Vetoed by Governor Mark Dayton

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that appropriates funds for agricultural, environmental and natural resources for fiscal years 2015-2016 and 2016-2017.

Highlights:

• Appropriates $41.51 million to the Department of Agriculture for fiscal year 2015-2016 and $45.51 million for fiscal year 2016-2017 (Art. 1).
• Requires an individual who owns property adjacent to a public body of water identified on the state’s water resources buffer protection map to maintain the more restrictive of the following buffers, effective November 1, 2017 (Art. 4):
• A buffer that is 50-foot average width, 30-foot minimum width, and consists of continuous perennially rooted vegetation; or
• A buffer that meets the state shoreland standards and criteria adopted by the Commissioner of Natural Resources.
• Requires an individual who owns property adjacent to a public drainage system identified on the state’s water resources buffer protection map to maintain a 16.5-foot minimum width continuous buffer of perennially rooted vegetation in ditches, effective November 1, 2018 (Art. 4).
• Appropriates the following funds for avian influenza emergency response activities (Art.1):
• $3.62 million to the Commissioner of Agriculture;
• $1.85 million to the Board of Animal Health;
• $103,000 to the Commissioner of Health; and
• $544,000 to the Commissioner of Public Safety to operate the State Emergency Operation Center in coordination with the statewide avian influenza response activities.
• Appropriates $350,000 to the Commissioner of Natural Resources to sample wild animals to detect and monitor the avian influenza virus (Art. 1). 
• Appropriates $1 million to the University of Minnesota to research the cause of avian influenza, why certain fowl are more susceptible, and preventative measures that can be taken (Art. 1). 
• Authorizes the Commissioner of Management and Budget to transfer unexpended balances from the appropriations towards the avian influenza response activities to any state agency for operating expenses related to avian influenza response activities (Art. 1). 
• Requires the following license holders to acquire “aquatic invasive species affirmation” (Art. 4): 
• A watercraft license holder, effective January 1, 2016; and
• A nonresident fishing license holder, effective March 1, 2016.
• Defines “aquatic invasive species affirmation” as an affirmation of the summary of the aquatic invasive species laws in the 2014 Minnesota Statues (Art. 4). 

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that appropriates funds for agricultural, environmental and natural resources for fiscal years 2015-2016 and 2016-2017.

Highlights:

• Appropriates $41.51 million to the Department of Agriculture for fiscal year 2015-2016 and $45.51 million for fiscal year 2016-2017 (Art. 1).
• Requires an individual who owns property adjacent to a public body of water identified on the state’s water resources buffer protection map to maintain the more restrictive of the following buffers, effective November 1, 2017 (Art. 4):
• A buffer that is 50-foot average width, 30-foot minimum width, and consists of continuous perennially rooted vegetation; or
• A buffer that meets the state shoreland standards and criteria adopted by the Commissioner of Natural Resources.
• Requires an individual who owns property adjacent to a public drainage system identified on the state’s water resources buffer protection map to maintain a 16.5-foot minimum width continuous buffer of perennially rooted vegetation in ditches, effective November 1, 2018 (Art. 4).
• Appropriates the following funds for avian influenza emergency response activities (Art.1):
• $3.62 million to the Commissioner of Agriculture;
• $1.85 million to the Board of Animal Health;
• $103,000 to the Commissioner of Health; and
• $544,000 to the Commissioner of Public Safety to operate the State Emergency Operation Center in coordination with the statewide avian influenza response activities.
• Appropriates $350,000 to the Commissioner of Natural Resources to sample wild animals to detect and monitor the avian influenza virus (Art. 1). 
• Appropriates $1 million to the University of Minnesota to research the cause of avian influenza, why certain fowl are more susceptible, and preventative measures that can be taken (Art. 1). 
• Authorizes the Commissioner of Management and Budget to transfer unexpended balances from the appropriations towards the avian influenza response activities to any state agency for operating expenses related to avian influenza response activities (Art. 1). 
• Requires the following license holders to acquire “aquatic invasive species affirmation” (Art. 4): 
• A watercraft license holder, effective January 1, 2016; and
• A nonresident fishing license holder, effective March 1, 2016.
• Defines “aquatic invasive species affirmation” as an affirmation of the summary of the aquatic invasive species laws in the 2014 Minnesota Statues (Art. 4). 

Full Bill Text