1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to game and fish; modifying requirements for fishing contest permits;
1.3 	amending Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 97C.081, subdivision 3.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 97C.081, subdivision 3, is 
1.6 	amended to read:
1.7 		Subd. 3.Contests requiring a permit. (a) A person must have a permit from the 
1.8 	commissioner to conduct a fishing contest that does not meet the criteria in subdivision 
1.9 	2. The commissioner shall charge a fee for the permit that recovers the costs of issuing 
1.10 	the permit and of monitoring the activities allowed by the permit. The commissioner 
1.11 	may waive the fee under this subdivision for a charitable organization or a not for profit 
1.12 	corporation that is registered with the Office of the Secretary of State. Notwithstanding 
1.13 	section 16A.1283, the commissioner may, by written order published in the State Register, 
1.14 	establish contest permit fees. The fees are not subject to the rulemaking provisions of 
1.15 	chapter 14 and section 14.386 does not apply.
1.16 	(b) If entry fees are over $25 per person, or total prizes are valued at more than 
1.17 	$25,000, and if the applicant has either:
1.18 	(1) not previously conducted a fishing contest requiring a permit under this 
1.19 	subdivision; or
1.20 	(2) ever failed to make required prize awards in a fishing contest conducted by 
1.21 	the applicant, the commissioner may require the applicant to furnish the commissioner 
1.22 	evidence of financial responsibility in the form of a surety bond or bank letter of credit in 
1.23 	the amount of $25,000.
1.24 	(c) The permit fee for any individual contest may not exceed the following amounts:
2.1 	(1) $120 for an open water contest not exceeding 100 participants and without 
2.2 	off-site weigh-in;
2.3 	(2) $400 for an open water contest with more than 100 participants and without 
2.4 	off-site weigh-in;
2.5 	(3) $500 for an open water contest not exceeding 100 participants with off-site 
2.6 	weigh-in;
2.7 	(4) $1,000 for an open water contest with more than 100 participants with off-site 
2.8 	weigh-in; or
2.9 	(5) $120 for an ice fishing contest with more than 150 participants.