1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to game and fish; providing for trapper
1.3 	education requirements; amending Minnesota Statutes
1.4 	2004, section 97B.025; proposing coding for new law in
1.5 	Minnesota Statutes, chapter 97B.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 97B.025, is
1.8 	amended to read:
1.9 	97B.025 HUNTER AND TRAPPER EDUCATION.
1.10 	(a) The commissioner may establish education courses for
1.11 	hunters and trappers.  The commissioner shall collect a fee from
1.12 	each person attending a course.  A fee shall be collected for
1.13 	issuing a duplicate certificate.  The commissioner shall
1.14 	establish the fees in a manner that neither significantly
1.15 	overrecovers nor underrecovers costs, including overhead costs,
1.16 	involved in providing the services.  The fees are not subject to
1.17 	the rulemaking provisions of chapter 14 and section 14.386 does
1.18 	not apply.  The commissioner may establish the fees
1.19 	notwithstanding section 16A.1283.  The fees shall be deposited
1.20 	in the game and fish fund and the amount thereof is appropriated
1.21 	annually to the Enforcement Division of the Department of
1.22 	Natural Resources for the administration of the program.  In
1.23 	addition to the fee established by the commissioner for each
1.24 	course, instructors may charge each person up to the established
1.25 	fee amount for class materials and expenses.  School districts
2.1 	may cooperate with the commissioner and volunteer instructors to
2.2 	provide space for the classroom portion of the training.
2.3 	(b) The commissioner shall enter into an agreement with a
2.4 	statewide nonprofit trappers association to conduct a trapper
2.5 	education program.  At a minimum, the program must include at
2.6 	least six hours of classroom and in the field training.  The
2.7 	program must include a review of state trapping laws and
2.8 	regulations, trapping ethics, the setting and tending of traps
2.9 	and snares, tagging and registration requirements, and the
2.10 	preparation of pelts. The association shall issue a certificate
2.11 	to persons who complete the program.The association shall be
2.12 	responsible for all costs of conducting the education program,
2.13 	and shall not charge any fee for attending the course.

2.14 	Sec. 2. [97B.026] TRAPPER EDUCATION CERTIFICATE
2.15 	REQUIREMENT.
2.16 	Beginning March 1, 2006, a person who has not been issued a
2.17 	trapping license in a previous license year may not obtain a
2.18 	trapping license unless the person has been issued a trapper
2.19 	education certificate under section 97B.025, paragraph (b).