1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to natural resources; creating a native perennials establishment program;
1.3 	proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 103C.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. [103C.55] MINNESOTA NATIVE PERENNIALS ESTABLISHMENT 
1.6 	COST-SHARE PROGRAM.
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Cost-share authorization. The state board may allocate available 
1.8 	funds to districts to share the cost of native perennial establishment under the process and 
1.9 	policies developed for cost-share contracts in section 103C.501.
1.10 		Subd. 2.Eligible land. Eligible land under this section must:
1.11 	(1) be owned by the landowner, or a parent or other blood relative of the landowner, 
1.12 	for at least one year before the date of application;
1.13 	(2) be at least five acres in size, but no greater than 80 acres in size;
1.14 	(3) have been in agricultural use, as defined in section 17.81, subdivision 4, or have 
1.15 	been set aside, enrolled, or diverted under another federal or state program for at least four 
1.16 	of the last six years before the date of application;
1.17 	(4) be in an area identified as a local water quality priority in a local water plan 
1.18 	under chapter 103B or a district plan under this chapter; and
1.19 	(5) be within 50 miles of a bioenergy or bioindustrial feedstock market.
1.20 		Subd. 3.Landowner agreements. A landowner receiving cost-share payments 
1.21 	under this section must agree to:
1.22 	(1) keep a complete set of records of activities on the land that is subject to the 
1.23 	cost-share contract;
2.1 	(2) follow the state board's native vegetation establishment and enhancement 
2.2 	guidelines;
2.3 	(3) plant only seed from a source verified by the district, with a goal of at least 25 
2.4 	species that may include annuals and biennials and must include grasses, legumes, and 
2.5 	forbs;
2.6 	(4) follow an operation and maintenance plan that has been approved by the district; 
2.7 	and
2.8 	(5) maintain the native perennials for at least 15 years.
2.9 		Subd. 4.Eligible costs. A cost-share grant under this section shall be for up to 75 
2.10 	percent of the cost of site preparation, seeding, and related establishment costs.
2.11 		Subd. 5.Practices allowed. For 15 years after receiving cost-share payments under 
2.12 	this section, the landowner must agree to:
2.13 	(1) haying, native seed propagation, or bioenergy or bioindustrial feedstock 
2.14 	production as provided in the operation and maintenance plan;
2.15 	(2) follow United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation 
2.16 	Service, guidelines on harvesting for grass-based agriculture for biomass or forage 
2.17 	production and wildlife habitat; and 
2.18 	(3) fertilize the soils only to the amount estimated to be removed by the crop.