ORV REGULATION & TRAIL FUND S.B. 206 (S-2): FLOOR ANALYSIS
Senate Bill 206 (Substitute S-2 as reported) Sponsor: Senator John J. H. Schwarz, M.D.
Committee: Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
The bill would amend the off-road vehicle (ORV) Act to:
-- Reinstate provisions concerning the allocation of revenue in the ORV Trail Improvement Fund, the creation of the ORV Trails Advisory Committee, and the exemption of the Upper Peninsula from certain requirements. These provisions were repealed on January 1, 1995.
-- Revise the distribution of the Trail Improvement Fund, beginning April 1, 1996, to allocate at least 50% for grants for trail improvement and maintenance, land leasing, and easements, 31.25% for enforcement, and 12.5% for grants for land restoration; and not more than 3.12% for administration.
-- Allow dealers to keep 25 cents of each license fee as a commission.
-- Increase the ORV license fee from $10 to $16.25 as of April 1, 1996.
-- Exempt from the Act’s licensure provisions an ORV operated solely on private property by the property owner, a family member of the owner, or an invited guest of the owner.
-- Extend to cities, villages, and townships immunity from tort liability for injuries or damages arising out of the operation of an ORV.
-- Impose a deadline on the development of an ORV safety education and training program and change the effective date for the requirement concerning possession of an ORV safety certificate.
MCL 257.6001 et al. Legislative Analyst: S. Margules
The bill would restore the repealed provisions directing the use of the ORV Trail Improvement Fund, and would generate approximately $608,000 in additional revenue to the State (as of April 1996). The bill would change percent allocations along with increasing revenue, providing a potential increase of $405,200 in snowmobile grants (to the State, local units of government, and/or organizations) and $202,600 in State law enforcement efforts. The amount of funds available for grants for local enforcement and DNR administrative costs would remain unchanged. However, the bill now would allow the Department to use revenue for personnel to operate the program, which could provide an indeterminate increase in program funding.
Date Completed: 2-28-95 Fiscal Analyst: G. Cutler
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.