FY 1999-2000 NATURAL RESOURCES BUDGET - S.B. 370: CONFERENCE REPORT

FY 1998-99 Year-to-Date Gross Appropriation	$228,001,500
Changes from FY 1998-99 Year-to-Date:
Items Included by the Senate and House
1. Game & Fish Protection Fund. The Governor, Senate, and House recommended expansion of the information programs, fish ladder repair, cooperative resource grants, in-car computing for conservation officers, and discontinuance of a one-time purchase of portable radios. 2. Forest Development Fund. The Governor, Senate, and House increased funding for forest fire equipment, a cooperative grants program, and Statewide Forest Resource Inventory. 3. Federal Timber and Oil Revenue. The Governor, Senate, and House included funds from the sale of timber on federal lands, to be provided to local communities. 4. Snowmobile Law Enforcement. The Governor and Senate included additional snowmobile revenue as local grants, which was increased by the House and concurred in Conference. 5. Wildlife Management. The Senate and House included GF/GP to fund a swimmer's itch study	2,590,000 3,945,000 2,800,000937,00085,000
6. Abandoned Mineshaft Closures. The Senate and House increased GF/GP for this line item.	250,000
7. Center Line Shooting Range. The Senate and House included GF/GP for second year funding for this project.	25,400
8. Other Changes. The bill included economic adjustments, one-time program reductions and other revenue adjustments. (-20	1,992,400
Conference Agreement on Items of Difference
9. Conservation Officers. The Conference added Game & Fish Protection Fund provide for 10 more Conservation Officers.	1,000,000
10. Grants for Cleanup and Maintenance of Tax Reverted Properties. The Governor and Senate deleted FY 1998-99 GF/GP for cleanup of State-owned properties. The House restored the program, and the Conference Committee provided partial funding.	250,000
11 Off-Road Vehicle Trail Improvement Grants. The House increased restricted funds to provide grants to counties that supply law enforcement to ORV areas in State parks, and the Conference Committee concurred.	25,000
12. General Law Enforcement (Hunter Murders). The House deleted this new Senate program to provide rewards for information on persons who murder hunters, and the Conference Committee concurred.	10,000
Total Changes	$13,909,800
FY 1999-2000 Conference Report Gross Appropriation	$241,911,300
Amount Over/(Under) GF/GP Target: $0

FY 1999-2000 NATURAL RESOURCES BUDGET - BOILERPLATE HIGHLIGHTS

Changes from FY 1998-99 Year-to-Date:

Conference Agreement on Items of Difference

1. Endangered Species. The Senate added language prohibiting funding for permit review to organizations who acquire endangered species habitat properties, and as of September 30, 2000, prohibits providing funding to such an organization for Natural Features Inventory Program. The House substituted this with language requiring a transition plan, with a report due by March 1, 2000. The Conference Committee concurred with the House. (Sec. 210)

2. Captive Cervidae. The Senate added language directing the department define captive Cervidae farm vs. hunting preserve. The House added language establishing a Captive Cervidae work group, and required the department transfer regulation to the Department of Agriculture. The Conference Committee concurred with the work group, but not the transfer of regulation. (Sec. 602, 605) 3. "Buck Wilder" Program. The Senate added language requiring a report on the program by 4/1/2000. The House required the report be provided by a "disinterested" third party, and the Conference Committee agreed to an "objective" third party. (Sec. 302)

4. Gravel Pits. The Senate added language directing the department to allow continued operation for certain purposes after termination of gravel pit contract. The House added the option of reimbursing the contractor, and the Conference Committee deleted the language altogether. 5 . Law Enforcement. The House restored language prohibiting department employee from entering private property without warrant or consent of owner. Deleted by Governor and Senate, and included in Conference. (Sec. 1101). The Senate allocated 10,0000 in Law Enforcement to offer reward for information leading to arrest and conviction of persons who murder licensed hunters in the act of legal hunting. (Sec. 1200 3. 6. State-Owned Aircraft. The House inserted new language requiring plans for maintenance and use of State-owned aircraft, and the Conference concurred. (Sec. 223). 7. Settlement Funds. The House inserted new language establishing a work group on court settlements, and the Conference concurred. (Sec. 221)

8. Wolf Damage. The House inserted new language to require the department reimburse the Department of Agriculture for indemnification costs from wolf damage, and the Conference concurred (Sec. 603). 9. Bovine Tuberculosis. The House inserted language to require the Department of Agriculture reimburse the DNR for testing beyond that necessity to eradicate bovine TB from the free-ranging deer herd. The Conference agreed to direct the DNR request reimbursement from the Department of Agriculture (Sec. 604) 10. Fish Advisories. The House inserted language requiring annual information on fish advisory booklets, which was concurred in Conference (Sec, 704)

11. Wildfire Aircraft. The House inserted language to designate $100,000 to establish aircraft standby locations for wildfire suppression, which was concurred in Conference. (Sec. 905).

12. Tax Reverted Grants. The House inserted new language to provide direction on this grant program, which was concurred in Conference. (Sec. 1004).

13. Law Enforcement Warrants. The House restored FY 1998-99 language requiring warrants. (Sec 1101)

14. Snowmobile Law Enforcement Grants. The House designated 100% of grants to local law enforcement, which was concurred in Conference. (Sec. 1102)

15. Sec. 1203. Off Road Grants. The House designated between $25,000 to $135,000 to counties for law enforcement assistance in State Parks with ORV areas. Date Completed. 6/10/99 - Fiscal Analyst. G. Cutler