HF 2285A

1.1CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT ON H. F. No. 2285
1.3relating to constitutional amendments; proposing an amendment to the Minnesota
1.4Constitution, article XI; increasing the sales tax rate by three-eighths of one
1.5percent and dedicating the receipts for natural resource and cultural heritage
1.6purposes; creating a natural heritage fund; creating a parks and trails fund;
1.7creating a clean water fund; creating a sustainable drinking water fund; creating
1.8an arts and cultural heritage fund; amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections
1.9114D.20, subdivision 6; 114D.30, subdivision 6; 114D.45; 297A.62, subdivision
1.101; 297A.94; 297B.02, subdivision 1; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
1.11Statutes, chapters 85; 97A; 103H; 129D.
1.12February 12, 2008
1.13The Honorable Margaret Anderson Kelliher
1.14Speaker of the House of Representatives
1.15The Honorable James P. Metzen
1.16President of the Senate
1.17We, the undersigned conferees for H. F. No. 2285 report that we have agreed upon
1.18the items in dispute and recommend as follows:
1.19That the Senate recede from its amendment and that H. F. No. 2285 be further
1.20amended as follows:
1.21Delete everything after the enacting clause and insert:

1.22    "Section 1. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
1.23    An amendment to the Minnesota Constitution is proposed to the people. If the
1.24amendment is adopted, a section will be added to article XI, to read:
1.25 Sec. 15.Beginning July 1, 2009, until June 30, 2034, the sales and use tax rate shall be
1.26increased by three-eighths of one percent on sales and uses taxable under the general state
1.27sales and use tax law. Receipts from the increase, plus penalties and interest and reduced
1.28by any refunds, are dedicated, for the benefit of Minnesotans, to the following funds: 33
1.29percent of the receipts shall be deposited in the outdoor heritage fund and may be spent
1.30only to restore, protect, and enhance wetlands, prairies, forests, and habitat for fish, game,
2.1and wildlife; 33 percent of the receipts shall be deposited in the clean water fund and may
2.2be spent only to protect, enhance, and restore water quality in lakes, rivers, and streams
2.3and to protect groundwater from degradation, and at least five percent of the clean water
2.4fund must be spent only to protect drinking water sources; 14.25 percent of the receipts
2.5shall be deposited in the parks and trails fund and may be spent only to support parks and
2.6trails of regional or statewide significance; and 19.75 percent shall be deposited in the arts
2.7and cultural heritage fund and may be spent only for arts, arts education, and arts access
2.8and to preserve Minnesota's history and cultural heritage. An outdoor heritage fund; a
2.9parks and trails fund; a clean water fund and a sustainable drinking water account; and
2.10an arts and cultural heritage fund are created in the state treasury. The money dedicated
2.11under this section shall be appropriated by law. The dedicated money under this section
2.12must supplement traditional sources of funding for these purposes and may not be used
2.13as a substitute. Land acquired by fee with money deposited in the outdoor heritage fund
2.14under this section must be open to the public taking of fish and game during the open
2.15season unless otherwise provided by law. If the base of the sales and use tax is changed,
2.16the sales and use tax rate in this section may be proportionally adjusted by law to within
2.17one-thousandth of one percent in order to provide as close to the same amount of revenue
2.18as practicable for each fund as existed before the change to the sales and use tax.

2.19    Sec. 2. SUBMISSION TO VOTERS.
2.20    (a) The proposed amendment shall be submitted to the people at the 2008 general
2.21election. The question submitted shall be:
2.22    "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to dedicate funding to protect our
2.23drinking water sources; to protect, enhance, and restore our wetlands, prairies, forests,
2.24and fish, game, and wildlife habitat; to preserve our arts and cultural heritage; to support
2.25our parks and trails; and to protect, enhance, and restore our lakes, rivers, streams,
2.26and groundwater by increasing the sales and use tax rate beginning July 1, 2009, by
2.27three-eighths of one percent on taxable sales until the year 2034?

2.28	Yes .......
2.29	No ......."

2.30    (b) The title required under Minnesota Statutes, section 204D.15, subdivision 1, for
2.31the question submitted to the people under paragraph (a) shall be "Clean Water, Wildlife,
2.32Cultural Heritage, and Natural Areas."
2.33Delete the title and insert:
2.35relating to constitutional amendments; proposing an amendment to the Minnesota
2.36Constitution, article XI; increasing the sales tax rate by three-eighths of one
3.1percent and dedicating the receipts for natural resource and cultural heritage
3.2purposes; creating an outdoor heritage fund; creating a parks and trails fund;
3.3creating a clean water fund; creating an arts and cultural heritage fund."
We request the adoption of this report and repassage of the bill.House Conferees: (Signed) Anthony "Tony" Sertich, Jean Wagenius, Rick Hansen, Frank Moe, Dennis OzmentSenate Conferees: (Signed) Lawrence J. Pogemiller, Dennis R. Frederickson, Richard J. Cohen, Ellen R. Anderson, Satveer S. Chaudhary

4.1	We request the adoption of this report and repassage of the bill.
4.2	House Conferees:(Signed)
4.3	.....		.....
4.4	Anthony "Tony" Sertich		Jean Wagenius
4.5	.....		.....
4.6	Rick Hansen		Frank Moe
4.7	.....
4.8	Dennis Ozment
4.9	Senate Conferees:(Signed)
4.10	.....		.....
4.11	Lawrence J. Pogemiller		Dennis R. Frederickson
4.12	.....		.....
4.13	Richard J. Cohen		Ellen R. Anderson
4.14	.....
4.15	Satveer S. Chaudhary