Purpose

This bill would use state bonds to buy private land to create new state parks or expand existing state parks and state recreation areas in Minnesota. The goal is to increase protected public lands by adding to the state’s park and recreation area system.

Main Provisions

• Appropriation of funds: $10,000,000 is set aside from the bond proceeds fund for the Department of Natural Resources to acquire private lands that are within state parks (per Minnesota Statutes section 85.012) or state recreation areas (per Minnesota Statutes section 85.013). These lands would be used to create new parks or expand existing ones.
• Bond financing: The state must sell and issue bonds up to $10,000,000 to finance this appropriation. The bonding follows the terms and effects described in Minnesota Statutes sections 16A.631 to 16A.675 and the Minnesota Constitution, article XI, sections 4 to 7.

Funding and Bonding Details

• Funding source: Bond proceeds fund.
• Recipient and use: Commissioner of Natural Resources to purchase lands from willing sellers for park or recreation area expansion or creation.
• Bond process: The Commissioner of Management and Budget is responsible for selling and issuing the bonds, under the referenced state statutes and constitutional provisions.

Eligible Lands and Process

• Lands to be acquired: Private lands located within designated state parks and state recreation areas.
• Sale terms: Acquisition would be from willing sellers, meaning landowners willing to sell their property to the state.

Agencies and Roles

• Commissioner of Natural Resources: Oversees the land acquisitions.
• Commissioner of Management and Budget: Handles the sale and issuance of the bonds.

Legal Authority and Compliance

• The bill relies on existing statutes and constitutional provisions to authorize the appropriation and the bond sale.
• Relevant legal references include Minnesota Statutes 85.012, 85.013, 16A.631–16A.675, and Minnesota Constitution Article XI, sections 4–7.

Potential Effects

• Increase in public park and recreation area land.
• Expanded opportunities for outdoor recreation, conservation, and conservation-based tourism.
• Use of bonding to spread costs over time rather than funding from annual appropriations.

Relevant dates to watch (not specified in the excerpt): whether the appropriation is a one-time appropriation and when the bonds would be issued.

Relevant Terms - state park - state recreation area - acquisition - private lands - willing sellers - bond proceeds fund - bonds - sale and issuance - Commissioner of Natural Resources - Commissioner of Management and Budget - Minnesota Statutes 85.012 - Minnesota Statutes 85.013 - Minnesota Statutes 16A.631 to 16A.675 - Minnesota Constitution Article XI - capital investment - appropriation