Purpose

This bill aims to change who serves on the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council by establishing term limits and refining how members are chosen. It also updates rules about qualifications, compensation, leadership, staffing, and funding related to the council.

Main Provisions

• Establishes a 12-member council (Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council) with a mix of public and legislative members, appointed by the Governor, the Senate, and the House.
  • Appointments include: 2 public members by the Senate subcommittee on Committees, 2 public members by the Speaker of the House, 4 public members by the Governor (subject to Senate advice and consent), 2 members of the Senate, and 2 members of the House.
  • All appointees must not be registered lobbyists.
  • Appointments should consider geographic balance, gender, age, ethnicity, and diverse interests including hunting and fishing.
• Public members must have practical experience or knowledge in restoring, protecting, and enhancing wetlands, prairies, forests, and wildlife habitats (for fish, game, and wildlife).
• Legislative members must include chairs of the relevant environment and natural resources committees (or their designees) and must include representation from the minority parties in the Senate and the House.
• Term lengths:
  • Public members: four-year terms.
  • Legislative members: serve at the pleasure of their appointing authorities.
  • Public and legislative members continue serving until successors are appointed.
  • Public members have a maximum of eight years of service, with a possible six-month extension to fill a vacancy.
• Terms are staggered at initial appointment with specific term end dates listed (to set up ongoing rotation).
• Members may be compensated for service, up to $125 per day.
• The council will elect its own officers (chair, vice-chair, secretary, etc.) and the chair can call meetings as needed.

Changes to Existing Law

• Amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 97A.056 subdivision 2 to redefine the composition, appointment process, term lengths, and governance of the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council.
• Adds explicit term limits for public members, adds diversity and expertise requirements, and specifies who may appoint and oversee both public and legislative members.
• Clarifies compensation limits and the process for filling vacancies.
• Updates governance, staffing, and funding provisions, including authority over hiring an executive director and permissible use of funds for administration.
• Grants authority to the Legislative Coordinating Commission to appoint staff and contract for consultants to support the council’s functions.
• Allows up to 1% of the fund’s appropriated money to cover administrative expenses and member compensation.

Governance, Staffing, and Funding

• Legislative Coordinating Commission may provide nonpartisan staff and contract with consultants as needed.
• The council has final approval over hiring an executive director.
• Administrative expenses and member compensation may be paid from the funds, up to 1% of the money appropriated from the fund.

Relevant Terms - Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council - Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Fund - public members - legislative members - appointments - Governor - Senate Subcommittee on Committees - Committee on Rules and Administration - Speaker of the House - environment and natural resources committee - minority party - term limits - four-year terms - eight-year cap - six-month extension - compensation up to $125/day - geographic balance - diversity (gender, age, ethnicity) - wetlands - prairies - forests - habitat - fish, game, wildlife - executive director - Legislative Coordinating Commission - staffing and consultants - administrative expenses - funding from the fund