is effective June 30, 2011.

 

ARTICLE 4

VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER RELIEF ASSOCIATIONS

 

Section 1.  DEADLINE FOR REPORTS EXTENDED. 

 

Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 69.051, subdivision 1b, the deadline for reports submitted under Minnesota Statutes, section 69.051, subdivisions 1 and 1a, for 2009 is extended to April 30, 2011.  A municipality or relief association does not forfeit its 2010 state aid or any future state aid if 2009 reports are received by the state auditor on or before April 30, 2011.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 2.  WHITE BEAR LAKE; SPECIAL ACTUARIAL WORK AUTHORIZATION. 

 

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary of Minnesota Statutes, sections 69.771, subdivision 3; 69.773, subdivisions 2, 4, and 5; 356.215; and 356.216, a document styled as an interim valuation at October 19, 2009, of the White Bear Lake Volunteer Fire Department Relief Association prepared by the actuarial consulting firm of Gabriel, Roeder, Smith & Company, as confirmed as to its funded status results by an actuarial valuation as of January 1, 2011, of the White Bear Lake Volunteer Fire Department Relief Association pension plan prepared by the actuarial consulting firm of Gabriel, Roeder, Smith & Company may be considered by the relief association officers, the city of White Bear Lake, and the Office of the State Auditor to be a qualifying actuarial valuation of the special fund of the relief association for the determination of the actuarial condition of the relief association and the financial requirements of the relief association amounts and the minimum municipal obligation amounts calculated by relief association officers certified to the city of White Bear Lake on or before August 1, 2009, and on or before August 1, 2010, may be considered by the City of White Bear Lake and by the Office of the State Auditor to be properly determined.


Journal of the House - 59th Day - Wednesday, May 18, 2011 - Top of Page 4192


 

EFFECTIVE DATE; LOCAL APPROVAL.  This section is effective retroactively from July 31, 2009, if the White Bear Lake city council and the White Bear Lake chief clerical officer timely complete their compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, subdivisions 2 and 3.

 

ARTICLE 5

SMALL GROUP RETIREMENT PROVISIONS

 

Section 1.  PERA-GENERAL; BABBITT AND BUHL SERVICE AND SALARY CREDIT PURCHASE AUTHORIZATION IN CERTAIN CASES. 

 

(a) An eligible person described in paragraph (b) is eligible to purchase from the general employees retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement Association allowable service credit and salary credit for the period of uncredited prior employment and salary specified in paragraph (c) by making the payment required under paragraph (d).

 

(b) An eligible person is a person who:

 

(1) was born on November 10, 1957;

 

(2) was employed as a part-time police officer by the city of Buhl from July 1988 until November 1996;

 

(3) was employed as a part-time police officer by Embarrass Township from March 1992 until August 1997;

 

(4) was employed as a part-time police officer by the City of Babbitt from April 1992 until September 1992; and

 

(5) was employed as a full-time police officer by the city of Babbitt since October 4, 1992, and as such is a member of the public employees police and fire retirement plan.

 

(c) The periods of unreported employment and salary that qualified for coverage by the general employees retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement Association and eligible for purchase are employment by the city of Buhl from October 1989 until November 1996 and employment by the city of Babbitt as a part-time police officer from April 1992 until September 1992.

 

(d) The allowable service and salary credit purchase payment amount must be calculated under Minnesota Statutes, section 356.551.  Of the total payment amount, the eligible person is obligated to pay the amount of member contributions that the eligible person would have paid by deduction to the coordinated program of the general employees retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement Association if made in a timely fashion, plus annual compound interest at the rate of 8.5 percent from the date that the contribution should have been made until the date that the contribution equivalent payment is made.  The balance of the total payment amount must be allocated between the city of Buhl and the city of Babbitt on the basis of the additional retirement benefit associated with the applicable period of past unreported eligible employment.  The city of Buhl and the city of Babbitt shall make their payments within 30 days of the date on which the executive director of the Public Employees Retirement Association certifies that the eligible person has paid the equivalent member contribution payment and interest.  If a city fails to make a timely payment, the executive director shall collect the unpaid amount under Minnesota Statutes, section 353.28.

 

(e) The eligible person shall provide the executive director of the Public Employees Retirement Association with any necessary documentation of the applicability of this section that the executive director requests.

 

(f) The authority of the eligible person to make the equivalent member contribution and interest payment under this section expires on the earlier of July 1, 2012, or the date on which the eligible person finally terminates public employment covered by Minnesota Statutes, chapter 353.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.


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Sec. 2.  INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO.  270, HOPKINS; SALARY CREDIT PURCHASE FOR PART-TIME TEACHING PROGRAM SERVICE AUTHORIZED. 

 

(a) An eligible person described in paragraph (b) is entitled, upon application to the executive director of the Teachers Retirement Association, to purchase salary credit from the Teachers Retirement Association for the period of part-time teaching service specified in paragraph (c) if the purchase payment required under paragraph (d) is paid on or before July 1, 2012, or the date of the person's retirement, whichever is earlier.

 

(b) An eligible person is a person who:

 

(1) was born on January 20, 1951;

 

(2) was hired by Independent School District No. 270, Hopkins, as a teacher;

 

(3) first participated in the qualified part-time teacher association membership program with a properly submitted teacher-school district agreement for the 2007-2008 school year;

 

(4) was employed part-time as a teacher by Independent School District No. 270, Hopkins, during the 2008-2009 school year, but the Minnesota Statutes, section 354.66, agreement was not filed with the Teachers Retirement Association until September 20, 2010; and

 

(5) was employed by Independent School District No. 270, Hopkins, as a part-time teacher under Minnesota Statutes, section 354.66, for the 2009-2010 school year and for the 2010-2011 school year.

 

(c) The period of part-time teaching service is the period during the 2008-2009 school year during which the eligible person was paid 80 percent of the eligible person's full-time service salary rate for part-time teaching service rendered for Independent School District No. 270, Hopkins.

 

(d) The total purchase payment amount for the increase in the annual salary credit for the 2008-2009 school year of $11,090.60 in the employ of Independent School District No. 270, Hopkins, is the service credit purchase payment amount required under Minnesota Statutes, section 356.551.  The eligible person shall pay $609.98 plus compound interest at the annual rate of 8.5 percent from January 31, 2009, until the date of payment.  Independent School District No. 270, Hopkins, must pay the balance of the purchase payment amount under Minnesota Statutes, section 356.551, in excess of the eligible person's payment amount.  The school district payment is due 30 days after notification by the executive director of the Teachers Retirement Association that the eligible person's payment amount has been received by the association.  If the school district fails to make the required payment in a timely manner, the executive director of the Teachers Retirement Association shall notify the commissioner of management and budget and the commissioner of education of that failure, and those commissioners shall subtract the unpaid amount from state aid otherwise payable to the school district.

 

(e) Upon receipt by the Teachers Retirement Association of the total amount required under paragraph (d), the eligible person shall receive annual salary credit for an additional $11,090.60 for the 2008-2009 school year.

 

(f) The salary credit purchase payment authorization under this section expires August 1, 2012.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.


Journal of the House - 59th Day - Wednesday, May 18, 2011 - Top of Page 4194


Sec. 3.  INCREASED ANNUITY FOR SURVIVING SPOUSE OF EMPLOYEE KILLED WHILE ENGAGED IN EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO FLOODING. 

 

(a) Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 352.12, a surviving spouse of an eligible person specified in paragraph (b) is entitled, upon application filed with the executive director of the Minnesota State Retirement System, to the additional surviving spouse benefit, payable for the lifetime of the surviving spouse, from the general state employees retirement fund of the Minnesota State Retirement System specified in paragraph (c).

 

(b) An eligible person is a person who is a state employee who suffered a violent death while performing assigned duties responding to a flood emergency and:

 

(1) was born on November 7, 1971;

 

(2) began working for the state on September 25, 2002; and

 

(3) was killed on March 22, 2011, while working as an employee of the Department of Transportation engaged in emergency response to flooding by using a backhoe to clear debris from a culvert that drains into the Minnesota River between St. Peter and Mankato.

 

(c) The monthly annuity payable to the surviving spouse of an eligible person specified in paragraph (b) is 34 percent of the average monthly salary of the eligible person, and accrues as of the first day of the first week after the surviving spouse ceases to receive workers' compensation payments attributable to the death of the eligible person specified in paragraph (b).

 

(d) "Average salary" has the meaning given in Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 352.01, subdivision 14a.

 

(e) The actuarial present value of the projected special additional survivor benefit under this section must be calculated, within 30 days of the date of final enactment, by the consulting actuary retained by the Minnesota State Retirement System under section 356.214 using the applicable actuarial assumptions set forth in Minnesota Statutes, section 356.215, subdivision 8, or approved by the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement under Minnesota Statutes, section 356.215, subdivision 18.  A summary of the actuarial present value calculations prepared by the consulting actuary must be certified by the executive director of the Minnesota State Retirement System to the executive director of the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement, to the commissioner of transportation, to the commissioner of management and budget, and to the legislative auditor.  The payment amount must be charged against the fund or funds from which the March 2011 compensation of the eligible person was paid.  The commissioner of transportation shall pay, within 30 days of the receipt of the certification of the actuarial present value of the special additional survivor benefit by the executive director of the Minnesota State Retirement System, the certified amount to the General State Employees Retirement Fund of the Minnesota State Retirement System.

 

(f) The benefit under this section is eligible for postretirement adjustments under Minnesota Statutes, section 356.415, subdivision 1a.  The initial payment of the additional survivor benefit must include the postretirement adjustments under Minnesota Statutes, section 356.415, that would have been paid on and after January 1, 2012, if the additional survivor benefit were paid since April 1, 2011, and the adjusted additional survivor benefit is subject to regular postretirement adjustments on each January 1 thereafter.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective retroactively from March 22, 2011."


Journal of the House - 59th Day - Wednesday, May 18, 2011 - Top of Page 4195


Delete the title and insert:

 

"A bill for an act relating to retirement; including pre-May 1, 2011, hires of the Red Wing Port Authority in the general employees retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement Association; providing an optional procedure for the correction of erroneous member deductions and employer contributions for the city of Duluth and the Duluth Airport Authority; revising postretirement adjustments, reducing the refund interest rate, eliminating interest on reemployed annuitant earnings limitation deferral amounts, and lowering the deferred annuity augmentation rate for the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association; increasing various vesting requirements for the Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund Association; revising the default retirement plan coverage determination for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System employees; revising statutory salary scale and payroll growth actuarial assumptions; extending a financial report reporting deadline date for the 2010 fire state aid allocation; authorizing the use of special actuarial work in determining the 2009 and 2010 special fund financial requirements and minimum municipal obligations for the White Bear Lake Fire Department Relief Association; authorizing a purchase of allowable service credit or salary credit for public employees and teachers; authorizing an additional employer-funded survivor benefit for a Minnesota Department of Transportation employee killed while engaged in emergency response to Minnesota River flooding; amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 353.01, subdivisions 2a, 6; 354A.011, by adding a subdivision; 354A.094, subdivision 3; 354A.29, by adding subdivisions; 354A.31, subdivisions 1, 5, 6; 354A.35, subdivision 2; 354A.36, subdivision 1; 354A.37; 354B.21, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 3a, 5, 6, by adding subdivisions; 356.215, subdivision 8; 356.47, subdivision 3; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 354A.29, subdivision 3; 354B.21, subdivision 3c; 354B.32."

 

 

With the recommendation that when so amended the bill pass and be re-referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

      The report was adopted.

 

 

      Pursuant to Joint Rule 2.03 and in accordance with House Concurrent Resolution No. 1, H. F. No. 1647 was re-referred to the Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration.

 

 

Dean from the Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration to which was referred: 

 

S. F. No. 1308, A bill for an act proposing an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution; adding a section to article XIII; recognizing marriage as only a union between one man and one woman.

 

Reported the same back with the recommendation that the bill pass.

 

      The report was adopted.

 

 

SECOND READING OF HOUSE BILLS

 

 

      H. F. No. 959 was read for the second time.

 

 

SECOND READING OF SENATE BILLS

 

 

      S. F. Nos. 54, 149, 302, 361, 885, 1266, 1270 and 1308 were read for the second time.


Journal of the House - 59th Day - Wednesday, May 18, 2011 - Top of Page 4196


 

INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING OF HOUSE BILLS

 

 

      The following House Files were introduced:

 

 

      Koenen introduced:

 

H. F. No. 1722, A bill for an act relating to capital investment; appropriating money for flood relief for the city of Maynard; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds.

 

The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance.

 

 

Buesgens and Hackbarth introduced:

 

H. F. No. 1723, A bill for an act relating to constitutional amendments; proposing to amend the Minnesota Constitution, article XI; repealing the increase in the sales and use tax rate dedicated for natural resources and cultural heritage purposes; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 85.53; 97A.056, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7; 114D.50; 129D.17.

 

The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance.

 

 

Brynaert, Morrow, Cornish and Gunther introduced:

 

H. F. No. 1724, A bill for an act relating to capital improvements; appropriating money to design and construct a regional transit facility in Mankato; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds.

 

The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Transportation Policy and Finance.

 

 

Crawford introduced:

 

H. F. No. 1725, A bill for an act relating to property taxation; extending the definition of commercial seasonal recreational property to include facilities for conducting craft and hobby activities; amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 273.13, subdivision 25.

 

The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Taxes.

 

 

Daudt; Peppin; Gruenhagen; Woodard; Anderson, S.; Gottwalt; McDonald; Wardlow and Quam introduced:

 

H. F. No. 1726, A bill for an act relating to elections; presidential electors; providing for designation of certain presidential electors and specifying the duties of presidential electors; amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 208.03; 208.05; 208.08.

 

The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Elections.


Journal of the House - 59th Day - Wednesday, May 18, 2011 - Top of Page 4197


McElfatrick, Howes, Anzelc, Dill and Melin introduced:

 

H. F. No. 1727, A bill for an act relating to capital investment; appropriating money for emergency repair of the Soudan Underground Mine elevator shaft; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds.

 

The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance.

 

 

Eken introduced:

 

H. F. No. 1728, A bill for an act relating to capital investment; appropriating money for a waste transfer facility in Becker County; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds.

 

The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance.

 

 

Erickson and Garofalo introduced:

 

H. F. No. 1729, A bill for an act relating to sales and use tax; making a temporary exemption for Minnesota State High School League events permanent; amending Laws 2006, chapter 257, section 2.

 

The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Taxes.

 

 

Hancock; Fabian; Drazkowski; Quam; Murdock; McElfatrick; Benson, M.; Franson; Dean and Garofalo introduced:

 

H. F. No. 1730, A bill for an act proposing amendments to the Minnesota Constitution, article IV, section 4, and article V, sections 2 and 4; placing limits on the terms of office of legislators and executive officers.

 

The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Elections.

 

 

Cornish, Hilstrom, Woodard and Mullery introduced:

 

H. F. No. 1731, A bill for an act relating to crime prevention; providing for indeterminate sentencing for certain sex offenders; creating a sex offender indeterminate sentence review board; amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 609.342, subdivision 2; 609.343, subdivision 2; 609.344, subdivision 2; 609.345, subdivision 2; 609.3451, subdivision 3; 609.3455; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 609.

 

The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance.

