1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to game and fish; providing for a walk-in public access plan for certain 
1.3 	outdoor recreation; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 
1.4 	84.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [84.992] ACCESS TO MINNESOTA OUTDOORS.
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Walk-in access plan. (a) The commissioner shall create a walk-in 
1.8 	public access plan under which the commissioner may encourage owners and operators of 
1.9 	privately held land to voluntarily make that land available for walk-in access by the public 
1.10 	for hunting and fishing under programs administered by the commissioner.
1.11 	(b) As part of the plan, the commissioner shall explore entering into contracts with 
1.12 	the owners or lessees of land to establish voluntary walk-in public access for hunting, 
1.13 	fishing, or other wildlife-dependent recreational activities.
1.14 	(c) In the plan, the commissioner must describe:
1.15 	(1) the benefits that private land will provide the public, such as hunting, fishing, 
1.16 	bird watching, and related outdoor activities; and 
1.17 	(2) the types of game, fish, and wildlife habitat improvements made to the land that 
1.18 	will enhance public uses.
1.19 	(d) The commissioner shall explore walk-in public access programs in other states 
1.20 	and develop a walk-in program for public access to private lands for hunting, fishing, 
1.21 	and related recreational activities.  
1.22 		Subd. 2.Preemption. Nothing in this section is intended to preempt other state 
1.23 	laws, including trespass and liability laws.
2.1 		Subd. 3.Report. Before implementation, the commissioner must present the 
2.2 	walk-in public access plan to the house and senate committees with jurisdiction over 
2.3 	natural resources policy and finance, with recommendations on program implementation, 
2.4 	by December 31, 2008.