MN SF1799

Beginning January 1, 2011, allocates 50 percent of income from state mineral lease royalties to the permanent university fund for mineral research and a new mining engineering program.

Directs up to $25,000,000 to establish an endowment for operating a mining, metallurgical, or related engineering degree program at the University of Minnesota at Mesabi Range Community and Technical College, including scholarships for students in that program.

Allocates up to $50,000,000 to the mineral research account for the Natural Resources Research Institute facilities in Duluth and Coleraine for mineral and environmental research.

Creates a new endowment for forestry research using income from timber sales and surface use of lands managed by the permanent university fund, with funds directed to the Natural Resources Research Institute-Duluth and Coleraine facilities.

Requires the Board of Regents to report biennially to education committees on scholarship account disbursements and to environment and natural resources committees on mineral research account use.