1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to agriculture; providing for regulation of 
  1.3             biological control agents transported into Minnesota; 
  1.4             proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 
  1.5             chapter 18. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  [18.475] [BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENTS.] 
  1.8      Subdivision 1.  [PROGRAM.] As specified in subdivisions 2 
  1.9   and 3, the commissioner, with the assistance of the state 
  1.10  entomologist, shall provide for inspection of biological control 
  1.11  agents transported into Minnesota from outside of Minnesota and 
  1.12  shall require posting of bonds or other security by those 
  1.13  initiating the shipments. 
  1.14     Subd. 2.  [YEARLY INSPECTION.] It is unlawful for a person 
  1.15  to transport into Minnesota for sale or release any biological 
  1.16  control agents unless at least one live sample of at least 50 of 
  1.17  the agents has been examined by the department of agriculture 
  1.18  within the preceding 12 months and found to be apparently free 
  1.19  of plant pests and other biologically harmful organisms. 
  1.20     Subd. 3.  [SECURITY.] A person who transports biological 
  1.21  control agents into Minnesota must post a bond or other security 
  1.22  in an amount and with terms set by the commissioner by rule. 
  1.23     Subd. 4.  [RULES.] The commissioner shall adopt rules 
  1.24  defining "biological control agent" and other terms, setting 
  1.25  procedures for submitting samples and for certifying compliance 
  2.1   with this section, indicating the kinds of harmful plant pests 
  2.2   and organisms being targeted in the inspections, setting the 
  2.3   terms and amounts of security and verification procedures, and 
  2.4   prescribing other requirements necessary to administer this 
  2.5   section.