 

 

REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE ON RULES

AND LEGISLATIVE ADMINISTRATION

 

      Dean from the Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration, pursuant to rule 1.21, designated the following bills to be placed on the Calendar for the Day for Wednesday, May 18, 2011:

 

      S. F. No. 191; H. F. Nos. 1134, 56, 1418 and 1515; S. F. No. 1134; H. F. Nos. 1498 and 1144; S. F. Nos. 731 and 67; H. F. No. 232; S. F. No. 508; H. F. No. 905; S. F. Nos. 1162, 1270, 1266, 1143, 301, 478, 779, 742, 882, 137, 1208, 1045, 943 and 1285; H. F. Nos. 1358 and 1270; S. F. Nos. 955, 249, 1009 and 302; H. F. Nos. 1384, 264 and 988; S. F. No. 149; H. F. Nos. 1219, 1611 and 650; S. F. Nos. 1078 and 1044; H. F. Nos. 1179 and 1332; and S. F. No. 1265.


Journal of the House - 59th Day - Wednesday, May 18, 2011 - Top of Page 4198


 

      The following Conference Committee Reports were received:

 

 

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT ON H. F. NO. 1010

 

A bill for an act relating to state government; appropriating money for environment, natural resources, commerce, and energy; creating accounts; modifying disposition of certain receipts; modifying responsibilities and authorities; creating an advisory committee; modifying Petroleum Tank Release Cleanup Act; modifying cooperative electric association petition provisions; repealing definitions and requirements; requiring rulemaking on wild rice standards; amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 85.052, subdivision 4; 89.21; 97A.055, by adding a subdivision; 97A.071, subdivision 2; 97A.075; 103G.271, subdivision 6; 103G.301, subdivision 2; 103G.615, subdivision 2; 115A.1314; 115A.1320, subdivision 1; 115C.09, subdivision 3c; 115C.13; 116P.04, by adding a subdivision; 116P.05, subdivision 2; 216B.026, subdivision 1; 290.431; 290.432; 357.021, subdivision 7; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 16E; 84; 89; 97A; 103G; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 84.02, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8; 84.027, subdivision 11; 116P.09, subdivision 4; 116P.14.

 

May 16, 2011

The Honorable Kurt Zellers

Speaker of the House of Representatives

 

The Honorable Michelle L. Fischbach

President of the Senate

 

We, the undersigned conferees for H. F. No. 1010 report that we have agreed upon the items in dispute and recommend as follows: 

 

That the Senate recede from its amendment and that H. F. No. 1010 be further amended as follows: 

 

Delete everything after the enacting clause and insert: 

 

"ARTICLE 1

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES FINANCE

 

Section 1.  SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

 

The amounts shown in this section summarize direct appropriations, by fund, made in this article.

 

 

 

2012

 

2013

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General

 

$68,531,000

 

$68,426,000

 

$136,957,000

State Government Special Revenue

75,000

 

75,000

 

150,000

Environmental

 

63,089,000

 

62,783,000

 

125,872,000

Natural Resources

 

89,875,000

 

90,259,000

 

180,134,000

Game and Fish

 

89,242,000

 

88,545,000

 

177,787,000

Remediation

 

10,596,000

 

10,596,000

 

21,192,000

Permanent School

 

200,000

 

200,000

 

400,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$321,608,000

 

$320,884,000

 

$642,492,000


Journal of the House - 59th Day - Wednesday, May 18, 2011 - Top of Page 4199


Sec. 2.  ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES APPROPRIATIONS. 

 

The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are appropriated to the agencies and for the purposes specified in this article.  The appropriations are from the general fund, or another named fund, and are available for the fiscal years indicated for each purpose.  The figures "2012" and "2013" used in this article mean that the appropriations listed under them are available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, or June 30, 2013, respectively.  "The first year" is fiscal year 2012.  "The second year" is fiscal year 2013.  "The biennium" is fiscal years 2012 and 2013.  Appropriations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011, are effective the day following final enactment.

 

 

 

 

APPROPRIATIONS

 

 

 

Available for the Year

 

 

 

Ending June 30

 

 

 

2012

2013

 

 

Sec. 3.  POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY

 

 

 

 

 

Subdivision 1.  Total Appropriation

 

$76,496,000

 

$76,190,000

 

Appropriations by Fund

 

 

2012

2013

 

 

 

General

2,836,000

2,836,000

State Government  Special Revenue

 

75,000

 

75,000

Environmental

63,089,000

62,783,000

Remediation

10,496,000

10,496,000

 

The amounts that may be spent for each purpose are specified in the following subdivisions.

 

Subd. 2.  Water

 

21,602,000

 

21,527,000

 

Appropriations by Fund

 

 

2012

2013

 

 

 

General

2,836,000

2,836,000

State Government Special Revenue

 

75,000

 

75,000

Environmental

18,691,000

18,616,000

 

$1,171,000 the first year and $1,171,000 the second year are for water program operations.

 

$1,665,000 the first year and $1,665,000 the second year are for grants to delegated counties to administer the county feedlot program under Minnesota Statutes, section 116.0711, subdivisions 2 and 3.  Money remaining after the first year is available for the second year.


Journal of the House - 59th Day - Wednesday, May 18, 2011 - Top of Page 4200


 

$740,000 the first year and $740,000 the second year are from the environmental fund to address the need for continued increased activity in the areas of new technology review, technical assistance for local governments, and enforcement under Minnesota Statutes, sections 115.55 to 115.58, and to complete the requirements of Laws 2003, chapter 128, article 1, section 165.

 

$75,000 the first year from the environmental fund is for transfer to the commissioner of administration for the water management evaluation required in article 4.  This is a onetime appropriation.

 

Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, the appropriations encumbered on or before June 30, 2013, as grants or contracts for SSTS's, surface water and groundwater assessments, total maximum daily loads, storm water, and local basinwide water quality protection in this subdivision are available until June 30, 2016.

 

Subd. 3.  Air

 

12,297,000

 

12,466,000

 

Appropriations by Fund

 

 

2012

2013

 

 

 

Environmental

12,297,000

12,466,000

 

$200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year are from the environmental fund for a monitoring program under Minnesota Statutes, section 116.454.

 

Up to $150,000 the first year and $150,000 the second year may be transferred from the environmental fund to the small business environmental improvement loan account established in Minnesota Statutes, section 116.993.

 

$125,000 the first year and $125,000 the second year are from the environmental fund for monitoring ambient air for hazardous pollutants in the metropolitan area.

 

Subd. 4.  Land

 

17,412,000

 

17,412,000

 

Appropriations by Fund

 

 

2012

2013

 

 

 

Environmental

6,916,000

6,916,000

Remediation

10,496,000

10,496,000

 

All money for environmental response, compensation, and compliance in the remediation fund not otherwise appropriated is appropriated to the commissioners of the Pollution Control Agency and agriculture for purposes of Minnesota Statutes, section


Journal of the House - 59th Day - Wednesday, May 18, 2011 - Top of Page 4201


 

115B.20, subdivision 2, clauses (1), (2), (3), (6), and (7).  At the beginning of each fiscal year, the two commissioners shall jointly submit an annual spending plan to the commissioner of management and budget that maximizes the utilization of resources and appropriately allocates the money between the two departments.  This appropriation is available until June 30, 2013.

 

$3,616,000 the first year and $3,616,000 the second year are from the petroleum tank fund to be transferred to the remediation fund for purposes of the leaking underground storage tank program to protect the land.

 

$252,000 the first year and $252,000 the second year are from the remediation fund for transfer to the commissioner of health for private water supply monitoring and health assessment costs in areas contaminated by unpermitted mixed municipal solid waste disposal facilities and drinking water advisories and public information activities for areas contaminated by hazardous releases.

 

$128,000 the first year is from the environmental fund for transfer to the Department of Health to complete the environmental health tracking and biomonitoring analysis related to perfluorochemicals and disseminate the results.

 

Subd. 5.  Environmental Assistance and Cross-Media

 

25,185,000

 

24,785,000

 

Appropriations by Fund

 

 

2012

2013

 

 

 

Environmental

25,185,000

24,785,000

 

$14,250,000 the first year and $14,250,000 the second year are from the environmental fund for SCORE block grants to counties.

 

$119,000 the first year and $119,000 the second year are from the environmental fund for environmental assistance grants or loans under Minnesota Statutes, section 115A.0716.  Any unencumbered grant and loan balances in the first year do not cancel but are available for grants and loans in the second year.

 

$89,000 the first year and $89,000 the second year are from the environmental fund for duties related to harmful chemicals in products under Minnesota Statutes, section 116.9401 to 116.9407.  Of this amount, $57,000 each year is transferred to the commissioner of health.

 

$315,000 the first year and $315,000 the second year are from the environmental fund for the electronics waste program under Minnesota Statutes, sections 115A.1310 to 115A.1330.


Journal of the House - 59th Day - Wednesday, May 18, 2011 - Top of Page 4202


 

 

$400,000 the first year is from the environmental fund for the costs of implementing general operating permits for feedlots over 1,000 animal units.  This is a onetime appropriation.

 

All money deposited in the environmental fund for the metropolitan solid waste landfill fee in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 473.843, and not otherwise appropriated, is appropriated for the purposes of Minnesota Statutes, section 473.844.

 

Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, the appropriations encumbered on or before June 30, 2013, as contracts or grants for surface water and groundwater assessments; environmental assistance awarded under Minnesota Statutes, section 115A.0716; technical and research assistance under Minnesota Statutes, section 115A.152; technical assistance under Minnesota Statutes, section 115A.52; and pollution prevention assistance under Minnesota Statutes, section 115D.04, are available until June 30, 2015.

 

Subd. 6.  Remediation Fund

 

 

 

 

 

The commissioner shall transfer $42,000,000 from the environmental fund to the remediation fund for the purposes of the remediation fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 116.155, subdivision 2.

 

Sec. 4.  NATURAL RESOURCES

 

 

 

 

 

Subdivision 1.  Total Appropriation

 

$219,931,000

 

$219,613,000

 

Appropriations by Fund

 

 

2012

2013

 

 

 

General

46,834,000

46,829,000

Natural Resources

83,555,000

83,939,000

Game and Fish

89,242,000

88,545,000

Remediation

100,000

100,000

Permanent School

200,000

200,000

 

The amounts that may be spent for each purpose are specified in the following subdivisions.

 

Subd. 2.  Land and Mineral Resources Management

 

7,522,000

 

7,522,000

 

Appropriations by Fund

 

 

2012

2013

 

 

 

General

2,461,000

2,461,000

Natural Resources

3,459,000

3,459,000

Game and Fish

1,402,000

1,402,000

Permanent School

200,000

200,000


Journal of the House - 59th Day - Wednesday, May 18, 2011 - Top of Page 4203


 

$2,696,000 the first year and $2,696,000 the second year are from the minerals management account in the natural resources fund for use as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 93.2236, paragraph (c), for mineral resource management, projects to enhance future mineral income, and projects to promote new mineral resource opportunities.

 

$68,000 the first year and $68,000 the second year are for minerals cooperative environmental research, of which $34,000 the first year and $40,000 the second year are available only as matched by $1 of nonstate money for each $1 of state money.  The match may be cash or in-kind.

 

$251,000 the first year and $251,000 the second year are for iron ore cooperative research.  Of this amount, $200,000 each year is from the minerals management account in the natural resources fund.  $175,000 the first year and $175,000 the second year are available only as matched by $1 of nonstate money for each $1 of state money.  The match may be cash or in-kind.  Any unencumbered balance from the first year does not cancel and is available in the second year.

 

$630,000 the first year and $630,000 the second year are from the dedicated receipts account in the natural resources fund to cover the costs associated with issuing licenses for land and water crossings and road easements.

 

$200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year are from the state forest suspense account in the permanent school fund to accelerate land exchanges, land sales, and commercial leasing of school trust lands and to identify, evaluate, and lease construction aggregate located on school trust lands.  This appropriation is to be used for securing maximum long-term economic return from the school trust lands consistent with fiduciary responsibilities and sound natural resources conservation and management principles.

 

The appropriations in Laws 2007, chapter 57, article 1, section 4, subdivision 2, as amended by Laws 2009, chapter 37, article 1, section 60, for support of the land records management system are available until June 30, 2013.

 

Subd. 3.  Ecological and Water Resources

 

21,550,000

 

21,550,000

 

Appropriations by Fund

 

 

2012

2013

 

 

 

General

6,571,000

6,571,000

Natural Resources

10,280,000

10,280,000

Game and Fish

4,699,000

4,699,000


Journal of the House - 59th Day - Wednesday, May 18, 2011 - Top of Page 4204


 

$2,742,000 the first year and $2,742,000 the second year are from the invasive species account in the natural resources fund and $1,674,000 the first year and $1,674,000 the second year are from the general fund for management, public awareness, assessment and monitoring research, law enforcement, and water access inspection to prevent the spread of invasive species; management of invasive plants in public waters; and management of terrestrial invasive species on state-administered lands.

 

$5,000,000 the first year, and $5,000,000 the second year are from the water management account in the natural resources fund for only the purposes specified in Minnesota Statutes, section 103G.27, subdivision 2.

 

$264,000 the first year and $264,000 the second year are for grants for up to 50 percent of the cost of implementation of the Red River mediation agreement.  The commissioner shall submit a report to the chairs of the legislative committees having primary jurisdiction over environment and natural resources policy and finance on the accomplishments achieved with the grants by January 15, 2014.

 

$1,636,000 the first year and $1,636,000 the second year are from the heritage enhancement account in the game and fish fund for only the purposes specified in Minnesota Statutes, section 297A.94, paragraph (e), clause (1).

 

$1,223,000 the first year and $1,223,000 the second year are from the nongame wildlife management account in the natural resources fund for the purpose of nongame wildlife management.  Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 290.431, $100,000 the first year and $100,000 the second year may be used for nongame wildlife information, education, and promotion. 

 

$1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000 the second year from the heritage enhancement account in the game and fish fund is for law enforcement and water access inspection to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.  This is a onetime appropriation.

 

Subd. 4.  Forest Management

 

31,887,000

 

31,887,000

 

Appropriations by Fund

 

 

2012

2013

 

 

 

General

17,880,000

17,880,000

Natural Resources

13,093,000

13,093,000

Game and Fish

914,000

914,000

 

$7,145,000 the first year and $7,145,000 the second year are for prevention, presuppression, and suppression costs of emergency firefighting and other costs incurred under Minnesota Statutes,


Journal of the House - 59th Day - Wednesday, May 18, 2011 - Top of Page 4205


 

section 88.12.  The amount necessary to pay for presuppression and suppression costs during the biennium is appropriated from the general fund.

 

By January 15 of each year, the commissioner of natural resources shall submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house and senate committees and divisions having jurisdiction over environment and natural resources finance, identifying all firefighting costs incurred and reimbursements received in the prior fiscal year.  These appropriations may not be transferred.  Any reimbursement of firefighting expenditures made to the commissioner from any source other than federal mobilizations shall be deposited into the general fund.

 

$13,093,000 the first year and $13,093,000 the second year are from the forest management investment account in the natural resources fund for only the purposes specified in Minnesota Statutes, section 89.039, subdivision 2.

 

$580,000 the first year and $580,000 the second year are for the Forest Resources Council for implementation of the Sustainable Forest Resources Act.

 

$250,000 in the first year and $250,000 in the second year are for the FORIST system.

 

$650,000 the first year and $650,000 the second year are from the heritage enhancement account in the game and fish fund to maintain and expand the ecological classification system program.  This is a onetime appropriation.

 

After the commissioner approves a sustainable resources management plan, any division of the Department of Natural Resources seeking interaction with the Division of Forestry on projects to implement the plan must reimburse the Division of Forestry for time spent responding to questions, concerns, or challenges to the projects.

