1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to natural resources; providing for no net loss of forest land and hunting 
1.3 	opportunities; requiring a report;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
1.4 	Statutes, chapters 89; 97B.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [89.003] NO NET LOSS OF FOREST LAND.
1.7 	(a) To the greatest practicable extent, the commissioner's land management decisions 
1.8 	and actions may not result in any net loss of forest land acreage available for timber 
1.9 	production that exists on July 1, 2007.
1.10 	(b) Before January 1 of each year, the commissioner shall submit to the chairs of 
1.11 	the house and senate committees having jurisdiction over natural resources a written 
1.12 	report containing:
1.13 	(1) the acreage managed by the commissioner that was closed to timber production 
1.14 	during the previous year and the reasons for the closures; and
1.15 	(2) the acreage managed by the commissioner that was opened to timber production 
1.16 	to compensate for the acreage that was closed during the previous year.

1.17 	Sec. 2. [97B.15] NO NET LOSS OF HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES.
1.18 	(a) Subject to existing rights, lands managed by the commissioner are open to access 
1.19 	and use for recreational hunting except as limited by the commissioner for reasons of 
1.20 	public safety, homeland security, or as otherwise limited by law.
1.21 	(b) The commissioner shall exercise the commissioner's authority to manage lands 
1.22 	in a manner to support, promote, and enhance recreational hunting opportunities to the 
1.23 	extent authorized by law.
2.1 	(c) The commissioner is not required to give preference to hunting over other uses or 
2.2 	priorities established by state law.
2.3 	(d) To the greatest practicable extent, the commissioner's land management decisions 
2.4 	and actions may not result in any net loss of acreage available for hunting opportunities 
2.5 	that exists on July 1, 2007.
2.6 	(e) Before January 1 of each year, the commissioner shall submit to the chairs of 
2.7 	the house and senate committees having jurisdiction over game and fish a written report 
2.8 	containing:
2.9 	(1) the acreage managed by the commissioner that was closed to recreational hunting 
2.10 	during the previous year and the reasons for the closures; and
2.11 	(2) the acreage managed by the commissioner that was opened to recreational 
2.12 	hunting to compensate for the acreage that was closed during the previous year.

2.13 	Sec. 3. FOREST LAND SURVEY AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
 2.14 	By January 15, 2008, the commissioner of natural resources shall survey the quantity 
2.15 	of public and private forest land in the state available for timber production and submit 
2.16 	the results, together with recommendations on how to keep forest lands from being 
2.17 	taken out of timber production, to the house and senate committees having jurisdiction 
2.18 	over natural resources.

2.19 	Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 2.20 	Sections 1 to 3 are effective July 1, 2007.