1.1    .................... moves to amend H. F. No. 1183 as follows:
1.2Page .., after line .., insert:

1.3    "Sec. .... FOREST PROTECTION PLAN.
1.4    Subdivision 1. Task force plan. The Forest Resources Council shall create a task
1.5force to develop a plan to prepare the state for early detection, appropriate response, and
1.6educating the public regarding invasive pests that threaten the tree cover of Minnesota. The
1.7task force also may give advice on how to best promote forest diversity and the planting of
1.8trees to address environmental challenges with the state. The plan must address:
1.9    (a) Current efforts to address forest pests, what geographic areas and property types
1.10have regular and active monitoring of forest pests, and gaps in the adequacy of the current
1.11oversight and detection system;
1.12    (b) How the state may establish a flexible, yet comprehensive, system of tree
1.13monitoring in that trees in all areas of Minnesota re covered by active early pest detection
1.14efforts. In analyzing this, the task force shall consider possible roles for certified tree
1.15inspectors, volunteers, and state and local government;
1.16    (c) Current storm damage response and how that might be improved for forest health
1.17and to minimize vulnerability to pest infection;
1.18    (d) The adequacy of the current response plan, the clarity of state and local roles and
1.19responsibility, emergency communication plans, and the availability of needed funding for
1.20pest outbreak response and how to scale it up should a major outbreak be detected;
1.21    (e) Recommendations for clear delineation of state and local roles in notifying
1.22property owners and enforcing remediation actions;
1.23    (f) The best approach to broad public education on the threats of new invasive tree
1.24pests, the expected response to an outbreak, the value of trees to our environment, and the
1.25promotion of a more diversified tree cover statewide; and
1.26    (g) An assessment of funding needs and options for the above activities and possible
1.27funding approaches to promote the planting of a more diverse tree cover, along with
2.1assisting in the costs of tree removal and replacement for public entities and property
2.2owners.
2.3    A report and recommendations to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over
2.4natural resources, and to the legislative citizen commission on Minnesota resources shall
2.5be due on December 15, 2007.
2.6    Subd. 2. Task force creation. The chair of the Forest Resources Council and the
2.7commissioners of agriculture and natural resources shall jointly appoint the members
2.8of the task force, which shall include up to 15 members with representatives of: the
2.9University of Minnesota, city, township and county associations, commercial timber and
2.10forest industries of varying size, nursery and landscape architecture, arborists and certified
2.11tree inspectors, nonprofit organizations engaged in tree advocacy, planting, and education,
2.12a master gardener, a citizen member of the legislative citizen committee on Minnesota
2.13resources, and a tribal representative recommended by the Indian Affairs Council.
2.14    Representatives of the Departments of Agriculture and Natural Resources shall serve
2.15as ex-officio members and assist the council in its work."