HOUSE BILL No. 4525


     March 27, 2001, Introduced by Reps. Pumford, Birkholz, Scranton, Pappageorge and Richardville and referred to the
Committee on Conservation and Outdoor Recreation.


        A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled

   "Natural resources and environmental protection act,"

   by amending section 82108 (MCL 324.82108), as added by 1995 PA

   58.

               THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

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           Sec. 82108.  (1) The department shall design by May 1, 1995

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      the minimum content of a comprehensive snowmobile safety educa-

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      tion and training program, which shall include the preparation

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      and dissemination of snowmobile information and safety advice to

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      the public and training of operators.  The content of the program

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      shall include provision for the training of youthful operators at

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      least 12 but less than 17 years of age and for the issuance of

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      snowmobile safety certificates to those who successfully complete

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      the training provided under the program.  A person less than 17

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      years of age who successfully completes a training program shall


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      carry the safety certificate on his or her person whenever

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      operating a snowmobile in this state.  The department and the

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      counties shall encourage persons 17 years of age or over to take

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      the program.  EXCEPT FOR THE CONDITIONS SPECIFIED IN SECTION

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      82120, EACH PERSON BORN AFTER JANUARY 1, 1985 SHALL SUCCESSFULLY

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      COMPLETE A SAFETY EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM AND BE ISSUED A

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      SAFETY CERTIFICATE BEFORE OPERATING A SNOWMOBILE IN THIS STATE.

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           (2) The minimum content of a snowmobile safety education and

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      training program shall include the following:

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           (a) Description of the snowmobile and its main parts.

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           (b) Description of machine controls, safety and operating

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      procedures, and loading and towing procedures.

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           (c) General content of snowmobile and highway laws and

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      rules.

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           (d) Safety hazards of operation, including possible hearing

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      damage, and environmental consequences of snowmobile use.

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           (e) Performance and written tests.

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           (f) Familiarization with the snowmobile trail system in this

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      state.

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           (3) The fee charged by a county for a training program shall

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      be not more than $5.00.

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           (4) In implementing a program that is established pursuant

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      to this section, the department shall cooperate with private

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      organizations and associations, private and public corporations,

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      schools, and local governmental units.  The department shall con-

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      sult with the department of state police and county sheriffs in

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      regard to subject matter of a training program and performance



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      testing that leads to certification of snowmobile operators.

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      However, a county may expand the course content beyond the mini-

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      mum requirements established by subsection (2).

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           (5) The department may designate any person it considers

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      qualified to provide course instruction and to award snowmobile

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      safety certificates.

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           (6) A person less than 17 years of age who fails to have a

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      safety certificate on his or her person is subject to a fine of

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      not more than $25.00.  BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2001, A PERSON BORN

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      AFTER JANUARY 1, 1985 WHO FAILS TO HAVE A SAFETY CERTIFICATE ON

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      HIS OR HER PERSON IS SUBJECT TO A FINE OF NOT MORE THAN $50.00.

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           (7) A person who has a valid safety certificate from another

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      state or province shall not be required to complete the safety

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      education and training program in this state.





























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