 

Subd. 5.  Parks and Trails Management

 

64,295,000

 

63,965,000

 

Appropriations by Fund

 

 

2012

2013

 

 

 

General

16,626,000

16,621,000

Natural Resources

45,475,000

45,150,000

Game and Fish

2,194,000

2,194,000

 

$1,075,000 the first year and $1,075,000 the second year are from the water recreation account in the natural resources fund for enhancing public water access facilities.


Journal of the House - 59th Day - Wednesday, May 18, 2011 - Top of Page 4206


 

The appropriation in Laws 2003, chapter 128, article 1, section 5, subdivision 6, from the water recreation account in the natural resources fund for a cooperative project with the United States Army Corps of Engineers to develop the Mississippi Whitewater Park is available until June 30, 2013.  The project must be designed to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.

 

$5,731,000 the first year and $5,731,000 the second year are from the natural resources fund for state trail, park, and recreation area operations.  This appropriation is from the revenue deposited in the natural resources fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 297A.94, paragraph (e), clause (2).

 

$8,424,000 the first year and $8,424,000 the second year are from the snowmobile trails and enforcement account in the natural resources fund for the snowmobile grants-in-aid program.  Any unencumbered balance does not cancel at the end of the first year and is available for the second year.

 

$1,360,000 the first year and $1,360,000 the second year are from the natural resources fund for the off-highway vehicle grants-in-aid program.  Of this amount, $1,110,000 each year is from the all-terrain vehicle account; $150,000 each year is from the off-highway motorcycle account; and $100,000 each year is from the off-road vehicle account.  Any unencumbered balance does not cancel at the end of the first year and is available for the second year.

 

$805,000 the first year and $805,000 the second year are from the natural resources fund for trail grants to local units of government on land to be maintained for at least 20 years for the purposes of the grants.  This appropriation is from the revenue deposited in the natural resources fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 297A.94, paragraph (e), clause (4).

 

$200,000 the first year from the off-highway vehicle damage account in the natural resources fund is for all-terrain vehicle grants-in-aid.

 

$100,000 the first year is from the all-terrain vehicle account in the natural resources fund for a pass-through grant to Lake County for completion of the Lake County Regional All-Terrain Vehicle Trail.  This is a onetime appropriation and is available until spent.

 

$400,000 each year is from the all-terrain vehicle account in the natural resources fund.  Of this amount, $100,000 the first year and $100,000 the second year are for the all-terrain vehicle grant-in-aid trails program.  $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year are for the creation and development of all-terrain vehicle trails.  $100,000 each year is to provide downloadable trail maps on the Internet and is a onetime appropriation.  By January 1, 2013, the commissioner shall submit a report to the chairs and ranking


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minority members of the legislative committees and divisions with jurisdiction over natural resources policy and finance.  The report must indicate where and how many miles of new all-terrain vehicle trails were created and designated with appropriations under this paragraph.

 

The commissioner shall not close any state park or state recreation area between July 1, 2011, and June 30, 2013, that is funded with money appropriated in this article.

 

Subd. 6.  Fish and Wildlife Management

 

60,761,000

 

60,161,000

 

Appropriations by Fund

 

 

2012

2013

 

 

 

General

199,000

199,000

Natural Resources

1,899,000

1,899,000

Game and Fish

58,663,000

58,063,000

 

$100,000 the first year and $100,000 the second year are from the nongame wildlife account in the natural resources fund for gray wolf research.

 

$120,000 the first year and $120,000 the second year are from the game and fish fund for gray wolf management.

 

$8,167,000 the first year and $8,167,000 the second year are from the heritage enhancement account in the game and fish fund only for activities specified in Minnesota Statutes, section 297A.94, paragraph (e), clause (1).  Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 297A.94, five percent of this appropriation may be used for expanding hunter and angler recruitment and retention.

 

Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 84.943, $13,000 the first year and $13,000 the second year from the critical habitat private sector matching account may be used to publicize the critical habitat license plate match program.

 

$199,000 the first year and $199,000 the second year are for preserving, restoring, and enhancing grassland and wetland complexes on public or private lands.

 

$600,000 the first year is from the game and fish fund for land acquisition.

 

Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, the appropriations encumbered under contract on or before June 30, 2013, for aquatic restoration grants and wildlife habitat grants are available until June 30, 2014.


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Subd. 7.  Enforcement

 

31,613,000

 

32,225,000

 

Appropriations by Fund

 

 

2012

2013

 

 

 

General

2,216,000

2,216,000

Natural Resources

8,868,000

9,577,000

Game and Fish

20,429,000

20,332,000

Remediation

100,000

100,000

 

$1,204,000 the first year and $1,307,000 the second year are from the heritage enhancement account in the game and fish fund for only the purposes specified in Minnesota Statutes, section 297A.94, paragraph (e), clause (1).

 

$240,000 the first year and $143,000 the second year are from the heritage enhancement account in the game and fish fund for a conservation officer academy.

 

$315,000 the first year and $315,000 the second year are from the snowmobile trails and enforcement account in the natural resources fund for grants to local law enforcement agencies for snowmobile enforcement activities.  Any unencumbered balance does not cancel at the end of the first year and is available for the second year.

 

$250,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year are from the all-terrain vehicle account for grants to qualifying organizations to assist in safety and environmental education and monitoring trails on public lands under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.9011.  Grants issued under this paragraph:  (1) must be issued through a formal agreement with the organization; and (2) must not be used as a substitute for traditional spending by the organization.  By December 15 each year, an organization receiving a grant under this paragraph shall report to the commissioner with details on expenditures and outcomes from the grant.  By January 15, 2013, the commissioner shall report on the expenditures and outcomes of the grants to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees and divisions having jurisdiction over natural resources policy and finance.  Of this appropriation, $25,000 each year is for administration of these grants.  Any unencumbered balance does not cancel at the end of the first year and is available for the second year.

 

$510,000 the first year and $510,000 the second year are from the natural resources fund for grants to county law enforcement agencies for off-highway vehicle enforcement and public education activities based on off-highway vehicle use in the county.  Of this amount, $498,000 each year is from the all-terrain vehicle account; $11,000 each year is from the off-highway motorcycle account; and $1,000 each year is from the off-road


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vehicle account.  The county enforcement agencies may use money received under this appropriation to make grants to other local enforcement agencies within the county that have a high concentration of off-highway vehicle use.  Of this appropriation, $25,000 each year is for administration of these grants.  Any unencumbered balance does not cancel at the end of the first year and is available for the second year.

 

$1,082,000 the first year and $1,082,000 the second year are from the water recreation account in the natural resources fund for grants to counties for boat and water safety.  Any unencumbered balance does not cancel at the end of the first year and is available for the second year.

 

Subd. 8.  Operations Support

 

2,303,000

 

2,303,000

 

Appropriations by Fund

 

 

2012

2013

 

 

 

General

881,000

881,000

Natural Resources

481,000

481,000

Game and Fish

941,000

941,000

 

$320,000 the first year and $320,000 the second year are from the natural resources fund for grants to be divided equally between the city of St. Paul for the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory and the city of Duluth for the Duluth Zoo.  This appropriation is from the revenue deposited to the fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 297A.94, paragraph (e), clause (5).

 

Sec. 5.  BOARD OF WATER AND SOIL RESOURCES

$10,304,000

 

$10,304,000

 

$2,996,000 the first year and $2,996,000 the second year are for natural resources block grants to local governments.  The board may reduce the amount of the natural resources block grant to a county by an amount equal to any reduction in the county's general services allocation to a soil and water conservation district from the county's previous year allocation when the board determines that the reduction was disproportionate.  Grants must be matched with a combination of local cash or in-kind contributions.  The base grant portion related to water planning must be matched by an amount as specified by Minnesota Statutes, section 103B.3369.

 

$2,750,000 the first year and $2,750,000 the second year are for grants requested by soil and water conservation districts for general purposes, nonpoint engineering, and implementation of the reinvest in Minnesota reserve program.  Upon approval of the board, expenditures may be made from these appropriations for supplies and services benefiting soil and water conservation districts.  Any district requesting a grant under this paragraph shall


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maintain a Web page that publishes, at a minimum, its annual plan, annual report, annual audit, annual budget, including membership dues, and meeting notices and minutes.

 

$937,000 the first year and $937,000 the second year are for grants to soil and water conservation districts for cost-sharing contracts for erosion control, water quality management, feedlot water quality projects.

 

$386,000 the first year and $386,000 the second year are for implementation and enforcement of the Wetland Conservation Act.

 

$166,000 the first year and $166,000 the second year are to provide assistance to local drainage management officials and for the costs of the Drainage Work Group.

 

$42,000 the first year and $42,000 the second year are for a grant to the Red River Basin Commission for water quality and floodplain management, including administration of programs.  If the appropriation in either year is insufficient, the appropriation in the other year is available for it.

 

$60,000 the first year and $60,000 the second year are for grants to Area II Minnesota River Basin Projects for floodplain management.

 

$42,000 each year is to the Minnesota River Board for operating expenses to measure and report the results of projects in the 12 major watersheds within the Minnesota River basin.

 

Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 103C.501, the board may shift cost-share funds in this section and may adjust the technical and administrative assistance portion of the grant funds to leverage federal or other nonstate funds or to address high-priority needs identified in local water management plans.

 

The appropriations for grants in this section are available until expended.  If an appropriation for grants in either year is insufficient, the appropriation in the other year is available for it.

 

Sec. 6.  METROPOLITAN COUNCIL

 

$8,540,000

 

$8,540,000

 

Appropriations by Fund

 

 

2012

2013

 

 

 

General

2,870,000

2,870,000

Natural Resources

5,670,000

5,670,000


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$2,870,000 the first year and $2,870,000 the second year are for metropolitan area regional parks operation and maintenance according to Minnesota Statutes, section 473.351.

 

$5,670,000 the first year and $5,670,000 the second year are from the natural resources fund for metropolitan area regional parks and trails maintenance and operations.  This appropriation is from the revenue deposited in the natural resources fund under Minnesota Statutes, section 297A.94, paragraph (e), clause (3).

 

Sec. 7.  CONSERVATION CORPS MINNESOTA

 

$746,000

 

$646,000

 

Appropriations by Fund

 

 

2012

2013

 

 

 

General

256,000

156,000

Natural Resources

490,000

490,000

 

Conservation Corps Minnesota may receive money appropriated from the natural resources fund under this section only as provided in an agreement with the commissioner of natural resources.  The general fund appropriation is onetime.

 

Sec. 8.  ZOOLOGICAL BOARD

 

$5,591,000

 

$5,591,000

 

Appropriations by Fund

 

 

2012

2013

 

 

 

General

5,431,000

5,431,000

Natural Resources

160,000

160,000

 

$160,000 the first year and $160,000 the second year are from the natural resources fund from the revenue deposited under Minnesota Statutes, section 297A.94, paragraph (e), clause (5).

 

ARTICLE 2

ENERGY, COMMERCE, AND CONSUMER PROTECTION FINANCE

 

Section 1.  SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

 

The amounts shown in this section summarize direct appropriations, by fund, made in this article.

 

 

 

2012

 

2013

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General

 

$26,646,000

 

$26,654,000

 

$53,300,000

Petroleum Tank Cleanup

 

1,052,000

 

1,052,000

 

2,104,000

Workers' Compensation

 

751,000

 

751,000

 

1,502,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$28,449,000

 

$28,457,000

 

$56,906,000


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Sec. 2.  ENERGY FINANCE APPROPRIATIONS. 

 

The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are appropriated to the agencies and for the purposes specified in this article.  The appropriations are from the general fund, or another named fund, and are available for the fiscal years indicated for each purpose.  The figures "2012" and "2013" used in this article mean that the appropriations listed under them are available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, or June 30, 2013, respectively.  "The first year" is fiscal year 2012.  "The second year" is fiscal year 2013.  "The biennium" is fiscal years 2012 and 2013.  Appropriations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011, are effective the day following final enactment.

 

 

 

 

APPROPRIATIONS

 

 

 

Available for the Year

 

 

 

Ending June 30

 

 

 

2012

2013

 

Sec. 3.  DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

 

 

 

 

 

Subdivision 1.  Total Appropriation

 

$22,267,000

 

$22,275,000

 

Appropriations by Fund

 

 

2012

2013

 

 

 

General

20,464,000

20,472,000

Petroleum Cleanup

1,052,000

1,052,000

Workers' Compensation

751,000

751,000

 

The amounts that may be spent for each purpose are specified in the following subdivisions.

 

Subd. 2.  Financial Institutions

 

7,124,000

 

7,128,000

 

$138,000 the first year and $142,000 the second year are for the regulation of mortgage originators and servicers under Minnesota Statutes, chapters 58 and 58A.

 

$350,000 each year is for additional financial examination services.  The commissioner may issue contracts for these services.

 

Subd. 3.  Petroleum Tank Release Cleanup Board

 

1,052,000

 

1,052,000

 

This appropriation is from the petroleum tank release cleanup fund.

 

Subd. 4.  Administrative Services

 

3,176,000

 

3,176,000

 

The commissioner may redirect up to $1,071,000 in fiscal year 2012 and $1,071,000 in fiscal year 2013 of the general fund reduction in this subdivision to other subdivisions of this section.  The commissioner shall report by February 1, 2012, to the chairs of the legislative committees having primary jurisdiction over the Department of Commerce's operating budget regarding any redirection authorized in this subdivision.


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$375,000 each year is for additional compliance efforts with unclaimed property.  The commissioner may issue contracts for these services.  This additional amount shall be added to the base budget for fiscal years 2014 and 2015 only.  The enhanced unclaimed property compliance program shall sunset June 30, 2015.

 

Subd. 5.  Telecommunications

 

1,010,000

 

1,010,000

 

Subd. 6.  Market Assurance

 

6,915,000

 

6,919,000

 

Appropriations by Fund

 

 

2012

2013

 

 

 

General

6,164,000

6,168,000

Workers' Compensation

751,000

751,000

 

Subd. 7.  Office of Energy Security

 

2,990,000

 

2,990,000

 

Sec. 4.  TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACCESS MINNESOTA

$700,000

 

$700,000

 

(a) The appropriations in this section are from the telecommunications access Minnesota fund.

 

(b) $300,000 the first year and $300,000 the second year are for transfer to the commissioner of human services to supplement the ongoing operational expenses of the Commission of Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard-of-Hearing Minnesotans.  This appropriation is from the telecommunication access Minnesota fund, and is added to the commission's base.

 

(c) In addition to the appropriation authorized in Minnesota Statutes, section 237.52, $400,000 the first year and $400,000 the second year are onetime appropriations for the following purposes: 

 

(1) $230,000 each year is to the Office of Enterprise Technology for coordinating technology accessibility and usability;

 

(2) $20,000 each year is to the Commission of Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard-of-Hearing Minnesotans to provide information on their Web site in American Sign Language and to provide technical assistance to state agencies; and

 

(3) $150,000 each year is to the Legislative Coordinating Commission to provide captioning of live streaming of legislative activity on the commission's Web site and for a consolidated access fund for other state agencies.

