Requirements for hiring executive director of the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council established.

A bill for an act

relating to natural resources; establishing requirements for hiring executive director

of the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council; amending Minnesota Statutes

2024, section 97A.056, subdivision 2, by adding a subdivision.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.056, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council.

(a) The Lessard-Sams Outdoor

Heritage Council of 12 members is created in the legislative branch, consisting of:

(1) two public members appointed by the senate Subcommittee on Committees of the

Committee on Rules and Administration;

(2) two public members appointed by the speaker of the house;

(3) four public members appointed by the governor;

(4) two members of the senate appointed by the senate Subcommittee on Committees

of the Committee on Rules and Administration; and

(5) two members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house.

(b) Members appointed under paragraph (a) must not be registered lobbyists. In making

appointments, the governor, senate Subcommittee on Committees of the Committee on

Rules and Administration, and the speaker of the house shall consider geographic balance,

gender, age, ethnicity, and varying interests including hunting and fishing. The governor's

appointments to the council are subject to the advice and consent of the senate.

(c) Public members appointed under paragraph (a) shall have practical experience or

expertise or demonstrated knowledge in the science, policy, or practice of restoring,

protecting, and enhancing wetlands, prairies, forests, and habitat for fish, game, and wildlife.

(d) Legislative members appointed under paragraph (a) shall include the chairs of the

legislative committees with jurisdiction over environment and natural resources finance or

their designee, one member from the minority party of the senate, and one member from

the minority party of the house of representatives.

(e) Public members serve four-year terms. Appointed legislative members serve at the

pleasure of the appointing authority. Public and legislative members continue to serve until

their successors are appointed. Public members shall be initially appointed according to the

following schedule of terms:

(1) two public members appointed by the governor for a term ending the first Monday

in January 2011;

(2) one public member appointed by the senate Subcommittee on Committees of the

Committee on Rules and Administration for a term ending the first Monday in January

2011;

(3) one public member appointed by the speaker of the house for a term ending the first

Monday in January 2011;

(4) two public members appointed by the governor for a term ending the first Monday

in January 2013;

(5) one public member appointed by the senate Subcommittee on Committees of the

Committee on Rules and Administration for a term ending the first Monday in January

2013; and

(6) one public member appointed by the speaker of the house for a term ending the first

Monday in January 2013.

(f) Terms, compensation, and removal of public members are as provided in section

15.0575
, except that a public member may be compensated at the rate of up to $125 a day.

A vacancy on the council may be filled by the appointing authority for the remainder of the

unexpired term.

(g) Members shall elect a chair, vice-chair, secretary, and other officers as determined

by the council. The chair may convene meetings as necessary to conduct the duties prescribed

by this section.

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(h) The Legislative Coordinating Commission may appoint nonpartisan staff and contract

with consultants as necessary to support the functions of the council. The council has final

approval authority for the hiring of a candidate for executive director. Up to one percent of

the money appropriated from the fund may be used to pay for administrative expenses of

the council and for compensation and expense reimbursement of council members.

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Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.056, is amended by adding a subdivision to

read:

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Subd. 2a.

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Administration; executive director.

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(a) The Legislative Coordinating

Commission may appoint nonpartisan staff and contract with consultants as necessary to

support the functions of the council.

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(b) The council has final approval authority for the hiring of a candidate for executive

director. An interview panel consisting of a selection of members of the council designed

to interview and recommend candidates for executive director to the entire council for

consideration must include an equal number of members representing the two largest major

political parties. If an interview panel does not agree unanimously on a candidate to

recommend to the full council, the interview panel must forward multiple candidates to the

entire council for consideration.

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(c) Up to one percent of the money appropriated from the fund may be used to pay for

administrative expenses of the council and for compensation and expense reimbursement

of council members.

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