1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to natural resources; modifying citizen oversight committees; requiring a 
1.3 	report;amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 97A.055, subdivision 4b.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 97A.055, subdivision 4b, is amended to read:
1.6 		Subd. 4b.Citizen oversight committees Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee. (a) 
1.7 	The commissioner shall appoint committees a committee of at least 15 affected persons to:
1.8 	(1) review the reports prepared under subdivision 4;
1.9 	(2) review the proposed work plans and budgets for the coming year; propose changes 
1.10 	in policies, activities, and revenue enhancements or reductions; review other relevant 
1.11 	information annual outcomes achieved from game and fish fund expenditures; and
1.12 	(3) make recommendations to the legislature and the commissioner for desired outcomes 
1.13 	related to:
1.14 	(i) protecting habitat;
1.15 	(ii) fish and wildlife population management;
1.16 	(iii) monitoring and research;
1.17 	(iv) communications and engagement; and
1.18 	(v) improvements in the management and use of money in the game and fish fund.
1.19 	(b) The commissioner shall appoint the following committees, each comprised of at 
1.20 	least ten affected persons:
2.1 	(1) a Fisheries Oversight Committee to review fisheries funding and expenditures, 
2.2 	including activities related to trout-and-salmon stamps and walleye stamps; and
2.3 	(2) a Wildlife Oversight Committee to review wildlife funding and expenditures, 
2.4 	including activities related to migratory waterfowl, pheasant, and wild turkey management 
2.5 	and deer and big game management.
2.6 	(c) The chairs of the Fisheries Oversight Committee and the Wildlife Oversight 
2.7 	Committee, and four additional members from each committee, shall form a Budgetary 
2.8 	Oversight Committee to coordinate the integration of the fisheries and wildlife oversight 
2.9 	committee reports into an annual report to the legislature; recommend changes on a broad 
2.10 	level in policies, activities, and revenue enhancements or reductions; and provide a forum 
2.11 	to address issues that transcend the fisheries and wildlife oversight committees.
2.12 	(d) The Budgetary Oversight Committee shall develop recommendations for a biennial 
2.13 	budget plan and report for expenditures on game and fish activities. By August 15 of each 
2.14 	even-numbered year, the committee shall submit the budget plan recommendations to the 
2.15 	commissioner and to the senate and house of representatives committees with jurisdiction 
2.16 	over natural resources finance.
2.17 	(e) The chairs of the Fisheries Oversight Committee and the Wildlife Oversight 
2.18 	Committee shall be chosen by their respective committees. The chair of the Budgetary 
2.19 	Oversight Committee shall be appointed by the commissioner and may not be the chair of 
2.20 	either of the other oversight committees.
2.21 	(f) The Budgetary Oversight Committee may make recommendations to the commissioner 
2.22 	and to the senate and house of representatives committees with jurisdiction over natural 
2.23 	resources finance for outcome goals from expenditures.
2.24 	(b) The chair and the vice-chair of the Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee are 
2.25 	appointed by the commissioner.
2.26 	(c) By August 15 each year, the committee must submit a report to the commissioner 
2.27 	and to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction 
2.28 	over natural resources finance and policy. Each even-numbered year, the report must focus 
2.29 	on biennial budget outcomes achieved from game and fish fund expenditures. Each 
2.30 	odd-numbered year, the report must focus on outcomes related to protecting habitat, fish 
2.31 	and wildlife population management, monitoring and research, and communications and 
2.32 	engagement.
3.1 	(d) Annually, the Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee must hold an open meeting 
3.2 	for the public to provide comments. The meeting must be organized to allow virtual 
3.3 	participation. The committee must consider comments received at the public meeting when 
3.4 	making the recommendations under paragraph (a), clause (3).
3.5 	(g) (e) The committees committee authorized under this subdivision are is not an advisory 
3.6 	councils council or committees committee governed by section 15.059 and are is not subject 
3.7 	to section 15.059. Committee members appointed by the commissioner may request 
3.8 	reimbursement for mileage expenses in the same manner and amount as authorized by the 
3.9 	commissioner's plan adopted under section 43A.18, subdivision 2. Committee members 
3.10 	must not receive daily compensation for oversight committee activities. The Fisheries 
3.11 	Oversight Committee, the Wildlife Oversight Committee, and the Budgetary Oversight 
3.12 	Committee expire June 30, 2025.