 

Sec. 5.  PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

 

$6,182,000

 

$6,182,000


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Sec. 6.  TRANSFERS

 

 

 

 

 

(a) By June 30, 2013, the commissioner of management and budget shall transfer $6,950,000 from the special revenue fund to the general fund.  The transfers must be from the following appropriation reductions and accounts with the special revenue fund: 

 

(1) $1,100,000 is from the telecommunications access Minnesota fund established in Minnesota Statutes, section 237.52;

 

(2) $650,000 is from the Department of Commerce license technology surcharge account established in Minnesota Statutes, section 45.24;

 

(3) $1,300,000 is from the energy and conservation account established in Minnesota Statutes, section 216B.241;

 

(4) $950,000 is from the insurance fraud prevention account established in Minnesota Statutes, section 45.0135;

 

(5) $1,500,000 is from the automobile theft prevention account established in Minnesota Statutes, section 168A.40;

 

(6) $450,000 is from the real estate education, research and recovery fund established in Minnesota Statutes, section 82.86.  Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 82.86, subdivision 4, the commissioner shall not, in addition to the fee set forth in Minnesota Statutes, section 82.86, subdivision 3, assess an additional fee to restore a balance in the fund; and

 

(7) the commissioner of management and budget shall transfer $500,000 the first year and $500,000 the second year to the general fund from the telephone assistance program established in Minnesota Statutes, section 237.69.

 

Sec. 7.  TRANSFER; ASSIGNED RISK PLAN

 

 

 

 

 

(a) By June 30, 2012, the commissioner of management and budget shall transfer $14,000,000 in assets of the workers' compensation assigned risk plan created under Minnesota Statutes, section 79.252, to the general fund.

 

(b) By June 30, 2013, the commissioner of management and budget shall transfer $10,500,000 in assets of the workers' compensation assigned risk plan created under Minnesota Statutes, section 79.252, to the general fund.

 

Sec. 8.  TRANSFERS IN

 

 

 

 

 

(a) The remaining balance in the second year of the appropriation in Laws 2007, chapter 57, article 2, section 3, subdivision 6, for biogas recovery facilities, estimated to be $420,000, is canceled to the general fund.


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(b) The remaining balance of the appropriation in Laws 2007, chapter 57, article 2, section 3, subdivision 6, clause (7), as amended by Laws 2008, chapter 340, section 5, for the Greenhouse Gas Advisory Group, estimated to be $7,000, is canceled to the general fund.

 

(c) In the first year, the remaining balance of the appropriation in Laws 2007, chapter 57, article 2, section 3, subdivision 6, clause (5), for the hydrogen roadmap project, estimated to be $280,000, is canceled to the general fund.

 

(d) The remaining balance of the appropriation in Laws 2008, chapter 363, article 6, section 3, subdivision 4, for renewable grants, estimated to be $368,000, is canceled to the general fund.

 

(e) The remaining balance of the appropriation in Laws 2008, chapter 363, article 6, section 3, subdivision 4, for the green economy projects, estimated to be $59,000, is canceled to the general fund.

 

(f) The remaining balance of the appropriation in Laws 2007, chapter 57, article 2, section 3, subdivision 6, clause (4), for automotive technology projects, estimated to be $22,000, is canceled to the general fund.

 

(g) The remaining balance of the appropriation in Laws 2009, chapter 37, article 2, section 13, paragraph (b), clauses (1) and (2), for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, estimated to be $600,000, is canceled to the general fund.

 

Sec. 9.  COMMUNITY ENERGY ACTIVITIES; ASSESSMENT AND GRANT.

 

The commissioner of commerce shall grant $500,000 in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, from assessments made under Minnesota Statutes, section 216B.241, subdivision 1e, for the purpose of community energy technical assistance and outreach on renewable energy and energy efficiency as described in Minnesota Statutes, section 216C.385.

 

ARTICLE 3

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCE TRUST FUND APPROPRIATIONS

 

Section 1.  MINNESOTA RESOURCES APPROPRIATIONS. 

 

The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are appropriated to the agencies and for the purposes specified in this article.  The appropriations are from the environment and natural resources trust fund, or another named fund, and are available for the fiscal years indicated for each purpose.  The figures "2012" and "2013" used in this article mean that the appropriations listed under them are available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, or June 30, 2013, respectively.  "The first year" is fiscal year 2012.  "The second year" is fiscal year 2013.  "The biennium" is fiscal years 2012 and 2013.  The appropriations in this article are onetime.


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APPROPRIATIONS

 

 

 

Available for the Year

 

 

 

Ending June 30

 

 

 

2012

2013

 

Sec. 2.  MINNESOTA RESOURCES

 

 

 

 

 

Subdivision 1.  Total Appropriation

 

$26,078,000

 

$25,078,000

 

Appropriations by Fund

 

 

2012

2013

 

 

 

Environment and natural resources trust fund

 

25,328,000

 

25,078,000

State land and water conservation account (LAWCON)

 

 

750,000

 

 

-0-

 

Appropriations are available for two years beginning July 1, 2011, unless otherwise stated in the appropriation.  Any unencumbered balance remaining in the first year does not cancel and is available for the second year.

 

Subd. 2.  Definitions

 

 

 

 

 

(a) "Trust fund" means the Minnesota environment and natural resources trust fund referred to in Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.02, subdivision 6.

 

(b) "State land and water conservation account (LAWCON)" means the state land and water conservation account in the natural resources fund referred to in Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.14.

 

Subd. 3.  Natural Resource Data and Information

 

3,887,000

 

5,388,000

 

(a) Minnesota County Biological Survey

 

$1,125,000 the first year and $1,125,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for continuation of the Minnesota county biological survey to provide a foundation for conserving biological diversity by systematically collecting, interpreting, and delivering data on plant and animal distribution and ecology, native plant communities, and functional landscapes.

 

(b) County Geologic Atlases for Sustainable Water Management

 

$900,000 the first year and $900,000 the second year are from the trust fund to accelerate the production of county geologic atlases to provide information essential to sustainable management of ground


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water resources by defining aquifer boundaries and the connection of aquifers to the land surface and surface water resources.  Of this appropriation, $600,000 each year is to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota for the Geologic Survey and $300,000 each year is to the commissioner of natural resources.  This appropriation is available until June 30, 2015, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

 

(c) Completion of Statewide Digital Soil Survey

 

$250,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the Board of Water and Soil Resources to accelerate the completion of county soil survey mapping and Web-based data delivery.  The soil surveys must be done on a cost-share basis with local and federal funds.

 

(d) Updating National Wetlands Inventory for Minnesota - Phase III

 

$1,500,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to continue the update of wetland inventory maps for Minnesota.  This appropriation is available until June 30, 2015, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

 

(e) Golden Eagle Survey

 

$30,000 the first year and $30,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the National Eagle Center to increase the understanding of golden eagles in Minnesota through surveys and education.  This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

 

(f) Determining Causes of Mortality in Moose Populations

 

$300,000 the first year and $300,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to determine specific causes of moose mortality and population decline in Minnesota and to develop specific management actions to prevent further population decline.  This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

 

(g) Prairie Management for Wildlife and Bioenergy - Phase II

 

$300,000 the first year and $300,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to research and evaluate methods of managing diverse working prairies for wildlife and renewable bioenergy production.  This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.


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(h) Evaluation of Biomass Harvesting Impacts on Minnesota's Forests

 

$175,000 the first year and $175,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to assess the impacts biomass harvests for energy have on soil nutrients, native forest vegetation, invasive species spread, and long-term tree productivity within Minnesota's forests.  This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

 

(i) Change and Resilience in Boreal Forests in Northern Minnesota

 

$75,000 the first year and $75,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to assess the potential response of northern Minnesota's boreal forests to observed and predicted changes in climate conditions and develop related management guidelines and adaptation strategies.  This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

 

(j) Information System for Wildlife and Aquatic Management Areas

 

$250,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to develop an information system to facilitate improved management of wildlife and fish habitat and facilities.  This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

 

(k) Strengthening Natural Resource Management with LiDAR Training

 

$90,000 the first year and $90,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to provide workshops and Web-based training and information on the use of LiDAR elevation data in planning for and managing natural resources.

 

(l) Measuring Conservation Practice Outcomes

 

$170,000 the first year and $170,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the Board of Water and Soil Resources to improve measurement of impacts of conservation practices through refinement of existing and development of new pollution estimators and by providing local government training.


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(m) Conservation-Based Approach for Assessing Public Drainage Benefits

 

$75,000 the first year and $75,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the Board of Water and Soil Resources to develop an alternative framework to assess drainage benefits on public systems to enhance water conservation.  This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

 

(n) Mississippi River Central Minnesota Conservation Planning

 

$87,000 the first year and $88,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District to develop and adopt river protection strategies in cooperation with local jurisdictions in the communities of the 26 miles of the Mississippi River between Benton and Stearns Counties.  This appropriation must be matched by $175,000 of nonstate cash or qualifying in-kind funds.

 

(o) Saint Croix Basin Conservation Planning and Protection

 

$60,000 the first year and $60,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the St. Croix River Association to develop an interagency plan to identify and prioritize critical areas for project implementation to improve watershed health.  This appropriation must be matched by $120,000 of nonstate cash or qualifying in-kind funds.  Up to $10,000 may be retained by the Department of Natural Resources at the request of the St. Croix River Association to provide technical and mapping assistance.  This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

 

Subd. 4.  Land, Habitat, and Recreation

 

14,252,000

 

13,505,000

 

Summary by Fund

 

Environment and natural resources trust fund

 

13,502,000

 

13,505,000

State land and water conservation account (LAWCON)

 

 

750,000

 

 

-0-

 

(a) State Park and Recreation Area Operations

 

$1,500,000 the first year and $1,500,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for state park and recreation area operations. 


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(b) State Parks and Trails Land Acquisition

 

$1,500,000 the first year and $1,500,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire state trails and critical parcels within the statutory boundaries of state parks.  State park land acquired with this appropriation must be sufficiently improved to meet at least minimum management standards, as determined by the commissioner of natural resources.  A list of proposed acquisitions must be provided as part of the required work program.  This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

 

(c) Metropolitan Regional Park System Acquisition

 

$1,125,000 the first year and $1,125,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the Metropolitan Council for grants for the acquisition of lands within the approved park unit boundaries of the metropolitan regional park system.  This appropriation may not be used for the purchase of residential structures.  A list of proposed fee title and easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required work program.  This appropriation must be matched by at least 40 percent of nonstate money and must be committed by December 31, 2011, or the appropriation cancels.  This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, at which time the project must be completed and final products delivered, unless an earlier date is specified in the work program.

 

(d) Regional Park, Trail, and Connection Acquisition and Development Grants

 

$1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to provide matching grants to local units of government for acquisition and development of regional parks, regional trails, and trail connections.  The local match required for a grant to acquire a regional park or regional outdoor recreation area is two dollars of nonstate money for each three dollars of state money.  This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

 

(e) Scientific and Natural Area Acquisition and Restoration

 

$820,000 the first year and $820,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire lands with high-quality native plant communities and rare features to be established as scientific and natural areas as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 5, restore parts of scientific and natural areas, and provide technical assistance and outreach.  A list of proposed acquisitions must be provided as part of the required work program.  Land acquired with this appropriation


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must be sufficiently improved to meet at least minimum management standards, as determined by the commissioner of natural resources.  This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

 

(f) LaSalle Lake State Recreation Area Acquisition

 

$1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with The Trust for Public Land to acquire approximately 190 acres to be designated as a state recreation area as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 3, on LaSalle Lake adjacent to the upper Mississippi River.  If this acquisition is not completed by July 15, 2012, then the appropriation is available to the Department of Natural Resources for other state park and recreation area acquisitions on the priority list.  Up to $10,000 may be retained by the Department of Natural Resources at the request of The Trust for Public Land for transaction costs, associated professional services, and restoration needs.

 

(g) Minnesota River Valley Green Corridor Scientific and Natural Area Acquisition

 

$1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Redwood Area Communities Foundation to acquire lands with high-quality native plant communities and rare features to be established as scientific and natural areas as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 5.  A list of proposed acquisitions must be provided as part of the required work program.  Land acquired with this appropriation must be sufficiently improved to meet at least minimum management standards, as determined by the commissioner of natural resources.  Up to $54,000 may be retained by the Department of Natural Resources at the request of the Redwood Area Communities Foundation for transaction costs, associated professional services, and restoration needs.  This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

 

(h) Native Prairie Stewardship and Native Prairie Bank Acquisition

 

$500,000 the first year and $500,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire native prairie bank easements, prepare baseline property assessments, restore and enhance native prairie sites, and provide technical assistance to landowners.  This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.


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(i) Metropolitan Conservation Corridors (MeCC) - Phase VI

 

$1,737,000 the first year and $1,738,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for the acceleration of agency programs and cooperative agreements.  Of this appropriation, $150,000 the first year and $150,000 the second year are to the commissioner of natural resources for agency programs and $3,175,000 is for the agreements as follows:  $100,000 the first year and $100,000 the second year with Friends of the Mississippi River; $517,000 the first year and $518,000 the second year with Dakota County; $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year with Great River Greening; $220,000 the first year and $220,000 the second year with Minnesota Land Trust; $300,000 the first year and $300,000 the second year with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; and $250,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year with The Trust for Public Land for planning, restoring, and protecting priority natural areas in the metropolitan area, as defined under Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, subdivision 2, and portions of the surrounding counties, through contracted services, technical assistance, conservation easements, and fee title acquisition.  Land acquired with this appropriation must be sufficiently improved to meet at least minimum management standards, as determined by the commissioner of natural resources.  Expenditures are limited to the identified project corridor areas as defined in the work program.  This appropriation may not be used for the purchase of habitable residential structures, unless expressly approved in the work program.  All conservation easements must be perpetual and have a natural resource management plan.  Any land acquired in fee title by the commissioner of natural resources with money from this appropriation must be designated as an outdoor recreation unit under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.07.  The commissioner may similarly designate any lands acquired in less than fee title.  A list of proposed restorations and fee title and easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required work program.  An entity that acquires a conservation easement with appropriations from the trust fund must have a long-term stewardship plan for the easement and a fund established for monitoring and enforcing the agreement.  Money appropriated from the trust fund for easement acquisition may be used to establish a monitoring, management, and enforcement fund as approved in the work program.  An annual financial report is required for any monitoring, management, and enforcement fund established, including expenditures from the fund.  This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

 

(j) Habitat Conservation Partnership (HCP) - Phase VII

 

$1,737,000 the first year and $1,738,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for the acceleration of agency programs and cooperative agreements.  Of


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this appropriation, $125,000 the first year and $125,000 the second year are to the commissioner of natural resources for agency programs and $3,225,000 is for agreements as follows:  $637,000 the first year and $638,000 the second year with Ducks Unlimited, Inc.; $38,000 the first year and $37,000 the second year with Friends of Detroit Lakes Wetland Management District; $25,000 the first year and $25,000 the second year with Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe; $225,000 the first year and $225,000 the second year with Minnesota Land Trust; $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Inc.; $242,000 the first year and $243,000 the second year with Pheasants Forever, Inc.; and $245,000 the first year and $245,000 the second year with The Trust for Public Land to plan, restore, and acquire fragmented landscape corridors that connect areas of quality habitat to sustain fish, wildlife, and plants.  The United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, is an authorized cooperating partner in the appropriation.  Expenditures are limited to the project corridor areas as defined in the work program.  Land acquired with this appropriation must be sufficiently improved to meet at least minimum habitat and facility management standards, as determined by the commissioner of natural resources.  This appropriation may not be used for the purchase of habitable residential structures, unless expressly approved in the work program.  All conservation easements must be perpetual and have a natural resource management plan.  Any land acquired in fee title by the commissioner of natural resources with money from this appropriation must be designated as an outdoor recreation unit under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.07.  The commissioner may similarly designate any lands acquired in less than fee title.  A list of proposed restorations and fee title and easement acquisitions must be provided as part of the required work program.  An entity who acquires a conservation easement with appropriations from the trust fund must have a long-term stewardship plan for the easement and a fund established for monitoring and enforcing the agreement.  Money appropriated from the trust fund for easement acquisition may be used to establish a monitoring, management, and enforcement fund as approved in the work program.  An annual financial report is required for any monitoring, management, and enforcement fund established, including expenditures from the fund.  This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

 

(k) Natural and Scenic Area Acquisition Grants

 

$500,000 the first year and $500,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to provide matching grants to local governments for acquisition of natural and scenic areas, as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 85.019, subdivision 4a.  This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.


