Subdivision 1. Appointment. The school trust lands director shall be appointed by the governor. The commissioner of natural resources shall provide human resources, payroll, accounting, procurement, and other similar administrative services to the school trust lands director. The director's appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the senate.
Subd. 2. Qualifications. The governor shall select the school trust lands director on the basis of outstanding professional qualifications and knowledge of finance, business practices, minerals, forest and real estate management, and the fiduciary responsibilities of a trustee to the beneficiaries of a trust. The school trust lands director serves in the unclassified service for a term of four years. The first term shall end on December 31, 2020. The governor may remove the school trust lands director for cause. If a director resigns or is removed for cause, the governor shall appoint a director for the remainder of the term.
Subd. 3. Compensation. Compensation of the school trust lands director shall be established under chapter 15A.
Subd. 4. Duties; powers. (a) The school trust lands director shall:
(1) take an oath of office before assuming any duties as the director;
(2) evaluate the school trust land asset position;
(3) determine the estimated current and potential market value of school trust lands;
(4) advise the governor, Executive Council, commissioner of natural resources, and the Legislative Permanent School Fund Commission on the management of school trust lands, including:
(i) Department of Natural Resources school trust land management plans;
(ii) leases of school trust lands;
(iii) royalty agreements on school trust lands;
(iv) land sales and exchanges;
(v) cost certification; and
(vi) revenue generating options;
(5) propose to the Legislative Permanent School Fund Commission legislative changes that will improve the asset allocation of the school trust lands;
(6) develop a ten-year strategic plan and a 25-year framework for management of school trust lands, in conjunction with the commissioner of natural resources, that is updated every five years and implemented by the commissioner, with goals to:
(i) retain core real estate assets;
(ii) increase the value of the real estate assets and the cash flow from those assets;
(iii) rebalance the portfolio in assets with high performance potential and the strategic disposal of selected assets;
(iv) establish priorities for management actions;
(v) balance revenue enhancement and resource stewardship; and
(vi) advance strategies on school trust lands to capitalize on ecosystem services markets;
(7) submit to the Legislative Permanent School Fund Commission for review an annual budget and management plan for the director; and
(8) keep the beneficiaries, governor, legislature, and the public informed about the work of the director by reporting to the Legislative Permanent School Fund Commission in a public meeting at least once during each calendar quarter.
(b) In carrying out the duties under paragraph (a), the school trust lands director shall have the authority to:
(1) direct and control money appropriated to the director;
(2) establish job descriptions and employ up to five employees in the unclassified service, within the limitations of money appropriated to the director;
(3) enter into interdepartmental agreements with any other state agency;
(4) enter into joint powers agreements under chapter 471;
(5) evaluate and initiate real estate development projects on school trust lands with the advice of the Legislative Permanent School Fund Commission in order to generate long-term economic return to the permanent school fund;
(6) serve as temporary trustee of school trust land for school trust lands subject to proposed or active eminent domain proceedings; and
(7) submit recommendations on strategies for school trust land leases, sales, or exchanges to the commissioner of natural resources and the Legislative Permanent School Fund Commission.
2012 c 249 s 10,12; 1Sp2015 c 3 art 12 s 2; 1Sp2015 c 4 art 4 s 123; 2016 c 189 art 27 s 14; 1Sp2019 c 4 art 3 s 107; 1Sp2021 c 6 art 2 s 102
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 120 - 129C — Education Code: Prekindergarten - Grade 12
Chapter 127A — State Administration Of Education
Section 127A.01 — Definitions.
Section 127A.05 — Commissioner Of Education.
Section 127A.06 — Recommendations; Budget.
Section 127A.065 — Cross-subsidy Report.
Section 127A.07 — Shared Service Agreements.
Section 127A.09 — Federal Aid For Education.
Section 127A.095 — Implementation Of Elementary And Secondary Education Act.
Section 127A.10 — State Officials And School Board Members To Be Disinterested; Penalty.
Section 127A.11 — Monitor Medical Assistance Services For Disabled Students.
Section 127A.12 — Commissioner Membership In Certain Organizations.
Section 127A.13 — Contracts With Federal Government.
Section 127A.15 — Library Information Services.
Section 127A.17 — Uniform Systems Of Records And Of Accounting; Commissioner.
Section 127A.18 — Management Assistance To School Districts.
Section 127A.19 — Financial Management Assistance And Training To School Districts And School Sites.
Section 127A.20 — Evidence-based Education Grants.
Section 127A.30 — Legislative Permanent School Fund Commission.
Section 127A.31 — Goal Of The Permanent School Fund.
Section 127A.32 — School Endowment Fund; Designation.
Section 127A.33 — School Endowment Fund; Apportionment.
Section 127A.34 — County Auditor And Commissioner Duties.
Section 127A.351 — Policy And Purpose.
Section 127A.352 — Policy Recommendations; Duties.
Section 127A.353 — School Trust Lands Director.
Section 127A.40 — Manner Of Payment Of State Aids.
Section 127A.41 — Distribution Of School Aids; Appropriation.
Section 127A.42 — Reduction Of Aid For Violation Of Law.
Section 127A.43 — District Employment Of Unlicensed Teachers; Aid Reduction.
Section 127A.441 — Aid Reduction; Levy Revenue Recognition Change.
Section 127A.45 — Payment Of Aids And Credits To School Districts.
Section 127A.47 — Payments To Resident And Nonresident Districts.
Section 127A.48 — Adjustment Of Net Tax Capacity.
Section 127A.49 — Aid Adjustments.
Section 127A.50 — Aid Adjustments Due To Changes In Employer Retirement Contribution Rates.
Section 127A.51 — Statewide Average Revenue.
Section 127A.70 — Minnesota P-20 Education Partnership.
Section 127A.80 — Compact For Education.
Section 127A.81 — Education Commission.
Section 127A.85 — Interstate Compact On Educational Opportunity For Military Children.