Conflict of interest provisions for members of Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources modified.

A bill for an act

relating to natural resources; modifying conflict of interest provisions for members

of Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources; amending Minnesota

Statutes 2024, sections 116P.09, subdivision 6; 116P.18.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 116P.09, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Conflict of interest.

(a) A commission member, a technical advisory committee

member, a peer reviewer, or an employee of the commission may not participate in or vote

on a decision of the commission, advisory committee, or peer review relating to an

organization in which the member, peer reviewer, or employee has either a direct or indirect

personal financial interest. While serving on the commission or technical advisory committee

or as a peer reviewer or while an employee of the commission, a person must avoid any

potential conflict of interest.

(b) A commission member may not
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vote on a motion regarding the purchase of land

under section
116P.18
or the final recommendations of the commission required under

section
116P.05, subdivision 2
, paragraph (a), if the motion relates to an organization in

which the member has a direct personal financial interest. If a commission member is

prohibited from voting under this paragraph, the number of affirmative votes required under

section
116P.05, subdivision 2
, paragraph (a), or section
116P.18
is reduced by the number

of members ineligible to vote under this paragraph
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serve as a project manager for or receive

financial or other compensation from a proposal that is being reviewed by the commission

or receiving money from the trust fund
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.

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EFFECTIVE DATE.

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This section is effective the day following enactment.

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Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 116P.18, is amended to read:

116P.18 LANDS IN PUBLIC DOMAIN.

Money appropriated from the trust fund must not be used to purchase any land in fee

title or a permanent conservation easement if the land in question is fully or partially owned

by the state or a political subdivision of the state or was acquired fully or partially with state

money, unless:

(1) the purchase creates additional direct benefit to the protection, conservation,

preservation, and enhancement of the state's air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural

resources; and

(2) the purchase is approved, prior to the acquisition, by an affirmative vote of at least

11 members of the commission
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, except as provided under section
116P.09, subdivision 6
,

paragraph (b)
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.

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EFFECTIVE DATE.

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This section is effective the day following enactment.

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