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(l) Acceleration of Minnesota Conservation Assistance

 

$313,000 the first year and $312,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the Board of Water and Soil Resources to provide grants to soil and water conservation districts to provide technical assistance to secure enrollment and retention of private lands in federal and state programs for conservation.

 

(m) Conservation Easement Stewardship and Enforcement Program - Phase II

 

$250,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to accelerate the implementation of the Phase I Conservation Easement Stewardship Plan being developed with an appropriation from Laws 2008, chapter 367, section 2, subdivision 5, paragraph (h).

 

(n) Recovery of At-Risk Native Prairie Species

 

$73,000 the first year and $74,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the Board of Water and Soil Resources for an agreement with the Martin County Soil and Water Conservation District to collect, propagate, and plant declining, at-risk native species on protected habitat and to enhance private market sources for local ecotype native seed.  This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

 

(o) Understanding Threats, Genetic Diversity, and Conservation Options for Wild Rice

 

$97,000 the first year and $98,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to research the genetic diversity of wild rice population throughout Minnesota for use in related conservation and restoration efforts.  This appropriation is contingent upon demonstration of review and cooperation with the Native American tribal nations in Minnesota.  Equipment purchased with this appropriation must be available for future publicly funded projects at no charge except for typical operating expenses.  This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

 

(p) Southeast Minnesota Stream Restoration

 

$125,000 the first year and $125,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Trout Unlimited to restore at least four miles of riparian corridor for trout and nongame species in southeast Minnesota and increase local capacities to implement stream restoration through training and technical assistance.  This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.


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(q) Restoration Strategies for Ditched Peatland Scientific and Natural Areas

 

$100,000 the first year and $100,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to evaluate the hydrology and habitat of the Winter Road Lake peatland watershed protection area to determine the effects of ditch abandonment and examine the potential for restoration of patterned peatlands.  This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

 

(r) Northeast Minnesota White Cedar Plant Community Restoration

 

$125,000 for the first year and $125,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the Board of Water and Soil Resources to assess the decline of northern white cedar plant communities in northeast Minnesota, prioritize cedar sites for restoration, and provide cedar restoration training to local units of government.

 

(s) Land and Water Conservation Account (LAWCON) Federal Reimbursement

 

$750,000 is from the state land and water conservation account (LAWCON) in the natural resources fund to the commissioner of natural resources for priorities established by the commissioner for eligible state projects and administrative and planning activities consistent with Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.14, and the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Act.  This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

 

Subd. 5.  Water Resources

 

778,000

 

779,000

 

(a) Itasca County Sensitive Lakeshore Identification

 

$80,000 the first year and $80,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Itasca County Soil and Water Conservation District to identify sensitive lakeshore and restorable shoreline in Itasca County.  Up to $130,000 may be retained by the Department of Natural Resources at the request of Itasca County to provide technical assistance.

 

(b) Trout Stream Springshed Mapping in Southeast Minnesota - Phase III

 

$250,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year are from the trust fund to continue to identify and delineate water supply areas and springsheds for springs serving as cold water sources for trout streams and to assess the impacts from development and water


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appropriations.  Of this appropriation, $140,000 each year is to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota and $110,000 each year is to the commissioner of natural resources.

 

(c) Mississippi River Water Quality Assessment

 

$278,000 the first year and $279,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to assess water quality in the Mississippi River using DNA sequencing approaches and chemical analyses.  The assessments shall be incorporated into a Web-based educational tool for use in classrooms and public exhibits.  This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

 

(d) Zumbro River Watershed Restoration Prioritization

 

$75,000 the first year and $75,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Zumbro Watershed Partnership, Inc. to identify sources of erosion and runoff in the Zumbro River Watershed in order to prioritize restoration and protection projects.

 

(e) Assessment of Minnesota River Antibiotic Concentrations

 

$95,000 the first year and $95,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Saint Thomas University in cooperation with Gustavus Adolphus College and the University of Minnesota to measure antibiotic concentrations and antibiotic resistance levels at sites on the Minnesota River.

 

Subd. 6.  Aquatic and Terrestrial Invasive Species

 

435,000

 

435,000

 

(a) Improved Detection of Harmful Microbes in Ballast Water

 

$125,000 the first year and $125,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota for the University of Minnesota Duluth to identify and analyze potentially harmful bacteria transported into Lake Superior through ship ballast water discharge.  This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

 

(b) Emerald Ash Borer Biocontrol Research and Implementation

 

$250,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of agriculture to assess a biocontrol method for suppressing emerald ash borers by testing bioagent winter survival potential, developing release and monitoring methods, and piloting implementation of emerald ash borer biocontrol.  This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.


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(c) Evaluation of Switchgrass as Biofuel Crop

 

$60,000 the first year and $60,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System for Central Lakes College in cooperation with the University of Minnesota to determine the invasion risk of selectively bred native grasses for biofuel production and develop strategies to minimize the invasion potential and impacts on biodiversity.  This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.

 

Subd. 7.  Renewable Energy and Air Quality

 

75,000

 

75,000

 

Supporting Community-Driven Sustainable Bioenergy Projects

 

$75,000 the first year and $75,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Dovetail Partners, Inc., in cooperation with the University of Minnesota to assess feasibility, impacts, and management needs of community-scale forest bioenergy systems through pilot studies in Ely and Cook County and to disseminate findings to inform related efforts in other communities.

 

Subd. 8.  Environmental Education

 

123,000

 

123,000

 

Youth-Led Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation in West Central and Southwest Minnesota

 

$123,000 the first year and $123,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center to initiate youth-led renewable energy and conservation projects in over thirty communities in west central and southwest Minnesota.

 

Subd. 9.  Emerging Issues

 

5,964,000

 

4,213,000

 

(a) Minnesota Conservation Apprentice Academy

 

$100,000 the first year and $100,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the Board of Water and Soil Resources in cooperation with Conservation Corps Minnesota to train and mentor future conservation professionals by providing apprenticeship service opportunities to soil and water conservation districts.  This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014, by which time the project must be completed and the final products delivered.

 

(b) Wild Rice Standards

 

$1,000,000 the first year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency for a wild rice standards study.  This appropriation is available until June 30, 2015.


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(c) Chronic Wasting Disease and Animal Health

 

$600,000 the first year and $600,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to address chronic wasting disease and accelerate wildlife health programs.

 

(d) Aquatic Invasive Species

 

$2,177,000 the first year and $3,513,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to accelerate aquatic invasive species programs, including the development and implementation of best management practices for public water access facilities to implement aquatic invasive species prevention strategies.  $50,000 is for a grant to develop and produce a documentary identifying the challenges presented by aquatic invasive species.  The documentary shall be available to the Department of Natural Resources to distribute to watercraft license purchasers and the general public through online and other media.

 

(e) Coon Rapids Dam

 

$442,000 the first year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for a grant to Three Rivers Park District for predesign and design of the Coon Rapids Dam for improvements and to function as a barrier to invasive fish.

 

(f) Reinvest in Minnesota Wetlands Reserve Acquisition and Restoration Program Partnership

 

$1,645,000 the first year is to the Board of Water and Soil Resources to acquire permanent conservation easements and restore wetlands and associated upland habitat in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture Wetlands Reserve Program.  A list of proposed land acquisitions must be provided as part of the required work program.

 

Subd. 10.  Administration and Contract Management

 

564,000

 

560,000

 

(a) Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR)

 

$473,000 the first year and $473,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the LCCMR for administration as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 116P.09, subdivision 5. 

 

(b) Contract Management

 

$88,000 the first year and $87,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources for expenses incurred for contract fiscal services for the agreements specified in this section.  The commissioner shall provide documentation to the


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Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources on the expenditure of these funds.  This appropriation is available until June 30, 2014.

 

(c) LCC Web Site

 

$3,000 in the first year is appropriated to the Legislative Coordinating Commission for the Web site required in Minnesota Statutes, section 3.303, subdivision 10.

 

Subd. 11.  Availability of Appropriations

 

 

 

 

 

Money appropriated in this section may not be spent on activities unless they are directly related to the specific appropriation and are specified in the approved work program.  Money appropriated in this section must not be spent on indirect costs or other institutional overhead charges.  Unless otherwise provided, the amounts in this section are available until June 30, 2013, when projects must be completed and final products delivered.  For acquisition of real property, the amounts in this section are available until June 30, 2014, if a binding contract is entered into by June 30, 2013, and closed not later than June 30, 2014.  If a project receives a federal grant, the time period of the appropriation is extended to equal the federal grant period. 

 

Subd. 12.  Data Availability Requirements

 

 

 

 

 

Data collected by the projects funded under this section must conform to guidelines and standards adopted by the Office of Enterprise Technology.  Spatial data also must conform to additional guidelines and standards designed to support data coordination and distribution that have been published by the Minnesota Geospatial Information Office.  Descriptions of spatial data must be prepared as specified in the state's geographic metadata guideline and must be submitted to the Minnesota Geospatial Information Office.  All data must be accessible and free to the public unless made private under the Data Practices Act, Minnesota Statutes, chapter 13. 

 

To the extent practicable, summary data and results of projects funded under this section should be readily accessible on the Internet and identified as an environment and natural resources trust fund project. 

 

Subd. 13.  Project Requirements

 

 

 

 

 

(a) As a condition of accepting an appropriation under this section, any agency or entity receiving an appropriation or a party to an agreement from an appropriation must comply with paragraphs (b) to (k) and Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116P, and must submit a work program and semiannual progress reports in the form


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determined by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources for any project funded in whole or in part with funds from the appropriation. 

 

(b) For all restorations conducted with money appropriated under this section, a recipient must prepare an ecological restoration and management plan that, to the degree practicable, is consistent with the highest quality conservation and ecological goals for the restoration site.  Consideration should be given to soil, geology, topography, and other relevant factors that would provide the best chance for long-term success of the restoration projects.  The plan must include the proposed timetable for implementing the restoration, including site preparation, establishment of diverse plant species, maintenance, and additional enhancement to establish the restoration; identify long-term maintenance and management needs of the restoration and how the maintenance, management, and enhancement will be financed; and take advantage of the best available science and include innovative techniques to achieve the best restoration. 

 

(c) Any entity receiving an appropriation in this section for restoration activities must provide an initial restoration evaluation at the completion of the appropriation and an evaluation three years beyond the completion of the expenditure.  Restorations must be evaluated relative to the stated goals and standards in the restoration plan, current science, and, when applicable, the Board of Water and Soil Resources' native vegetation establishment and enhancement guidelines.  The evaluation shall determine whether the restorations are meeting planned goals, identify any problems with the implementation of the restorations, and, if necessary, give recommendations on improving restorations.  The evaluation shall be focused on improving future restorations. 

 

(d) Except as otherwise provided in this section, all restoration and enhancement projects funded with money appropriated in this section must be on land permanently protected by a conservation easement or public ownership or in public waters as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 103G.005, subdivision 15. 

 

(e) A recipient of money from an appropriation under this section must give consideration to contracting with Conservation Corps Minnesota or its successor for contract restoration and enhancement services. 

 

(f) All conservation easements acquired with money appropriated under this section must: 

 

(1) be perpetual;

 

(2) specify the parties to an easement in the easement;


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(3) specify all of the provisions of an agreement that are perpetual;

 

(4) be sent to the Office of the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources in an electronic format;

 

(5) include a long-term monitoring and enforcement plan and funding for monitoring and enforcing the easement agreement; and

 

(6) include requirements in the easement document to address specific water quality protection activities such as keeping water on the landscape, reducing nutrient and contaminant loading, protecting groundwater, and not permitting artificial hydrological modifications. 

 

(g) For any acquisition of land or interest in land, a recipient of money appropriated under this section must give priority to high quality natural resources or conservation lands that provide natural buffers to water resources. 

 

(h) For new lands acquired with money appropriated under this section, a recipient must prepare a restoration and management plan in compliance with paragraph (b), including sufficient funding for implementation unless the work program addresses why a portion of the money is not necessary to achieve a high quality restoration. 

 

(i) To the extent an appropriation is used to acquire an interest in real property, a recipient of an appropriation under this section must provide to the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources and the commissioner of management and budget an analysis of increased operations and maintenance costs likely to be incurred by public entities as a result of the acquisition and how these costs are to be paid. 

 

(j) To ensure public accountability for the use of public funds, a recipient of money appropriated under this section must provide to the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources documentation of the selection process used to identify parcels acquired and provide documentation of all related transaction costs, including but not limited to appraisals, legal fees, recording fees, commissions, other similar costs, and donations.  This information must be provided for all parties involved in the transaction.  The recipient must also report to the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources any difference between the acquisition amount paid to the seller and the state-certified or state-reviewed appraisal, if a state-certified or state-reviewed appraisal was conducted.  Acquisition data such as appraisals may remain private during negotiations but must ultimately be made public according to Minnesota Statutes, chapter 13.  The Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources shall review the requirement in this paragraph and provide a recommendation on whether to continue or modify the requirement in future years.  The commission may waive the application of this paragraph for specific projects. 


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(k) A recipient of an appropriation from the trust fund under this section must acknowledge financial support from the Minnesota environment and natural resources trust fund in project publications, signage, and other public communications and outreach related to work completed using the appropriation.  Acknowledgment may occur, as appropriate, through use of the trust fund logo or inclusion of language attributing support from the trust fund. 

 

Subd. 14.  Payment Conditions and Capital Equipment Expenditures

 

 

 

 

All agreements, grants, or contracts referred to in this section must be administered on a reimbursement basis unless otherwise provided in this section.  Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.41, expenditures made on or after July 1, 2011, or the date the work program is approved, whichever is later, are eligible for reimbursement unless otherwise provided in this section.  Periodic payment must be made upon receiving documentation that the deliverable items articulated in the approved work program have been achieved, including partial achievements as evidenced by approved progress reports.  Reasonable amounts may be advanced to projects to accommodate cash flow needs or match federal money.  The advances must be approved as part of the work program.  No expenditures for capital equipment are allowed unless expressly authorized in the project work program. 

 

Subd. 15.  Purchase of Recycled and Recyclable Materials

 

 

 

 

A political subdivision, public or private corporation, or other entity that receives an appropriation under this section must use the appropriation in compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.121, regarding purchase of recycled, repairable, and durable materials; and Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.122, regarding purchase and use of paper stock and printing. 

 

Subd. 16.  Energy Conservation and Sustainable Building Guidelines

 

 

 

 

A recipient to whom an appropriation is made under this section for a capital improvement project must ensure that the project complies with the applicable energy conservation and sustainable building guidelines and standards contained in law, including Minnesota Statutes, sections 16B.325, 216C.19, and 216C.20, and rules adopted under those sections.  The recipient may use the energy planning, advocacy, and State Energy Office units of the Department of Commerce to obtain information and technical assistance on energy conservation and alternative energy development relating to the planning and construction of the capital improvement project. 


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Subd. 17.  Accessibility

 

 

 

 

 

Structural and nonstructural facilities must meet the design standards in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility guidelines. 

