What's your DNR up to this session?

[JohnWester]

This year the DNR has developed a "Omnibus Policy bill" that contains many technical provisions and also policy issues related to AIS, increased fines for ASI violations (going back to the original fee schedule in the bill last year) and the lands bill among other issues. This bill has been introduced as HF 2153 https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bin/getbill.php?session=ls87&number=HF2153&session_number=0&session_year=2011&version=list

In addition to this we will have a Game and Fish bill which contains the DNR wolf proposal http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mammals/wolves/mgmt.html, and many other misc. technical provisions and also a prohibition on the importation of minnows for feeding aquaculture stock (there is an allowance on importing minnows to feed walleye for example that would be used to stock lakes). We are seeking this due to Asian Carp being detected in river systems in South Dakota and we do not want them to be inadvertently imported into MN. This bill has been introduced as HF 2171 https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bin/getbill.php?session=ls87&number=HF2171&session_number=0&session_year=2011&version=list

The DNR is also actively pursuing legislation introduced last session dealing with Hunting and Fishing license fee increases and Aquatic invasives funding. The hunting and fishing license fee increase bills are HF 1583 / SF 1227 https://www.revisor.mn.gov/revisor/pages/search_status/status_detail.php?b=House&f=HF1583&ssn=0&y=2011 . This bill will need to be amended slightly to reflect our current proposal.

For more information on this proposal go to:  http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/heritage/index.html

The AIS fee proposal is HF 1664 / SF 1415. This bill should be heard next week in the House. For more information got to: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/revisor/pages/search_status/status_detail.php?b=House&f=HF1644&ssn=0&y=2011

 I am also attaching a link to a report that we have presented to the legislature this week related to AIS funding as well.

Next week we will be spending time testifying on school trust land management in both the House and Senate and we also hope to walk through the language in the DNR Policy bill in the House as well.

As always if you have any questions about information contained in the message or any other legislative issue please feel free to contact me at bob.meier@state.mn.us or call me at 651-259-5024.