1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to natural resources; requiring notification of hunters on research bears;
1.3 	proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 97B.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. [97B.435] RESEARCH BEARS.
1.6 	(a) The commissioner of natural resources shall annually notify, in writing, all 
1.7 	persons with a license to take bear in a permit area with research bears subject to a request 
1.8 	for protection under paragraph (b) of:
1.9 	(1) the location and nature of the research being conducted in the area;
1.10 	(2) how to identify a research bear;
1.11 	(3) a request to avoid shooting a research bear; and
1.12 	(4) procedures to follow if a research bear is taken.
1.13 	A person receiving notification under this paragraph shall, in a manner specified by 
1.14 	the commissioner, acknowledge the receipt of the notification and indicate that the person 
1.15 	understands that shooting research bears is to be avoided.
1.16 	(b) A person conducting research on bears under an agreement with the 
1.17 	commissioner of natural resources may request protection of the bears subject to the 
1.18 	research under this section. The bears must be tagged with a visible fluorescent ribbon.
1.19 	(c) A request for protection under paragraph (b) shall be considered made in the bear 
1.20 	permit area or areas that include any portion of the area east of Highway 53, in Townships 
1.21 	60 to 64 North, in central St. Louis County, until bear research, under agreement with the 
1.22 	commissioner, is no longer conducted in the area.