 

Subd. 18.  Carryforward

 

 

 

 

 

(a) The availability of the appropriation for the following projects is extended to June 30, 2012: 

 

(1) Laws 2008, chapter 367, section 2, subdivision 4, paragraph (f), Native Shoreland Buffer Incentives Program;

 

(2) Laws 2008, chapter 367, section 2, subdivision 4, paragraph (g), Southeast Minnesota Stream Restoration Projects;

 

(3) Laws 2009, chapter 143, section 2, subdivision 4, paragraph (a), State Park Acquisition;

 

(4) Laws 2009, chapter 143, section 2, subdivision 4, paragraph (b), State Trail Acquisition;

 

(5) Laws 2009, chapter 143, section 2, subdivision 6, paragraph (c), Improving Emerging Fish Disease Surveillance in Minnesota;

 

(6) Laws 2009, chapter 143, section 2, subdivision 8, paragraph (a), Contract Management; and

 

(7) Laws 2009, chapter 143, section 2, subdivision 8, paragraph (b), Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) for purposes provided under Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.281.

 

(b) The availability of the appropriation for the following project is extended to June 30, 2013: 

 

(1) Laws 2010, chapter 362, section 2, subdivision 8, paragraph (f), Expanding Outdoor Classrooms at Minnesota Schools; and

 

(2) Laws 2010, chapter 362, section 2, subdivision 8, paragraph (g), Integrating Environmental and Outdoor Education in Grades 7-12.

 

Subd. 19.  Easement Monitoring and Enforcement Requirements

 

 

 

 

Money appropriated under this section and adjustments made under subdivision 20 for easement monitoring and enforcement may be spent only on activities included in an easement monitoring and enforcement plan contained within the work program.  Money received for monitoring and enforcement, including earnings on the money received, shall be kept in a monitoring and enforcement


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fund held by the organization and dedicated to monitoring and enforcing conservation easements within Minnesota.  Within 120 days after the close of the entity's fiscal year, an entity receiving appropriations for easement monitoring and enforcement must provide an annual financial report to the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources on the easement monitoring and enforcement fund as specified in the work program.  Money appropriated under this section for monitoring and enforcement of easements and earnings on the money appropriated shall revert to the state if:  (1) the easement transfers to the state; (2) the holder of the easement fails to file an annual report and then fails to cure that default within 30 days of notification of the default by the state; or (3) the holder of the easement fails to comply with the terms of the monitoring and enforcement plan contained within the work program and fails to cure that default within 90 days of notification of the default by the state.

 

Subd. 20.  Appropriations Adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

(a) Metropolitan Conservation Corridors

 

(1) Of the amount appropriated in Laws 2003, chapter 128, article 1, section 9, subdivision 5, paragraph (b), up to $48,000 is for deposit in a monitoring and enforcement account as authorized in subdivision 19.

 

(2) Of the amount appropriated in Laws 2005, First Special Session, chapter 1, article 2, section 11, subdivision 5, paragraph (b), up to $49,000 is for deposit in a monitoring and enforcement account as authorized in subdivision 19.

 

(3) Of the amount appropriated in Laws 2007, chapter 30, section 2, subdivision 4, paragraph (c), up to $59,000 is for deposit in a monitoring and enforcement account as authorized in subdivision 19.

 

(4) Of the amount appropriated in Laws 2008, chapter 367, section 2, subdivision 3, paragraph (a), up to $42,000 is for deposit in a monitoring and enforcement account as authorized in subdivision 19.

 

(5) Of the amount appropriated in Laws 2009, chapter 143, section 2, subdivision 4, paragraph (f), up to $80,000 is for deposit in a monitoring and enforcement account as authorized in subdivision 19.

 

(6) Of the amount appropriated in Laws 2010, chapter 362, section 2, subdivision 4, paragraph (g), up to $10,000 is for deposit in a monitoring and enforcement account as authorized in subdivision 19.

 

(b) Habitat Conservation Partnership

 

(1) Of the amount appropriated in Laws 2001, First Special Session chapter 2, section 14, subdivision 4, paragraph (e), up to $288,000 is for deposit in a monitoring and enforcement account as authorized in subdivision 19.


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(2) Of the amount appropriated in Laws 2003, chapter 128, article 1, section 9, subdivision 5, paragraph (a), up to $78,000 is for deposit in a monitoring and enforcement account as authorized in subdivision 19.

 

(3) Of the amount appropriated in Laws 2005, First Special Session chapter 1, section 11, subdivision 5, paragraph (a), up to $55,000 is for deposit in a monitoring and enforcement account as authorized in subdivision 19.

 

(4) Of the amount appropriated in Laws 2007, chapter 30, section 2, subdivision 4, paragraph (b), up to $123,000 is for deposit in a monitoring and enforcement account as authorized in subdivision 19.

 

(5) Of the amount appropriated in Laws 2008, chapter 367, section 2, subdivision 3, paragraph (c), up to $120,000 is for deposit in a monitoring and enforcement account as authorized in subdivision 19.

 

(6) Of the amount appropriated in Laws 2009, chapter 143, section 2, subdivision 4, paragraph (e), up to $60,000 is for deposit in a monitoring and enforcement account as authorized in subdivision 19.

 

(7) Of the amount appropriated in Laws 2010, chapter 362, section 2, subdivision 4, paragraph (f), up to $30,000 is for deposit in a monitoring and enforcement account as authorized in subdivision 19.

 

(c) Preserving the Avon Hills Landscape

 

Of the amount appropriated in Laws 2008, chapter 367, section 2, subdivision 3, paragraph (d), up to $120,000 is for deposit in a monitoring and enforcement account as authorized in subdivision 19.

 

(d) New Models for Land-Use Planning

 

Of the amount appropriated in Laws 1997, chapter 216, section 15, subdivision 9, paragraph (d), up to $33,000 is for deposit in a monitoring and enforcement account as authorized in subdivision 19.

 

(e) Conservation-Based Development Program

 

Of the amount appropriated in Laws 1999, chapter 231, section 16, subdivision 8, paragraph (e), up to $5,000 is for deposit in a monitoring and enforcement account as authorized in subdivision 19.

 

ARTICLE 4

STATUTORY CHANGES

 

Section 1.  [16E.0475] ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR TECHNOLOGY STANDARDS FOR ACCESSIBILITY AND USABILITY.

 

Subdivision 1.  Membership.  (a) The Advisory Committee for Technology Standards for Accessibility and Usability consists of ten members, appointed as follows: 


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(1) the state chief information officer, or the state chief information officer's designee;

 

(2) a representative from State Services for the Blind, appointed by the commissioner of employment and economic development;

 

(3) the commissioner of administration, or the commissioner's designee;

 

(4) a representative selected by the Minnesota system of technology to achieve results program;

 

(5) a representative selected by the Commission of Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard-of-Hearing Minnesotans;

 

(6) the commissioner of education, or the commissioner's designee;

 

(7) the commissioner of health, or the commissioner's designee;

 

(8) the commissioner of human services, or the commissioner's designee;

 

(9) one representative from the Minnesota judicial system designated by the chief justice; and

 

(10) one staff member from the legislature, appointed by the chair of the Legislative Coordinating Commission.

 

(b) The appointing authorities under this subdivision must use their best efforts to ensure that the membership of the advisory committee includes at least one representative who is deaf, hard-of-hearing, or deafblind and at least one representative who is blind.

 

(c) The advisory committee shall elect a chair from its membership.

 

Subd. 2.  Duties.  (a) The advisory committee shall: 

 

(1) recommend review processes to be used for the evaluation or certification of accessibility of technology against accessibility standards;

 

(2) recommend an exception process and thresholds for any deviation from the accessibility standards;

 

(3) identify, in consultation with state agencies serving Minnesotans with disabilities, resources for training and technical assistance for state agency staff, including instruction regarding compliance with accessibility standards;

 

(4) convene customer groups composed of individuals with disabilities to assist in implementation of accessibility standards;

 

(5) review customer comments about accessibility and usability issues collected by State Services for the Blind; and

 

(6) develop proposals for funding captioning of live videoconferencing, live Webcasts, Web streaming, podcasts, and other emerging technologies. 

 

(b) The advisory committee shall report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over state technology systems by January 15 each year regarding the findings, progress, and recommendations made by the advisory committee under this subdivision.  The report shall include any draft legislation necessary to implement the committee's recommendations.


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Subd. 3.  Terms, compensation, and removal.  The terms, compensation, and removal of members are governed by section 15.059.

 

Subd. 4.  Expiration.  This section expires June 30, 2013.

 

Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 41A.105, is amended by adding a subdivision to read: 

 

Subd. 1a.  Definitions.  For the purpose of this section: 

 

(1) "biobutanol facility" means a facility at which biobutanol is produced; and

 

(2) "biobutanol" means fermentation isobutyl alcohol that is derived from agricultural products, including potatoes, cereal grains, cheese whey, and sugar beets; forest products; or other renewable resources, including residue and waste generated from the production, processing, and marketing of agricultural products, forest products, and other renewable resources.

 

Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 65B.84, is amended to read: 

 

65B.84 AUTOMOBILE THEFT PREVENTION PROGRAM.

 

Subdivision 1.  Program described; commissioner's duties; appropriation.  (a) The commissioner of commerce public safety shall: 

 

(1) develop and sponsor the implementation of statewide plans, programs, and strategies to combat automobile theft, improve the administration of the automobile theft laws, and provide a forum for identification of critical problems for those persons dealing with automobile theft;

 

(2) coordinate the development, adoption, and implementation of plans, programs, and strategies relating to interagency and intergovernmental cooperation with respect to automobile theft enforcement;

 

(3) annually audit the plans and programs that have been funded in whole or in part to evaluate the effectiveness of the plans and programs and withdraw funding should the commissioner of public safety determine that a plan or program is ineffective or is no longer in need of further financial support from the fund;

 

(4) develop a plan of operation including: 

 

(i) an assessment of the scope of the problem of automobile theft, including areas of the state where the problem is greatest;

 

(ii) an analysis of various methods of combating the problem of automobile theft;

 

(iii) a plan for providing financial support to combat automobile theft;

 

(iv) a plan for eliminating car hijacking; and

 

(v) an estimate of the funds required to implement the plan; and

 

(5) distribute money, in consultation with the commissioner of public safety, pursuant to subdivision 3 from the automobile theft prevention special revenue account for automobile theft prevention activities, including: 

 

(i) paying the administrative costs of the program;


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(ii) providing financial support to the State Patrol and local law enforcement agencies for automobile theft enforcement teams;

 

(iii) providing financial support to state or local law enforcement agencies for programs designed to reduce the incidence of automobile theft and for improved equipment and techniques for responding to automobile thefts;

 

(iv) providing financial support to local prosecutors for programs designed to reduce the incidence of automobile theft;

 

(v) providing financial support to judicial agencies for programs designed to reduce the incidence of automobile theft;

 

(vi) providing financial support for neighborhood or community organizations or business organizations for programs designed to reduce the incidence of automobile theft and to educate people about the common methods of automobile theft, the models of automobiles most likely to be stolen, and the times and places automobile theft is most likely to occur; and

 

(vii) providing financial support for automobile theft educational and training programs for state and local law enforcement officials, driver and vehicle services exam and inspections staff, and members of the judiciary.

 

(b) The commissioner of public safety may not spend in any fiscal year more than ten percent of the money in the fund for the program's administrative and operating costs.  The commissioner of public safety is annually appropriated and must distribute the amount of the proceeds credited to the automobile theft prevention special revenue account each year, less the transfer of $1,300,000 each year to the general fund described in section 168A.40, subdivision 4. 

 

Subd. 2.  Annual report.  By January 15 of each year, the commissioner of public safety shall report to the governor and the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate committees having jurisdiction over the Departments of Commerce and Public Safety on the activities and expenditures in the preceding year.

 

Subd. 3.  Grant criteria; application.  (a) A county attorney's office, law enforcement agency, neighborhood organization, community organization, or business organization may apply for a grant under this section.  Multiple offices or agencies within a county may apply for a grant under this section.

 

(b) The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of public safety, must develop criteria for the fair distribution of grants from the automobile theft prevention account that address the following factors: 

 

(1) the number of reported automobile thefts per capita in a city, county, or region, not merely the total number of automobile thefts;

 

(2) the population of the jurisdiction of the applicant office or agency;

 

(3) the total funds distributed within a county or region; and

 

(4) the statewide interest in automobile theft reduction.

 

(c) The commissioner of public safety may give priority to: 

 

(1) offices and agencies engaged in a collaborative effort to reduce automobile theft; and

 

(2) counties or regions with the greatest rates of automobile theft.


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(d) The minimum amount of a grant award is $5,000.  After considering the automobile theft rate and total population of an applicant's jurisdiction, if a grant award, as determined under the criteria and priorities in this subdivision, would be less than $5,000, it must not be awarded.

 

Subd. 4.  Advisory board; creation; membership.  An Automobile Theft Prevention Advisory Board is established to advise the commissioner on the distribution of grants under this section.  The board must consist of seven members appointed by the commissioner of public safety and must include representatives of law enforcement, prosecuting agencies, automobile insurers, and the public.  The commissioner of public safety must annually select a chair from among its members.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective June 30, 2013.

 

Sec. 4.  [84.0264] FEDERAL LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUNDS.

 

Subdivision 1.  Designated agency.  The Department of Natural Resources is designated as the state agency to apply for, accept, receive, and disburse federal reimbursement funds and private funds that are granted to the state of Minnesota from section 6 of the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Act.

 

Subd. 2.  State land and water conservation account.  A state land and water conservation account is created in the natural resources fund.  All of the money made available to the state from funds granted under subdivision 1 shall be deposited in the state land and water conservation account.

 

Subd. 3.  Local share.  Fifty percent of all money made available to the state from funds granted under subdivision 1 shall be distributed for projects to be acquired, developed, and maintained by local units of government, provided that any project approved is consistent with a statewide or a county or regional recreational plan and compatible with the statewide recreational plan.  All money received by the commissioner for local units of government is appropriated annually to carry out the purposes for which the funds are received.

 

Subd. 4.  State share.  Fifty percent of the money made available to the state from funds granted under subdivision 1 shall be used for state land acquisition and development for the state outdoor recreation system under chapter 86A and the administrative expenses necessary to maintain eligibility for the federal land and water conservation fund.

 

Sec. 5.  [84.8035] NONRESIDENT OFF-ROAD VEHICLE STATE TRAIL PASS.

 

Subdivision 1.  Pass required; fee.  (a) A nonresident may not operate an off-road vehicle on a state or grant-in-aid off-road vehicle trail unless the vehicle displays a nonresident off-road vehicle state trail pass sticker issued according to this section.  The pass must be viewable by a peace officer, a conservation officer, or an employee designated under section 84.0835.

 

(b) The fee for an annual pass is $20.  The pass is valid from January 1 through December 31.  The fee for a three-year pass is $30.  The commissioner of natural resources shall issue a pass upon application and payment of the fee.  Fees collected under this section, except for the issuing fee for licensing agents, shall be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the off-road vehicle account in the natural resources fund and, except for the electronic licensing system commission established by the commissioner under section 84.027, subdivision 15, must be used for grants-in-aid to counties and municipalities for off-road vehicle organizations to construct and maintain off-road vehicle trails and use areas.

 

(c) A nonresident off-road vehicle state trail pass is not required for: 


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(1) an off-road vehicle that is owned and used by the United States, another state, or a political subdivision thereof that is exempt from registration under section 84.798, subdivision 2;

 

(2) a person operating an off-road vehicle only on the portion of a trail that is owned by the person or the person's spouse, child, or parent; or

 

(3) a nonresident operating an off-road vehicle that is registered according to section 84.798.

