Minnesota Agencies

The commissioner shall appoint the following committees, each comprised of at least ten affected persons:

(1) A Fisheries Oversight Committee to review fisheries funding and expenditures, including activities related to trout-and-salmon stamps and walleye stamps; and

(2) A Wildlife Oversight Committee to review wildlife funding and expenditures, including activities related to migratory waterfowl, pheasant, and wild turkey management and deer and big game management.

The chairs of the Fisheries Oversight Committee and the Wildlife Oversight Committee, and four additional members from each committee, shall form a Budgetary Oversight Committee to coordinate the integration of the fisheries and wildlife oversight committee reports into an annual report to the legislature; recommend changes on a broad level in policies, activities, and revenue enhancements or reductions; and provide a forum to address issues that transcend the fisheries and wildlife oversight committees.

The Budgetary Oversight Committee shall develop recommendations for a biennial budget plan and report for expenditures on game and fish activities. By August 15 of each even-numbered year, the committee shall submit the budget plan recommendations to the commissioner and to the senate and house of representatives committees with jurisdiction over natural resources finance.

The Budgetary Oversight Committee may make recommendations to the commissioner and to the senate and house of representatives committees with jurisdiction over natural resources finance for outcome goals from expenditures.

Between 1994 and 2023, there were three oversight committees in total: the Fisheries Oversight Committee (FOC), the Wildlife Oversight Committee (WOC), and an umbrella group, the Budgetary Oversight Committee (BOC), made up of members of the previous two committees listed. The Fisheries Oversight Committee (FOC) and the Wildlife Oversight Committee (WOC) continue a citizen oversight function created in 1994.

Game and Fish Fund citizen oversight committees met regularly with leaders of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for the purpose of reviewing DNR's budgets, spending plans and other related information related to the Game and Fish Fund under statutory authority in Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.055, subd. 4b. --from DNR website.

The Game and Fish Fund Citizens Oversight Committees were reviewed by the Legislative Commission on Planning and Fiscal Policy (LCPFP) in 2013 as part of their biennial duty required by Minn. Stat. 3.885 Subd. 11. The LCPFP's 2013 Recommendations called for keeping the committees.

The Fisheries Oversight Committee, the Wildlife Oversight Committee, and the Budgetary Oversight Committee were set to expire June 30, 2025, through an extension provided in 2019 (see Laws of Minn. 2019, 1st Spec. Sess., chap. 4, art. 3, sec. 47). 

2024 Legislation, Chap. 90 Art. 4 Sec. 4, replaced the three oversight committees with a Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee. The Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee expires June 30, 2033.

Each of the three oversight committees had at least ten members. The Budgetary Oversight Committee was formed from the chairs of the FOC, the WOC, and four additional members from each committee. The commissioner of DNR appointed a chair of the the Budgetary Oversight Committee that was not affiliated with either the FOC or WOC.

The chairs of the Fisheries Oversight Committee and the Wildlife Oversight Committee shall be chosen by their respective committees. The chair of the Budgetary Oversight Committee shall be appointed by the commissioner and may not be the chair of either of the other oversight committees.