Subdivision 1. Establishment; purposes. The game and fish fund is established as a fund in the state treasury.
Subd. 2. Receipts. The commissioner of management and budget shall credit to the game and fish fund all money received under the game and fish laws and all income from state lands acquired by purchase or gift for game or fish purposes, including receipts from:
(1) licenses and permits issued;
(2) fines and forfeited bail;
(3) sales of contraband, wild animals, and other property under the control of the division, except as provided in section 97A.225, subdivision 8, clause (2);
(4) fees from advanced education courses for hunters and trappers;
(5) reimbursements of expenditures by the division;
(6) contributions to the division; and
(7) revenue credited to the game and fish fund under section 297A.94, paragraph (h), clause (1).
Subd. 2a. Federal aid disposition. (a) Federal aid reimbursements under the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, United States Code, title 16, sections 669 to 669i, shall be deposited in the game and fish fund.
(b) Federal aid reimbursements under the Federal Aid in Fish Restoration Act, United States Code, title 16, sections 777 to 777k, shall be deposited in the game and fish fund.
Subd. 2b. Certified costs. Money for the certified costs under section 89.0385 is transferred annually for reimbursement of certified costs on state lands acquired by purchase or gift for game and fish purposes.
Subd. 3. Game and fish fund fees. To reduce yearly fluctuations of the game and fish fund balance and to provide improved long-range planning of the fund, the policy of the state is to make fee adjustments as part of the budget process. Agency responsibilities are:
(1) The commissioner of natural resources must make specific requests for fee adjustments for all receipt items in the game and fish fund as a part of the fee report.
(2) The commissioner of management and budget must review the fee report and make recommendations for each fee. The commissioner of management and budget must submit a six-year projection on revenues and expenditures to the legislature.
Subd. 4. Game and fish annual reports. (a) By December 15 each year, the commissioner shall submit to the legislative committees having jurisdiction over appropriations and the environment and natural resources reports on each of the following:
(1) the amount of revenue from the following and purposes for which expenditures were made:
(i) the small-game license surcharge under section 97A.475, subdivision 4;
(ii) the Minnesota migratory-waterfowl stamp under section 97A.475, subdivision 5, clause (1);
(iii) the trout-and-salmon stamp under section 97A.475, subdivision 10;
(iv) the pheasant stamp under section 97A.475, subdivision 5, clause (2);
(v) the wild-turkey management account under section 97A.075, subdivision 5;
(vi) the deer license donations and surcharges under section 97A.475, subdivisions 3, paragraph (b), and 3a; and
(vii) the walleye stamp under section 97A.475, subdivision 10a;
(2) the amounts available under section 97A.075, subdivision 1, paragraphs (b) and (c), and the purposes for which these amounts were spent;
(3) money credited to the game and fish fund under this section and purposes for which expenditures were made from the fund;
(4) outcome goals for the expenditures from the game and fish fund; and
(5) summary and comments of citizen oversight committee reviews under subdivision 4b.
(b) The report must include the commissioner's recommendations, if any, for changes in the laws relating to the stamps and surcharge referenced in paragraph (a).
Subd. 4a. [Repealed, 2001 c 161 s 58]
Subd. 4b. Citizen oversight committees. (a) The commissioner shall appoint committees of affected persons to review the reports prepared under subdivision 4; review the proposed work plans and budgets for the coming year; propose changes in policies, activities, and revenue enhancements or reductions; review other relevant information; and make recommendations to the legislature and the commissioner for improvements in the management and use of money in the game and fish fund.
(b) The commissioner shall appoint the following committees, each comprised of at least ten affected persons:
(1) a Fisheries Oversight Committee to review fisheries funding and expenditures, including activities related to trout-and-salmon stamps and walleye stamps; and
(2) a Wildlife Oversight Committee to review wildlife funding and expenditures, including activities related to migratory waterfowl, pheasant, and wild turkey management and deer and big game management.
(c) The chairs of the Fisheries Oversight Committee and the Wildlife Oversight Committee, and four additional members from each committee, shall form a Budgetary Oversight Committee to coordinate the integration of the fisheries and wildlife oversight committee reports into an annual report to the legislature; recommend changes on a broad level in policies, activities, and revenue enhancements or reductions; and provide a forum to address issues that transcend the fisheries and wildlife oversight committees.
(d) The Budgetary Oversight Committee shall develop recommendations for a biennial budget plan and report for expenditures on game and fish activities. By August 15 of each even-numbered year, the committee shall submit the budget plan recommendations to the commissioner and to the senate and house of representatives committees with jurisdiction over natural resources finance.
(e) The chairs of the Fisheries Oversight Committee and the Wildlife Oversight Committee shall be chosen by their respective committees. The chair of the Budgetary Oversight Committee shall be appointed by the commissioner and may not be the chair of either of the other oversight committees.
(f) The Budgetary Oversight Committee may make recommendations to the commissioner and to the senate and house of representatives committees with jurisdiction over natural resources finance for outcome goals from expenditures.
(g) The committees authorized under this subdivision are not advisory councils or committees governed by section 15.059 and are not subject to section 15.059. Committee members appointed by the commissioner may request reimbursement for mileage expenses in the same manner and amount as authorized by the commissioner's plan adopted under section 43A.18, subdivision 2. Committee members must not receive daily compensation for oversight activities. The Fisheries Oversight Committee, the Wildlife Oversight Committee, and the Budgetary Oversight Committee expire June 30, 2025.
Subd. 5. Pelting fees. The commissioner may pay a pelting fee to a person who recovers, treats, preserves, or transports the pelt of a fur-bearing animal that is accidentally killed or is lawfully taken under section 97B.655. The commissioner may adopt rules setting pelting fees and governing their payment. The amounts necessary to pay the fees are appropriated from the game and fish fund to the commissioner.
Subd. 6. Land acquisition restriction. Except as provided in section 97A.475, subdivision 4, revenue from the sale of game and fish licenses and permits, excluding revenue from hunting and fishing stamps, shall not be used to acquire land in fee or easement.
History:1986 c 386 art 1 s 10; 1987 c 149 art 1 s 7; 1989 c 335 art 1 s 85; 1993 c 172 s 51,52; 1993 c 231 s 7; 1994 c 561 s 2,3; 1996 c 364 s 1,2; 2000 c 418 art 1 s 44; 2000 c 463 s 2,3; 2000 c 488 art 3 s 26; 1Sp2001 c 2 s 105; 2002 c 376 s 6; 2003 c 112 art 2 s 50; 2004 c 228 art 1 s 21; 2004 c 255 s 27; 1Sp2005 c 1 art 2 s 95; 2006 c 281 art 2 s 17; 2007 c 57 art 1 s 80; 2008 c 357 s 24; 2008 c 368 art 2 s 12,13; 2009 c 101 art 2 s 109; 2011 c 107 s 49; 1Sp2011 c 2 art 4 s 10; 2012 c 277 art 2 s 1; 2014 c 286 art 8 s 11; 2014 c 290 s 15; 1Sp2015 c 4 art 4 s 69; 2017 c 93 art 2 s 69; 2019 c 50 art 1 s 21; 1Sp2019 c 4 art 3 s 47