1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to game and fish; establishing an access to the outdoors program;
1.3 	proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 84.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. [84.992] ACCESS TO MINNESOTA OUTDOORS.
1.6 		Subdivision 1.Walk-in access plan. (a) The commissioner shall create a walk-in 
1.7 	public access plan under which the commissioner may encourage owners and operators of 
1.8 	privately held land to voluntarily make that land available for walk-in access by the public 
1.9 	for hunting and fishing.
1.10 	(b) As part of the plan, the commissioner shall explore entering into contracts with 
1.11 	the owners or lessees of land to establish voluntary walk-in public access for hunting, 
1.12 	fishing, or other wildlife-dependent recreational activities.
1.13 	(c) In the plan, the commissioner must describe:
1.14 	(1) the benefits that private land will provide the public, such as hunting, fishing, 
1.15 	bird watching, and related outdoor activities; and 
1.16 	(2) the types of game, fish, and wildlife habitat improvements made to the land that 
1.17 	will enhance public uses.
1.18 	(d) In developing the walk-in access plan, the commissioner shall explore walk-in 
1.19 	access programs in other states for public access to private lands for hunting, fishing, 
1.20 	and related recreational activities. 
1.21 		Subd. 2.Preemption. Nothing in this section is intended to preempt other state 
1.22 	laws, including trespass and liability laws.
2.1 		Subd. 3.Report. By January 15, 2009, the commissioner must present the walk-in 
2.2 	access plan to the house and senate committees with jurisdiction over natural resources 
2.3 	policy and finance, with recommendations on program implementation.