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

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;
deleted text begin
and
deleted text end

(4) grants for enforcement and public education to local law enforcement agencies
deleted text begin
.
deleted text end
new text begin
; and
new text end

new text begin

(5) grants to off-highway motorcycle organizations under section 84.9011, subdivision

2.

new text end

(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;
deleted text begin
and
deleted text end

(5) enforcement and public education grants to local law enforcement agencies
deleted text begin
.
deleted text end
new text begin
; and
new text end

new text begin

(6) grants to off-road vehicle organizations under section 84.9011, subdivision 2.

new text end

Sec. 3.

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

Subd. 2.

Agreements
new text begin
; grants
new text end
.

(a) The commissioner shall enter into agreements with
new text begin

and may provide grants to off-highway vehicle
new text end
organizations for
deleted text begin
volunteer
deleted text end
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
deleted text begin

volunteers
deleted text end
new text begin
participants
new text end
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
deleted text begin
as volunteers
deleted text end
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.

new text begin

(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.

new text end

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;
deleted text begin
and
deleted text end

(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
deleted text begin
.
deleted text end
new text begin
; and
new text end

new text begin

(8) grants to all-terrain vehicle organizations under section 84.9011, subdivision 2.

new text end

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

guided by the statewide comprehensive outdoor recreation plan.