1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to state government; creating and empowering 
  1.3             a natural resources board to direct and supervise the 
  1.4             commissioner and department of natural resources; 
  1.5             amending Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 84.01. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 84.01, is 
  1.8   amended to read: 
  1.9      84.01 [DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES; NATURAL RESOURCES 
  1.10  BOARD; COMMISSIONER APPOINTMENT.] 
  1.11     Subdivision 1.  The name of the department of conservation 
  1.12  is changed to The department of natural resources is under the 
  1.13  direction and supervision of the natural resources board 
  1.14  established in subdivision 1a.  The name of the commissioner of 
  1.15  conservation is changed to The commissioner of natural resources 
  1.16  shall be the principal administrative officer of the department 
  1.17  and shall be responsible for carrying out the policies and 
  1.18  directions of the board.  Subject to the provisions of Laws 
  1.19  1969, chapter 1129, and other applicable laws, the department of 
  1.20  natural resources with its commissioner and other officers shall 
  1.21  continue to exercise all the powers and duties vested in, or 
  1.22  imposed upon its commissioner as existing and constituted 
  1.23  immediately prior to the effective date of Laws 1969, chapter 
  1.24  1129. 
  1.25     Subd. 1a.  The natural resources board shall consist of 
  2.1   seven members appointed by the governor for staggered four-year 
  2.2   terms.  At least three members of the board shall be from the 
  2.3   territory north and at least three members shall be from the 
  2.4   territory south of a line running across the state east and west 
  2.5   through the south city limits of the city of St. Cloud.  No 
  2.6   person may be appointed to the board or continue to serve on the 
  2.7   board who holds any mineral or timber permit from the department 
  2.8   or is otherwise engaged in a contractual relationship with the 
  2.9   department from which the member receives, or within the past 
  2.10  two years has received, any significant portion of his or her 
  2.11  income.  Section 15.0575 shall govern the board in all instances 
  2.12  not inconsistent with this subdivision. 
  2.13     Subd. 2.  The commissioner of natural resources is 
  2.14  appointed by the governor under the provisions of section 
  2.15  15.06.  The commissioner may appoint a deputy commissioner. 
  2.16     Subd. 3.  Subject to the provisions of Laws 1969, chapter 
  2.17  1129, and to other applicable laws the commissioner, with 
  2.18  approval of the board, shall organize the department and employ 
  2.19  three assistant commissioners, each of whom shall serve at the 
  2.20  pleasure of the commissioner in the unclassified service, one of 
  2.21  whom shall have responsibility for coordinating and directing 
  2.22  the planning of every division within the agency, and such other 
  2.23  officers, employees, and agents as the commissioner, with 
  2.24  approval of the board, may deem necessary to discharge the 
  2.25  functions of the department, define the duties of such officers, 
  2.26  employees, and agents and to delegate to them any of the 
  2.27  commissioner's powers, duties, and responsibilities subject to 
  2.28  the control of, and under the conditions prescribed by, 
  2.29  the commissioner board.  Appointments to exercise delegated 
  2.30  power shall be by written order filed with the secretary of 
  2.31  state. 
  2.32     Subd. 4.  Before entering upon the duties of office the 
  2.33  commissioner of natural resources shall take and subscribe an 
  2.34  oath. 
  2.35     Subd. 5.  The commissioner of or natural resources board 
  2.36  may request from time to time, as the commissioner deems 
  3.1   necessary, information and advice on technical natural resource 
  3.2   matters from advisory task forces or individuals having 
  3.3   specialized knowledge or experience in such matters.  A task 
  3.4   force shall expire and the terms, compensation and removal of 
  3.5   members shall be as provided in section 15.059.  The expenses 
  3.6   allowed shall be paid from any money appropriated to the 
  3.7   commissioner for salaries, supplies, and expenses. 
  3.8      Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  3.9      Section 1 is effective January 1, 1996.