1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to natural resources; recognizing Red River Basin Commission; providing 
1.3 	for membership and duties of commission; appropriating money;proposing coding 
1.4 	for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 103B.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [103B.461] RED RIVER BASIN COMMISSION.
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Purposes. The Red River Basin Commission was created to:
1.8 	(1) facilitate transboundary and basin-wide dialogue and consultation with citizens, land 
1.9 	users, organizations, and governments; and
1.10 	(2) coordinate basin-wide interstate and international efforts on water management, 
1.11 	including but not limited to flood mitigation, water quality, water supply, drainage, aquatic 
1.12 	health, and recreation.
1.13 		Subd. 2.Membership. The Red River Basin Commission must have basin-wide 
1.14 	representation of members and alternates to serve on the commission consistent with the 
1.15 	adopted bylaws of the commission. Selection and terms of members are as defined in the 
1.16 	commission's bylaws.
1.17 		Subd. 3.Duties. The Red River Basin Commission must:
1.18 	(1) develop and coordinate comprehensive water management goals for the Red River 
1.19 	basin by aligning the work plans in the major watersheds in the states of Minnesota, North 
1.20 	Dakota, and South Dakota and the Canadian province of Manitoba;
2.1 	(2) advise on developing and using systems to monitor and evaluate the Red River basin 
2.2 	and incorporating the data obtained from these systems into planning and implementation 
2.3 	processes;
2.4 	(3) conduct public meetings at locations in the Red River basin regarding the public's 
2.5 	perspective on water resource issues, needs, and priorities in the basin;
2.6 	(4) conduct an ongoing information and education program on water management in 
2.7 	the Red River basin, including an annual conference;
2.8 	(5) advise on developing projects in the major watersheds that are scientifically sound, 
2.9 	have landowner and local government support, and reduce potential flood damages and 
2.10 	inputs of pollutants into the Red River;
2.11 	(6) develop and implement a framework plan for natural resources and provide periodic 
2.12 	budget requests and reports to the governors of Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 
2.13 	to the premier of Manitoba, and to the respective legislatures, provincial members, and 
2.14 	congressional representatives of the respective states and province regarding progress on 
2.15 	meeting water management goals and funding or policy recommendations;
2.16 	(7) administer funds for implementing projects and track and report the results achieved 
2.17 	for each project; and
2.18 	(8) assess the collective work in the Red River basin and make recommendations to the 
2.19 	states of Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, to the Canadian province of Manitoba, 
2.20 	and to their respective legislatures, provincial members, and congressional representatives 
2.21 	on the actions needed to sustain or accelerate components of the framework plan for natural 
2.22 	resources in the Red River basin and the major watersheds of the Red River basin.

2.23 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 2.24 	$150,000 in fiscal year 2020 and $150,000 in fiscal year 2021 are appropriated from the 
2.25 	general fund to the Board of Water and Soil Resources for a grant to the Red River Basin 
2.26 	Commission. Of this amount, $50,000 in fiscal year 2021 must be granted based on matching 
2.27 	contributions from within the state of North Dakota or from within the province of Manitoba.