 

Subd. 2.  License agents.  The commissioner shall appoint agents to issue and sell nonresident off-road vehicle state trail passes.  The commissioner may revoke the appointment of an agent at any time.  The commissioner may adopt additional rules as provided in section 97A.485, subdivision 11.  An agent shall observe all rules adopted by the commissioner for accounting and handling of passes pursuant to section 97A.485, subdivision 11.  An agent shall promptly deposit and remit all money received from the sale of the passes, exclusive of the issuing fee, to the commissioner.

 

Subd. 3.  Issuance of passes.  The commissioner and agents shall issue and sell nonresident off-road vehicle state trail passes.  The commissioner shall also make the passes available through the electronic licensing system established under section 84.027, subdivision 15.

 

Subd. 4.  Agent's fee.  In addition to the fee for a pass, an issuing fee of $1 per pass shall be charged.  The issuing fee may be retained by the seller of the pass.  Issuing fees for passes issued by the commissioner shall be deposited in the off-road vehicle account in the natural resources fund and retained for the operation of the electronic licensing system.

 

Subd. 5.  Duplicate passes.  The commissioner and agents shall issue a duplicate pass to persons whose pass is lost or destroyed using the process established under section 97A.405, subdivision 3, and rules adopted thereunder.  The fee for a duplicate nonresident off-road vehicle state trail pass is $4, with an issuing fee of 50 cents.

 

Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 84D.15, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 

 

Subd. 2.  Receipts.  Money received from surcharges on watercraft licenses under section 86B.415, subdivision 7, and civil penalties under section 84D.13 shall be deposited in the invasive species account.  Each year, the commissioner of management and budget shall transfer from the game and fish fund to the invasive species account, the annual surcharge collected on nonresident fishing licenses under section 97A.475, subdivision 7, paragraph (b).  In fiscal years 2010 and 2011 Each fiscal year, the commissioner of management and budget shall transfer $725,000 $750,000 from the water recreation account under section 86B.706 to the invasive species account.

 

Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 85.052, subdivision 4, is amended to read: 

 

Subd. 4.  Deposit of fees.  (a) Fees paid for providing contracted products and services within a state park, state recreation area, or wayside, and for special state park uses under this section shall be deposited in the natural resources fund and credited to a state parks account.

 

(b) Gross receipts derived from sales, rentals, or leases of natural resources within state parks, recreation areas, and waysides, other than those on trust fund lands, must be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the state parks working capital account.  The appropriation under section 85.22 for revenue deposited in this section is limited to $25,000 per fiscal year.

 

(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (b), the gross receipts from the sale of stockpile materials, aggregate, or other earth materials from the Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area shall be deposited in the dedicated accounts in the natural resources fund from which the purchase of the stockpile material was made.


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Sec. 8.  [89.0385] FOREST MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT ACCOUNT; COST CERTIFICATION.

 

(a) After each fiscal year, the commissioner shall certify the total costs incurred for forest management, forest improvement, and road improvement on state-managed lands during that year.  The commissioner shall distribute forest management receipts credited to various accounts according to this section.

 

(b) The amount of the certified costs incurred for forest management activities on state lands shall be transferred from the account where receipts are deposited to the forest management investment account in the natural resources fund, except for those costs certified under section 16A.125.  Transfers in a fiscal year cannot exceed receipts credited to the account.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 9.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 89.039, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 

 

Subdivision 1.  Account established; sources.  The forest management investment account is created in the natural resources fund in the state treasury and money in the account may be spent only for the purposes provided in subdivision 2.  The following revenue shall be deposited in the forest management investment account: 

 

(1) timber sales receipts transferred from the consolidated conservation areas account as provided in section 84A.51, subdivision 2;

 

(2) timber sales receipts from forest lands as provided in section 89.035;

 

(3) money transferred from the forest suspense account according to section 16A.125, subdivision 5; and

 

(4) interest accruing from investment of the account.; and

 

(5) money transferred from other accounts according to section 89.0385.

 

Sec. 10.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 89.21, is amended to read: 

 

89.21 CAMPGROUNDS, ESTABLISHMENT AND FEES.

 

(a) The commissioner is authorized to establish and develop state forest campgrounds and may establish minimum standards not inconsistent with the laws of the state for the care and use of such campgrounds and charge fees for such uses as specified by the commissioner of natural resources.

 

(b) Notwithstanding section 16A.1283, the commissioner shall, by written order, establish fees providing for the use of state forest campgrounds.  The fees are not subject to the rulemaking provisions of chapter 14 and section 14.386 does not apply. 

 

(c) All fees shall be deposited in the general fund an account in the natural resources fund and are appropriated annually to the commissioner.

 

Sec. 11.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 89.35, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 

 

Subd. 2.  Purpose of planting.  The purposes for which trees may be produced, procured, distributed, and planted under sections 89.35 to 89.39 shall include auxiliary forests, woodlots, windbreaks, shelterbelts, erosion control, soil conservation, water conservation, provision of permanent food and cover for wild life, environmental education, and afforestation and reforestation on public or private state lands of any kind, but shall not include the raising of fruit for human consumption or planting for purely ornamental purposes.  It is hereby declared that all such authorized purposes are in furtherance of the public health, safety, and welfare. 


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Sec. 12.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 89.36, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 

 

Subdivision 1.  Production at state nurseries.  The commissioner of natural resources may produce tree planting stock for the purposes of sections 89.35 to 89.39 upon any lands under control of the commissioner which may be deemed suitable and available therefor so far as not inconsistent consistent with other uses to which such the lands may be dedicated by law.  The commissioner may not produce more than 10,000,000 8,000,000 units of planting stock annually, after January 1, 2003 June 30, 2011.  The commissioner shall limit deciduous tree stock production to no more than two percent of total annual production.

 

Sec. 13.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 89.37, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 

 

Subdivision 1.  Planting conditions State lands.  The commissioner of natural resources may supply planting stock produced or procured hereunder for use on any public or private state lands within the state for the purposes herein authorized under such conditions as sections 89.35 to 89.39.  The commissioner may prescribe for planting, care, and maintenance in furtherance of such the purposes specified.  The commissioner may sell excess tree planting stock to licensed, private nurseries.

 

Sec. 14.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 89.37, subdivision 3b, is amended to read: 

 

Subd. 3b.  Sales to nurseries.  To promote the availability and use of native plant material, the commissioner may sell native tree seed to licensed, private Minnesota nurseries when supplies of seed from geographically adapted sources are not available from private Minnesota seed dealers.  The commissioner may also sell native trees and shrubs in lots of ten or more to nonprofit groups and local units of government.

 

Sec. 15.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 93.481, subdivision 7, is amended to read: 

 

Subd. 7.  Mining administration account.  The mining administration account is established as an account in the natural resources fund.  Fees charged to owners, operators, or managers of mines under this section and section 93.482 shall be credited to the account and may be are appropriated to the commissioner to cover the costs of providing and monitoring permits to mine.  Earnings accruing from investment of the account remain with the account until appropriated.

 

Sec. 16.  [97A.052] PEACE OFFICER TRAINING ACCOUNT.

 

Subdivision 1.  Account established; sources.  The peace officer training account is created in the game and fish fund in the state treasury.  Revenue from the portion of the surcharges assessed to criminal and traffic offenders in section 357.021, subdivision 7, clause (1), shall be deposited in the account.  Money in the account may be spent only for the purposes provided in subdivision 2.

 

Subd. 2.  Purposes of account.  Money in the peace officer training account may only be spent by the commissioner for peace officer training for employees of the Department of Natural Resources who are licensed under sections 626.84 to 626.863 to enforce game and fish laws.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE.  This section is effective the day following final enactment.

 

Sec. 17.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 97A.055, is amended by adding a subdivision to read: 

 

Subd. 2b.  Certified costs.  Money for the certified costs under section 89.0385 is transferred annually for reimbursement of certified costs on state lands acquired by purchase or gift for game and fish purposes.


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Sec. 18.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 97A.071, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 

 

Subd. 2.  Revenue from small game license surcharge and lifetime licenses.  Revenue from the small game surcharge and $6.50 annually from the lifetime fish and wildlife trust fund, established in section 97A.4742, for each license issued under sections 97A.473, subdivisions 3 and 5, and 97A.474, subdivision 3, shall be credited to the wildlife acquisition account and is appropriated to the commissioner.  The money in the account shall be used by the commissioner only for the purposes of this section, and acquisition and development of wildlife lands under section 97A.145 and maintenance of the lands, in accordance with appropriations made by the legislature. 

 

Sec. 19.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 97A.075, is amended to read: 

 

97A.075 USE OF LICENSE REVENUES.

 

Subdivision 1.  Deer, bear, and lifetime licenses.  (a) For purposes of this subdivision, "deer license" means a license issued under section 97A.475, subdivisions 2, clauses (5), (6), (7), (13), (14), and (15), and 3, clauses (2), (3), (4), (10), (11), and (12), and licenses issued under section 97B.301, subdivision 4.

 

(b) $2 from each annual deer license and $2 annually from the lifetime fish and wildlife trust fund, established in section 97A.4742, for each license issued under section 97A.473, subdivision 4, shall be credited to the deer management account and shall be used is appropriated to the commissioner for deer habitat improvement or deer management programs.

 

(c) $1 from each annual deer license and each bear license and $1 annually from the lifetime fish and wildlife trust fund, established in section 97A.4742, for each license issued under section 97A.473, subdivision 4, shall be credited to the deer and bear management account and shall be used is appropriated to the commissioner for deer and bear management programs, including a computerized licensing system.

 

(d) Fifty cents from each deer license is credited to the emergency deer feeding and wild cervidae health management account and is appropriated for emergency deer feeding and wild cervidae health management.  Money appropriated for emergency deer feeding and wild cervidae health management is available until expended.  The commissioner must inform the legislative chairs of the natural resources finance committees every two years on how the money for emergency deer feeding and wild cervidae health management has been spent.

 

When the unencumbered balance in the appropriation for emergency deer feeding and wild cervidae health management exceeds $2,500,000 at the end of a fiscal year, the unencumbered balance in excess of $2,500,000 is canceled and available for deer and bear management programs and computerized licensing.

 

Subd. 2.  Minnesota migratory waterfowl stamp.  (a) Ninety percent of the revenue from the Minnesota migratory waterfowl stamps must be credited to the waterfowl habitat improvement account.  Money in the account may be used and is appropriated to the commissioner only for: 

 

(1) development of wetlands and lakes in the state and designated waterfowl management lakes for maximum migratory waterfowl production including habitat evaluation, the construction of dikes, water control structures and impoundments, nest cover, rough fish barriers, acquisition of sites and facilities necessary for development and management of existing migratory waterfowl habitat and the designation of waters under section 97A.101;

 

(2) management of migratory waterfowl;

 

(3) development, restoration, maintenance, or preservation of migratory waterfowl habitat;

 

(4) acquisition of and access to structure sites; and


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(5) the promotion of waterfowl habitat development and maintenance, including promotion and evaluation of government farm program benefits for waterfowl habitat.

 

(b) Money in the account may not be used for costs unless they are directly related to a specific parcel of land or body of water under paragraph (a), clause (1), (3), (4), or (5), or to specific management activities under paragraph (a), clause (2).

 

Subd. 3.  Trout and salmon stamp.  (a) Ninety percent of the revenue from trout and salmon stamps must be credited to the trout and salmon management account.  Money in the account may be used and is appropriated to the commissioner only for: 

 

(1) the development, restoration, maintenance, improvement, protection, and preservation of habitat for trout and salmon in trout streams and lakes, including, but not limited to, evaluating habitat; stabilizing eroding stream banks; adding fish cover; modifying stream channels; managing vegetation to protect, shade, or reduce runoff on stream banks; and purchasing equipment to accomplish these tasks;

 

(2) rearing trout and salmon, including utility and service costs associated with coldwater hatchery buildings and systems; stocking trout and salmon in streams and lakes and Lake Superior; and monitoring and evaluating stocked trout and salmon;

 

(3) acquisition of easements and fee title along trout waters;

 

(4) identifying easement and fee title areas along trout waters; and

 

(5) research and special management projects on trout streams, trout lakes, and Lake Superior and portions of its tributaries.

 

(b) Money in the account may not be used for costs unless they are directly related to a specific parcel of land or body of water under paragraph (a), to specific fish rearing activities under paragraph (a), clause (2), or for costs associated with supplies and equipment to implement trout and salmon management activities under paragraph (a).

 

Subd. 4.  Pheasant stamp.  (a) Ninety percent of the revenue from pheasant stamps must be credited to the pheasant habitat improvement account.  Money in the account may be used and is appropriated to the commissioner only for: 

 

(1) the development, restoration, and maintenance of suitable habitat for ringnecked pheasants on public and private land including the establishment of nesting cover, winter cover, and reliable food sources;

 

(2) reimbursement of landowners for setting aside lands for pheasant habitat;

 

(3) reimbursement of expenditures to provide pheasant habitat on public and private land;

 

(4) the promotion of pheasant habitat development and maintenance, including promotion and evaluation of government farm program benefits for pheasant habitat; and

 

(5) the acquisition of lands suitable for pheasant habitat management and public hunting.

 

(b) Money in the account may not be used for: 

 

(1) costs unless they are directly related to a specific parcel of land under paragraph (a), clause (1), (3), or (5), or to specific promotional or evaluative activities under paragraph (a), clause (4); or


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(2) any personnel costs, except that prior to July 1, 2019, personnel may be hired to provide technical and promotional assistance for private landowners to implement conservation provisions of state and federal programs.

 

Subd. 5.  Turkey account.  (a) $4.50 from each turkey license sold, except youth licenses under section 97A.475, subdivision 2, clause (4), and subdivision 3, clause (7), must be credited to the wild turkey management account.  Money in the account may be used and is appropriated to the commissioner only for: 

 

(1) the development, restoration, and maintenance of suitable habitat for wild turkeys on public and private land including forest stand improvement and establishment of nesting cover, winter roost area, and reliable food sources;

 

(2) acquisitions of, or easements on, critical wild turkey habitat;

 

(3) reimbursement of expenditures to provide wild turkey habitat on public and private land;

 

(4) trapping and transplantation of wild turkeys; and

 

(5) the promotion of turkey habitat development and maintenance, population surveys and monitoring, and research.

 

(b) Money in the account may not be used for: 

 

(1) costs unless they are directly related to a specific parcel of land under paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (3), a specific trap and transplant project under paragraph (a), clause (4), or to specific promotional or evaluative activities under paragraph (a), clause (5); or

 

(2) any permanent personnel costs.

 

Subd. 6.  Walleye stamp.  (a) Revenue from walleye stamps must be credited to the walleye stamp account.  Money in the account must be used and is appropriated to the commissioner only for stocking walleye in waters of the state and related activities.

 

(b) Money in the account may not be used for costs unless they are directly related to a specific body of water under paragraph (a), or for costs associated with supplies and equipment to implement walleye stocking activities under paragraph (a).

 

Sec. 20.  [103G.27] WATER MANAGEMENT ACCOUNT.

 

Subdivision 1.  Account established; sources.  The water management account is created in the natural resources fund in the state treasury.  Revenues collected from permit application fees, water use fees, field inspection fees, penalties, and other receipts according to sections 103G.271 and 103G.301 shall be deposited in the account.  Interest earned on money in the account accrues to the account.

 

Subd. 2.  Purposes of account.  Money in the water management account may be spent only for the costs associated with administering this chapter.

