Off-highway vehicle safety and conservation program and uses of off-highway vehicle accounts modified.

A bill for an act

relating to natural resources; modifying off-highway vehicle safety and conservation

program and uses of off-highway vehicle accounts; amending Minnesota Statutes

2024, sections 84.794, subdivision 2; 84.803, subdivision 2; 84.9011, subdivision

2; 84.927, subdivision 2.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 84.794, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Purposes.

(a) Subject to appropriation by the legislature, money in the

off-highway motorcycle account may only be spent for:

(1) administration, enforcement, and implementation of sections
84.787
to
84.795
;

(2) acquisition, maintenance, and development of off-highway motorcycle trails and use

areas;

(3) grants-in-aid to counties and municipalities to construct and maintain off-highway

motorcycle trails and use areas;
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and
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(4) grants for enforcement and public education to local law enforcement agencies
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.
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; and
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(5) grants to off-highway motorcycle organizations under section 84.9011, subdivision

2.

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(b) The distribution of funds made available for grants-in-aid must be guided by the

statewide comprehensive outdoor recreation plan.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 84.803, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Purposes.

Subject to appropriation by the legislature, money in the off-road

vehicle account may only be spent for:

(1) administration, enforcement, and implementation of sections
84.773
to
84.8045
;

(2) acquisition, maintenance, and development of off-road vehicle trails and use areas;

(3) grant-in-aid programs to counties and municipalities to construct and maintain

off-road vehicle trails and use areas;

(4) grants-in-aid to local safety programs;
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and
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(5) enforcement and public education grants to local law enforcement agencies
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.
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; and
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(6) grants to off-road vehicle organizations under section 84.9011, subdivision 2.

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Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 84.9011, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Agreements
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; grants
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.

(a) The commissioner shall enter into agreements with
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and may provide grants to off-highway vehicle
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organizations for
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volunteer
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services that

promote the safe and responsible operation of off-highway vehicles in a manner that does

not harm the environment to maintain, make improvements to, and monitor trails on state

forest land and other public lands. The organizations shall promote the operation of

off-highway vehicles in a safe and responsible manner that complies with the laws and rules

that relate to the operation of off-highway vehicles.

(b) The organizations may provide assistance to the department in locating, recruiting,

and training instructors for off-highway vehicle training programs.

(c) The commissioner may provide assistance to enhance the comfort and safety of
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volunteers
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participants
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and to facilitate the implementation and administration of the safety

and conservation program.

(d) The commissioner shall establish standards, train, and certify organizations and

individuals participating
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as volunteers
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under this section. The training shall include:

(1) the identification of invasive species;

(2) correctly reporting the location of invasive species; and

(3) basic global positioning system operation.

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(e) Grants made under this section may be distributed to organizations using a formula

determined by the commissioner. Payments made to organizations may be made based on

the number of hours worked by participants.

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Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 84.927, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Purposes.

(a) Subject to appropriation by the legislature, money in the all-terrain

vehicle account may only be spent for:

(1) the education and training program under section
84.925
;

(2) administration, enforcement, and implementation of sections
84.773
to
84.928
;

(3) acquisition, maintenance, and development of vehicle trails and use areas;

(4) grant-in-aid programs to counties and municipalities to construct and maintain

all-terrain vehicle trails and use areas;

(5) grants-in-aid to local safety programs;

(6) enforcement and public education grants to local law enforcement agencies;
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and
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(7) maintenance of minimum-maintenance forest roads designated under section
89.71,

subdivision 5
, and county forest roads that are part of a designated trail system within state

forest boundaries as established under section
89.021
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.
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; and
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(8) grants to all-terrain vehicle organizations under section 84.9011, subdivision 2.

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(b) The distribution of funds made available through grant-in-aid programs must be

guided by the statewide comprehensive outdoor recreation plan.