Minnesota SF 4462: Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council hiring executive director requirements establishment

Bill Text

1.1 A bill for an act​
1.2 relating to natural resources; establishing requirements for hiring executive director​
1.3 of the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council; amending Minnesota Statutes​
1.4 2024, section 97A.056, subdivision 2, by adding a subdivision.​
1.5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:​
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.056, subdivision 2, is amended to read:​
1.7 Subd. 2.Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council.(a) The Lessard-Sams Outdoor​
1.8 Heritage Council of 12 members is created in the legislative branch, consisting of:​
1.9 (1) two public members appointed by the senate Subcommittee on Committees of the​
1.10 Committee on Rules and Administration;​
1.11 (2) two public members appointed by the speaker of the house;​
1.12 (3) four public members appointed by the governor;​
1.13 (4) two members of the senate appointed by the senate Subcommittee on Committees​
1.14 of the Committee on Rules and Administration; and​
1.15 (5) two members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house.​
1.16 (b) Members appointed under paragraph (a) must not be registered lobbyists. In making​
1.17 appointments, the governor, senate Subcommittee on Committees of the Committee on​
1.18 Rules and Administration, and the speaker of the house shall consider geographic balance,​
1.19 gender, age, ethnicity, and varying interests including hunting and fishing. The governor's​
1.20 appointments to the council are subject to the advice and consent of the senate.​
1​Section 1.​
26-07632 as introduced​03/03/26 REVISOR CKM/CH​
SENATE​
STATE OF MINNESOTA​
S.F. No. 4462​NINETY-FOURTH SESSION​
(SENATE AUTHORS: LANG)​
OFFICIAL STATUS​D-PG​DATE​
Introduction and first reading​6738​03/17/2026​
Referred to Environment, Climate, and Legacy​
See SF2077​

2.1 (c) Public members appointed under paragraph (a) shall have practical experience or​
2.2 expertise or demonstrated knowledge in the science, policy, or practice of restoring,​
2.3 protecting, and enhancing wetlands, prairies, forests, and habitat for fish, game, and wildlife.​
2.4 (d) Legislative members appointed under paragraph (a) shall include the chairs of the​
2.5 legislative committees with jurisdiction over environment and natural resources finance or​
2.6 their designee, one member from the minority party of the senate, and one member from​
2.7 the minority party of the house of representatives.​
2.8 (e) Public members serve four-year terms. Appointed legislative members serve at the​
2.9 pleasure of the appointing authority. Public and legislative members continue to serve until​
2.10 their successors are appointed. Public members shall be initially appointed according to the​
2.11 following schedule of terms:​
2.12 (1) two public members appointed by the governor for a term ending the first Monday​
2.13 in January 2011;​
2.14 (2) one public member appointed by the senate Subcommittee on Committees of the​
2.15 Committee on Rules and Administration for a term ending the first Monday in January​
2.16 2011;​
2.17 (3) one public member appointed by the speaker of the house for a term ending the first​
2.18 Monday in January 2011;​
2.19 (4) two public members appointed by the governor for a term ending the first Monday​
2.20 in January 2013;​
2.21 (5) one public member appointed by the senate Subcommittee on Committees of the​
2.22 Committee on Rules and Administration for a term ending the first Monday in January​
2.23 2013; and​
2.24 (6) one public member appointed by the speaker of the house for a term ending the first​
2.25 Monday in January 2013.​
2.26 (f) Terms, compensation, and removal of public members are as provided in section​
2.27 15.0575, except that a public member may be compensated at the rate of up to $125 a day.​
2.28 A vacancy on the council may be filled by the appointing authority for the remainder of the​
2.29 unexpired term.​
2.30 (g) Members shall elect a chair, vice-chair, secretary, and other officers as determined​
2.31 by the council. The chair may convene meetings as necessary to conduct the duties prescribed​
2.32 by this section.​
2​Section 1.​
26-07632 as introduced​03/03/26 REVISOR CKM/CH​

3.1 (h) The Legislative Coordinating Commission may appoint nonpartisan staff and contract​
3.2 with consultants as necessary to support the functions of the council. The council has final​
3.3 approval authority for the hiring of a candidate for executive director. Up to one percent of​
3.4 the money appropriated from the fund may be used to pay for administrative expenses of​
3.5 the council and for compensation and expense reimbursement of council members.​
3.6 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.056, is amended by adding a subdivision to​
3.7 read:​
3.8 Subd. 2a.Administration; executive director.(a) The Legislative Coordinating​
3.9 Commission may appoint nonpartisan staff and contract with consultants as necessary to​
3.10 support the functions of the council.​
3.11 (b) T