 

Sec. 21.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 103G.271, subdivision 6, is amended to read: 

 

Subd. 6.  Water use permit processing fee.  (a) Except as described in paragraphs (b) to (f), a water use permit processing fee must be prescribed by the commissioner in accordance with the schedule of fees in this subdivision for each water use permit in force at any time during the year.  Fees collected under this paragraph are credited to the water management account in the natural resources fund.  The schedule is as follows, with the stated fee in each clause applied to the total amount appropriated: 


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(1) $140 for amounts not exceeding 50,000,000 gallons per year;

 

(2) $3.50 per 1,000,000 gallons for amounts greater than 50,000,000 gallons but less than 100,000,000 gallons per year;

 

(3) $4 per 1,000,000 gallons for amounts greater than 100,000,000 gallons but less than 150,000,000 gallons per year;

 

(4) $4.50 per 1,000,000 gallons for amounts greater than 150,000,000 gallons but less than 200,000,000 gallons per year;

 

(5) $5 per 1,000,000 gallons for amounts greater than 200,000,000 gallons but less than 250,000,000 gallons per year;

 

(6) $5.50 per 1,000,000 gallons for amounts greater than 250,000,000 gallons but less than 300,000,000 gallons per year;

 

(7) $6 per 1,000,000 gallons for amounts greater than 300,000,000 gallons but less than 350,000,000 gallons per year;

 

(8) $6.50 per 1,000,000 gallons for amounts greater than 350,000,000 gallons but less than 400,000,000 gallons per year;

 

(9) $7 per 1,000,000 gallons for amounts greater than 400,000,000 gallons but less than 450,000,000 gallons per year;

 

(10) $7.50 per 1,000,000 gallons for amounts greater than 450,000,000 gallons but less than 500,000,000 gallons per year; and

 

(11) $8 per 1,000,000 gallons for amounts greater than 500,000,000 gallons per year.

 

(b) For once-through cooling systems, a water use processing fee must be prescribed by the commissioner in accordance with the following schedule of fees for each water use permit in force at any time during the year: 

 

(1) for nonprofit corporations and school districts, $200 per 1,000,000 gallons; and

 

(2) for all other users, $420 per 1,000,000 gallons.

 

(c) The fee is payable based on the amount of water appropriated during the year and, except as provided in paragraph (f), the minimum fee is $100.

 

(d) For water use processing fees other than once-through cooling systems:  

 

(1) the fee for a city of the first class may not exceed $250,000 per year;

 

(2) the fee for other entities for any permitted use may not exceed: 

 

(i) $60,000 per year for an entity holding three or fewer permits;

 

(ii) $90,000 per year for an entity holding four or five permits; or


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(iii) $300,000 per year for an entity holding more than five permits;

 

(3) the fee for agricultural irrigation may not exceed $750 per year;

 

(4) the fee for a municipality that furnishes electric service and cogenerates steam for home heating may not exceed $10,000 for its permit for water use related to the cogeneration of electricity and steam; and

 

(5) no fee is required for a project involving the appropriation of surface water to prevent flood damage or to remove flood waters during a period of flooding, as determined by the commissioner.

 

(e) Failure to pay the fee is sufficient cause for revoking a permit.  A penalty of two percent per month calculated from the original due date must be imposed on the unpaid balance of fees remaining 30 days after the sending of a second notice of fees due.  A fee may not be imposed on an agency, as defined in section 16B.01, subdivision 2, or federal governmental agency holding a water appropriation permit.

 

(f) The minimum water use processing fee for a permit issued for irrigation of agricultural land is $20 for years in which: 

 

(1) there is no appropriation of water under the permit; or

 

(2) the permit is suspended for more than seven consecutive days between May 1 and October 1.

 

(g) A surcharge of $30 per million gallons in addition to the fee prescribed in paragraph (a) shall be applied to the volume of water used in each of the months of June, July, and August that exceeds the volume of water used in January for municipal water use, irrigation of golf courses, and landscape irrigation.  The surcharge for municipalities with more than one permit shall be determined based on the total appropriations from all permits that supply a common distribution system.

 

Sec. 22.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 103G.301, is amended by adding a subdivision to read: 

 

Subd. 8.  Deposit of fees.  Fees collected under this section must be credited to the water management account in the natural resources fund.

 

Sec. 23.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 103G.615, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 

 

Subd. 2.  Fees.  (a) The commissioner shall establish a fee schedule for permits to control or harvest aquatic plants other than wild rice.  The fees must be set by rule, and section 16A.1283 does not apply, but the rule must not take effect until 45 legislative days after it has been reported to the legislature.  The fees shall not exceed $2,500 per permit and shall be based upon the cost of receiving, processing, analyzing, and issuing the permit, and additional costs incurred after the application to inspect and monitor the activities authorized by the permit, and enforce aquatic plant management rules and permit requirements.

 

(b) A fee for a permit for the control of rooted aquatic vegetation for each contiguous parcel of shoreline owned by an owner may be charged.  This fee may not be charged for permits issued in connection with purple loosestrife control or lakewide Eurasian water milfoil control programs.

 

(c) A fee may not be charged to the state or a federal governmental agency applying for a permit.

 

(d) A fee for a permit for the control of rooted aquatic vegetation in a public water basin that is 20 acres or less in size shall be one-half of the fee established under paragraph (a).

 

(e) The money received for the permits under this subdivision shall be deposited in the treasury and credited to the water recreation account.


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Sec. 24.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 115.073, is amended to read: 

 

115.073 ENFORCEMENT FUNDING.

 

Except as provided in section 115C.05, all one-half of the money recovered by the state under this chapter and chapters 115A and 116, including civil penalties and money paid under an agreement, stipulation, or settlement, excluding money paid for past due fees or taxes, must be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the environmental fund.  The remaining amount collected shall be deposited in the general fund.

 

Sec. 25.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 115A.1314, is amended to read: 

 

115A.1314 MANUFACTURER'S REGISTRATION FEE; CREATION OF ACCOUNT.

 

Subdivision 1.  Registration fee.  (a) Each manufacturer who registers under section 115A.1312 must, by September 1, 2007, and each year thereafter, pay to the commissioner of revenue an annual registration fee.  The commissioner of revenue must deposit the fee in the account established in subdivision 2 state treasury and credit the fee to the environmental fund.

 

(b) The registration fee for the initial program year during which a manufacturer's video display devices are sold to households is $5,000.  Each year thereafter, The registration fee is equal to a base fee of $2,500, plus a variable recycling fee calculated according to the formula: 

 

((A x B) - (C + D)) x E, where: 

 

(1) A = the number of pounds of a manufacturer's video display devices sold to households during the previous program year, as reported to the department under section 115A.1316, subdivision 1;

 

(2) B = the proportion of sales of video display devices required to be recycled, set at 0.6 for the first program year and 0.8 for the second program year and every year thereafter;

 

(3) C = the number of pounds of covered electronic devices recycled by a manufacturer from households during the previous program year, as reported to the department under section 115A.1316, subdivision 1;

 

(4) D = the number of recycling credits a manufacturer elects to use to calculate the variable recycling fee, as reported to the department under section 115A.1316, subdivision 1; and

 

(5) E = the estimated per-pound cost of recycling, initially set at $0.50 per pound for manufacturers who recycle less than 50 percent of the product (A x B); $0.40 per pound for manufacturers who recycle at least 50 percent but less than 90 percent of the product (A x B); and $0.30 per pound for manufacturers who recycle at least 90 percent but less than 100 percent of the product (A x B).

 

(c) If, as specified in paragraph (b), the term C - (A x B) equals a positive number of pounds, that amount is defined as the manufacturer's recycling credits.  A manufacturer may retain recycling credits to be added, in whole or in part, to the actual value of C, as reported under section 115A.1316, subdivision 2, during any succeeding program year, provided that no more than 25 percent of a manufacturer's obligation (A x B) for any program year may be met with recycling credits generated in a prior program year.  A manufacturer may sell any portion or all of its recycling credits to another manufacturer, at a price negotiated by the parties, who may use the credits in the same manner.


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(d) For the purpose of calculating a manufacturer's variable recycling fee under paragraph (b), the weight of covered electronic devices collected from households located outside the 11-county metropolitan area, as defined in subdivision 2, paragraph (c), is calculated at 1.5 times their actual weight.

 

(e) The registration fee for the initial program year and the base registration fee thereafter for a manufacturer who produces fewer than 100 video display devices for sale annually to households is $1,250.

 

Subd. 2.  Creation of account; appropriations Use of registration fees.  (a) The electronic waste account is established in the environmental fund.  The commissioner of revenue must deposit receipts from the fee established in subdivision 1 in the account.  Any interest earned on the account must be credited to the account.  Money from other sources may be credited to the account.  Beginning in the second program year and continuing each program year thereafter, as of the last day of each program year, the commissioner shall determine the total amount of the variable fees that were collected.  To the extent that the total fees collected by the commissioner in connection with this section exceed the amount the commissioner determines necessary to operate the program for the new program year, the commissioner shall refund on a pro rata basis, to all manufacturers who paid any fees for the previous program year, the amount of fees collected by the commissioner in excess of the amount necessary to operate the program for the new program year.  No individual refund is required of amounts of $100 or less for a fiscal year.  Manufacturers who report collections less than 50 percent of their obligation for the previous program year are not eligible for a refund.

 

(b) Until June 30, 2011, money in the account is annually appropriated to the Pollution Control Agency: (a) Registration fees may be used by the commissioner for: 

 

(1) for the purpose of implementing sections 115A.1312 to 115A.1330, including transfer to the commissioner of revenue to carry out the department's duties under section 115A.1320, subdivision 2, and transfer to the commissioner of administration for responsibilities under section 115A.1324; and

 

(2) to the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency to be distributed on a competitive basis through contracts with grants to counties outside the 11-county metropolitan area, as defined in paragraph (c) (b), and with to private entities that collect for recycling covered electronic devices in counties outside the 11-county metropolitan area, where the collection and recycling is consistent with the respective county's solid waste plan, for the purpose of carrying out the activities under sections 115A.1312 to 115A.1330.  In awarding competitive grants under this clause, the commissioner must give preference to counties and private entities that are working cooperatively with manufacturers to help them meet their recycling obligations under section 115A.1318, subdivision 1.

 

(c) (b) The 11-county metropolitan area consists of the counties of Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington, and Wright.

 

Sec. 26.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 115A.1320, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 

 

Subdivision 1.  Duties of the agency.  (a) The agency shall administer sections 115A.1310 to 115A.1330.

 

(b) The agency shall establish procedures for: 

 

(1) receipt and maintenance of the registration statements and certifications filed with the agency under section 115A.1312; and

 

(2) making the statements and certifications easily available to manufacturers, retailers, and members of the public.

 

(c) The agency shall annually review the value of the following variables that are part of the formula used to calculate a manufacturer's annual registration fee under section 115A.1314, subdivision 1: 


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(1) the proportion of sales of video display devices sold to households that manufacturers are required to recycle;

 

(2) the estimated per-pound price of recycling covered electronic devices sold to households;

 

(3) the base registration fee; and

 

(4) the multiplier established for the weight of covered electronic devices collected in section 115A.1314, subdivision 1, paragraph (d).  If the agency determines that any of these values must be changed in order to improve the efficiency or effectiveness of the activities regulated under sections 115A.1312 to 115A.1330 or if the revenues in the account exceed the amount that the agency determines is necessary, the agency shall submit recommended changes and the reasons for them to the chairs of the senate and house of representatives committees with jurisdiction over solid waste policy.

 

(d) By January 15 each year, beginning in 2008, the agency shall calculate estimated sales of video display devices sold to households by each manufacturer during the preceding program year, based on national sales data, and forward the estimates to the department.

 

(e) The agency shall manage the account established in section 115A.1314, subdivision 2.  If the revenues in the account exceed the amount that the agency determines is necessary for efficient and effective administration of the program, including any amount for contingencies, the agency must recommend to the legislature that the base registration fee, the proportion of sales of video display devices required to be recycled, or the estimated per pound cost of recycling established under section 115A.1314, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), or any combination thereof, be lowered in order to reduce revenues collected in the subsequent program year by the estimated amount of the excess.

 

(f) (e) On or before December 1, 2010, and each year thereafter, the agency shall provide a report to the governor and the legislature on the implementation of sections 115A.1310 to 115A.1330.  For each program year, the report must discuss the total weight of covered electronic devices recycled and a summary of information in the reports submitted by manufacturers and recyclers under section 115A.1316.  The report must also discuss the various collection programs used by manufacturers to collect covered electronic devices; information regarding covered electronic devices that are being collected by persons other than registered manufacturers, collectors, and recyclers; and information about covered electronic devices, if any, being disposed of in landfills in this state.  The report must include a description of enforcement actions under sections 115A.1310 to 115A.1330.  The agency may include in its report other information received by the agency regarding the implementation of sections 115A.1312 to 115A.1330.

 

(g) (f) The agency shall promote public participation in the activities regulated under sections 115A.1312 to 115A.1330 through public education and outreach efforts.

 

(h) (g) The agency shall enforce sections 115A.1310 to 115A.1330 in the manner provided by sections 115.071, subdivisions 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6; and 116.072, except for those provisions enforced by the department, as provided in subdivision 2.  The agency may revoke a registration of a collector or recycler found to have violated sections 115A.1310 to 115A.1330.

 

(i) (h) The agency shall facilitate communication between counties, collection and recycling centers, and manufacturers to ensure that manufacturers are aware of video display devices available for recycling.

 

(j) (i) The agency shall develop a form retailers must use to report information to manufacturers under section 115A.1318 and post it on the agency's Web site.

 

(k) (j) The agency shall post on its Web site the contact information provided by each manufacturer under section 115A.1318, paragraph (e).


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Sec. 27.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 115C.09, subdivision 3c, is amended to read: 

 

Subd. 3c.  Release at refineries and tank facilities not eligible for reimbursement.  (a) Reimbursement may not be made under this chapter for costs associated with a release: 

 

(1) from a tank located at a petroleum refinery; or

 

(2) from a tank facility, including a pipeline terminal, with more than 1,000,000 gallons of total petroleum storage capacity at the tank facility.

 

(b) Paragraph (a), clause (2), does not apply to reimbursement for costs associated with a release from a tank facility: 

 

(1) owned or operated by a person engaged in the business of mining iron ore or taconite;

 

(2) owned by a political subdivision, a housing and redevelopment authority, an economic development authority, or a port authority that acquired the tank facility prior to May 23, 1989; or

 

(3) owned by a person: 

 

(i) who acquired the tank facility prior to May 23, 1989;

 

(ii) who did not use the tank facility for the bulk storage of petroleum; and

 

(iii) who is not affiliated with the party who used the tank facility for the bulk storage of petroleum.; or

 

(4) that is not a petroleum refinery or pipeline terminal and is owned by a person engaged in the business of storing used oil primarily for sales to end users.

 

Sec. 28.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 115C.13, is amended to read: 

 

115C.13 REPEALER.

 

Sections 115C.01, 115C.02, 115C.021, 115C.03, 115C.04, 115C.045, 115C.05, 115C.06, 115C.065, 115C.07, 115C.08, 115C.09, 115C.093, 115C.094, 115C.10, 115C.11, 115C.111, 115C.112, 115C.113, 115C.12, and 115C.13, are repealed effective June 30, 2012 2017.

 

Sec. 29.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 116.06, is amended by adding a subdivision to read: 

 

Subd. 5a.  Capacity.  "Capacity" means the maximum number of animal units actually confined or proposed to be confined at an animal feedlot.

 

Sec. 30.  Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 116.07, subdivision 7c, is amended to read: 

 

Subd. 7c.  NPDES feedlot permitting requirements.  (a) The agency must issue national pollutant discharge elimination system permits for feedlots with 1,000 animal units or more and that meet the definition of a "concentrated animal feeding operation" in Code of Federal Regulations, title 40, section 122.23, only as required by federal law.  The issuance of national pollutant discharge elimination system permits for feedlots must be based on the following: