Chapter 248, Article 5
ENVIRONMENTAL REORGANIZATION
Section 1. [FINDINGS.]
The legislature finds as follows: the current assignment of environmental and natural resources programs among many state agencies creates confusion and frustration for citizens and decision makers. The environmental and natural resources services provided by these programs can be better delivered by reorganizing related functions so that citizens of Minnesota have easier access to the programs. Reorganization can provide more responsiveness to citizens, will ensure less fragmentation of environmental and natural resources policies, will minimize overlapping responsibilities among agencies, and will ensure better coordination of environmental and natural resources policies.
Sec. 2. [REORGANIZATION.]
Subdivision 1. [GOALS.] The legislature finds that it is desirable to develop a plan to reorganize state services relating to the protection of the environment, protection of farmland, and the management of natural resources to achieve the following goals:
(1) sustainable development throughout all regions of the state and all sectors of the economy;
(2) improved delivery of services;
(3) a preventative, precautionary approach to environmental degradation;
(4) citizen participation in relevant decision-making processes; and
(5) progressively less air, land, and water pollution.
Subd. 2. [DEFINITION.] "Sustainable development" means management and development of environmental resources to ensure both sustainable human progress and environmental protection by meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Sec. 3. [OUTCOMES.]
A reorganization plan must show how state agencies can be reorganized to achieve the following outcomes:
(1) consolidation, where appropriate, of many of the state's diverse environmental and natural resource programs;
(2) better coordination of programs and activities relating to environmental and natural resource matters;
(3) improved citizen access to pertinent, understandable information;
(4) establishment of an expeditious review process for agency actions;
(5) establishment of a policy planning framework for sustainable development;
(6) integrated licensing and permitting through a single access point;
(7) identification and review of specifications and programs that should be eliminated or accomplished by different means;
(8) decentralization of the service-delivery system for the benefit of citizens of the state as consumers of services;
(9) management based on appropriate geographical natural resource characteristics;
(10) development of the polluter-pays principle through a balanced system of regulatory controls and financial incentives; and
(11) the flexibility to enable state and local governments to coordinate and cooperate as well as identify and address existing and emerging environmental issues of state, national, and international import.
Sec. 4. [REORGANIZATION STUDY.]
Subdivision 1. [GOVERNOR'S DESIGNEES.] Within 30 days of the effective date of this section, the governor shall designate a commissioner or group of commissioners to develop a plan to reorganize state services relating to the protection of the environment and the management of natural resources. The governor's designee or designees shall consult with legislators designated by the legislative coordinating commission under subdivision 2 in developing the plan.
Subd. 2. [LEGISLATIVE DESIGNEES.] Within 30 days of the effective date of this section, the legislative coordinating commission shall designate a group of legislators to develop a plan to reorganize state services relating to the protection of the environment and the management of natural resources. The designees must include the chairs of the house and senate committees on environment and natural resources, unless the chairs decline. The legislative designees shall consult with the governor's designee or designees named under subdivision 1 in developing the plan.
Subd. 3. [PUBLIC, STATE EMPLOYEE INPUT.] The designees of the governor and the legislative coordinating commission may appoint stakeholder advisory councils to facilitate public input and state employee input on state services relating to the protection of the environment and the management of natural resources.
Subd. 4. [ACTIVITIES.]
(a) The designees named under subdivisions 1 and 2 shall serve as partners in studying the delivery of state services and the performance of state functions and shall recommend changes that would achieve the goals and outcomes outlined in sections 2 and 3. These recommendations must be submitted to the legislature by December 15, 1996.
(b) As part of their study, the designees shall examine special purpose districts, including soil and water conservation districts, watershed districts, lake improvement districts, lake conservation districts, and water management organizations, and shall recommend steps to eliminate overlapping jurisdictions, duplicative responsibilities, and duplicative funding mechanisms. These recommendations must be submitted to the legislature by December 15, 1995.
(c) As part of their study, the designees shall examine boards, commissions, councils, and task forces, including the office of environmental assistance and the board of water and soil resources and other organizations and advisory bodies providing or regulating state services relating to the protection of the environment, protection of farmland, and the management of natural resources, and shall recommend steps to increase accountability and eliminate overlapping jurisdictions, duplicative responsibilities and programs, and duplicative funding mechanisms.