Purpose

• Establish and formalize the process and criteria for hiring the executive director of the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council (LSOHC).
• Reorganize and define the council’s membership, qualifications, terms, and funding to guide how outdoor heritage programs are overseen.

Key Provisions (What the bill changes or creates)

• Council composition and appointments

  • The Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council will consist of 12 members.
  • Appointments come from three groups:
  • Public members: appointed by the Senate Subcommittee on Committees (two), by the Speaker of the House (two), and by the Governor (four).
  • Legislative members: two members of the Senate appointed by the Senate Subcommittee on Committees, and two members of the House appointed by the Speaker.
  • Appointees must not be registered lobbyists.
  • Governors’ appointments require advice and consent of the Senate.
  • The appointments are to consider geographic balance, gender, age, ethnicity, and varied interests including hunting and fishing.

• Requirements and qualifications for public members

  • Public members must have practical experience, expertise, or demonstrated knowledge in science, policy, or practice related to restoring, protecting, and enhancing wetlands, prairies, forests, and habitat for fish, game, and wildlife.

• Roles and terms

  • Public members serve four-year terms.
  • Legislative members serve at the pleasure of their appointing authority.
  • Public members’ terms are scheduled at initial appointment, with a defined phased-term plan.

• Officers and governance

  • Members elect a chair, vice-chair, secretary, and other officers as the council determines.
  • The chair can convene meetings as needed to perform duties.

• Administrative support and funding

  • The Legislative Coordinating Commission (LCC) may appoint nonpartisan staff and contract with consultants to support the council.
  • The council has final approval authority for hiring the executive director.
  • Up to 1% of the money appropriated from the fund may be used for administrative expenses of the council and for compensation and expense reimbursement of council members.

Executive Director Hiring Process (New process details)

• Subdivision created for administration (Subd. 2a)

  • The LCC may provide nonpartisan staff and contract support to the council for administration.
  • The council has final approval authority for hiring the executive director.
  • Interview panel requirements:
  • The panel must include an equal number of members representing the two largest political parties.
  • If the panel cannot reach unanimity on a candidate, the panel must forward multiple candidates to the full council for consideration.

• Administrative funding

  • As above, up to 1% of fund money may be used for administrative expenses and for member compensation.

Significance and How it Changes Existing Law

• Governance and transparency

  • Shifts final hiring authority for the executive director to the council, with bipartisan interview panels and a structured, multi-candidate pathway if consensus isn’t reached.
  • Codifies specific qualifications for public members to ensure expertise in habitat restoration and related science/policy.
  • Establishes explicit terms, compensation (up to $125/day), and vacancy procedures for council members.

• Appointment process and bipartisanship

  • Strengthens bipartisan participation in leadership selection by requiring equal representation from the two largest political parties on the interview panel.

• Administrative support and funding

  • Clarifies the role of the Legislative Coordinating Commission in providing staff and contracting support.
  • Allows a capped use of fund money for administration and member compensation.

Practical Impact

• This bill aims to professionalize and democratize the governance and hiring for the outdoor heritage program, potentially improving scientific expertise, stakeholder representation, and transparency in selecting the executive director and managing funds.

Relevant Terms - Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council - Outdoor Heritage Fund - executive director - interview panel - final approval authority - Legislative Coordinating Commission - nonpartisan staff - appointed members - public members - legislative members - geographic balance - diversity (gender, age, ethnicity) - hunting and fishing - wetlands, prairies, forests, habitat - science policy - administration funding - compensation (up to $125 per day) - term lengths - minority party representation - advice and consent of the Senate - fund money and administrative expenses