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HF 929

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 02/09/2017 01:35pm

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.

Current Version - as introduced

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A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; establishing pass requirement for use of state-supported
trails; authorizing rulemaking; providing criminal penalties; proposing coding for
new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 85.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [85.391] DEFINITIONS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Scope. new text end

new text begin For purposes of sections 85.391 to 85.397, the following terms
have the meanings given them.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Commissioner. new text end

new text begin "Commissioner" means the commissioner of natural resources.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin State-supported trail grant-in-aid program. new text end

new text begin "State-supported trail grant-in-aid
program" means a program administered by the commissioner as described in section 85.395.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Race. new text end

new text begin "Race" means a timed event organized for a large number of participants
at one time over a course prepared specifically for the organized event.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin State-supported trail. new text end

new text begin "State-supported trail" means a public pathway that is
designated and promoted for recreational use and is built or maintained with state funding,
including, but not limited to, state trails, local trails receiving state money for acquisition
or construction, and state grant-in-aid trails under any of the programs administered by the
commissioner.
new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin [85.392] STATE-SUPPORTED TRAIL PASS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Pass in possession. new text end

new text begin While on a state-supported trail, a person 16 years
of age or older must carry in immediate possession a valid, signed state-supported trail pass.
A landowner who grants an easement for a grant-in-aid trail is not required to have a trail
pass when on the landowner's property.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Exemptions. new text end

new text begin (a) A person using a state-supported trail is exempt from the trail
pass required in this section when the person is:
new text end

new text begin (1) skiing and:
new text end

new text begin (i) has in possession a cross-country ski pass issued under section 85.41; or
new text end

new text begin (ii) is exempt from the cross-country ski pass requirement;
new text end

new text begin (2) riding a horse and:
new text end

new text begin (i) has in possession a horse pass issued under section 85.46; or
new text end

new text begin (ii) is exempt from the horse pass requirement;
new text end

new text begin (3) operating a snowmobile that:
new text end

new text begin (i) is registered under section 84.82, subdivision 3;
new text end

new text begin (ii) has a current snowmobile state trail sticker under section 84.8205; or
new text end

new text begin (iii) is exempt from registration;
new text end

new text begin (4) operating an all-terrain vehicle that:
new text end

new text begin (i) is registered for public use under section 84.922;
new text end

new text begin (ii) has a current nonresident all-terrain vehicle state trail pass under section 84.9275;
or
new text end

new text begin (iii) is exempt from registration;
new text end

new text begin (5) operating an off-highway motorcycle that:
new text end

new text begin (i) is registered under section 84.788;
new text end

new text begin (ii) has a current nonresident off-highway motorcycle state trail pass under section
84.7945; or
new text end

new text begin (iii) is exempt from registration; or
new text end

new text begin (6) operating an off-road vehicle that:
new text end

new text begin (i) is registered under section 84.798;
new text end

new text begin (ii) has a current nonresident off-road vehicle state trail pass under section 84.8035; or
new text end

new text begin (iii) is exempt from registration.
new text end

new text begin (b) Participants in a race are exempt from the pass requirement in subdivision 1 if the
organizers of the event or those in an official capacity obtain a special use permit in advance
from the agency with jurisdiction over the state-supported trail. A permit must require that
the permit holder return the trail and any associated facility to the trail's and facility's original
condition if any damage is done during the race. Limited permits for special events may be
issued and must require the removal of any trail markers, banners, and other material used
in connection with the special event.
new text end

new text begin (c) Unless otherwise exempted under paragraph (b), students, teachers, and supervising
adults engaged in school-sanctioned activities or youth activities sponsored by a nonprofit
organization are exempt from the pass requirement in subdivision 1.
new text end

new text begin (d) A resident that is in the armed forces of the United States, stationed outside of the
state, and in the state on leave is exempt from the pass requirement in subdivision 1 if the
resident possesses official military leave papers.
new text end

new text begin (e) A resident who has served at any time during the preceding 24 months in federal
active service, as defined in section 190.05, subdivision 5c, outside the United States as a
member of the National Guard or as a reserve component or active duty member of the
United States armed forces and has been discharged from active service is exempt from the
pass requirement in subdivision 1 if the resident possesses official military discharge papers.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin License agents. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner may appoint agents to issue and sell
state-supported trail passes. The commissioner may revoke the appointment of an agent at
any time.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner may adopt additional rules as provided in section 97A.485,
subdivision 11. An agent shall observe all rules adopted by the commissioner for the
accounting and handling of licenses pursuant to section 97A.485, subdivision 11.
new text end

new text begin (c) An agent must promptly deposit and remit all money received from the sale of passes,
except issuing fees, to the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Issuance; inspection. new text end

new text begin The commissioner and agents shall issue and sell
state-supported trail passes. The pass must be with the trail user and available for inspection
by a conservation officer or other peace officer. The pass must include the applicant's
signature and other information deemed necessary by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Issuing fee. new text end

new text begin In addition to the fee for a state-supported trail pass, an issuing fee
of $1 per pass must be charged. The issuing fee is retained by the seller of the pass. Issuing
fees for passes issued by the commissioner must be deposited in the state-supported trail
account in the natural resources fund and retained for the operation of the electronic licensing
system. A pass must indicate the amount of the fee that is retained by the seller.
new text end

Sec. 3.

new text begin [85.393] USER FEE; VALIDITY.
new text end

new text begin (a) The fee for an annual state-supported trail pass is $....... for an individual 16 years
of age or older. The fee for a thee-year pass is $....... for an individual 16 years of age or
older. The fee must be collected at the time the pass is purchased. Three-year passes are
valid for three years beginning the previous July 1. Annual passes are valid for one year
beginning the previous July 1.
new text end

new text begin (b) The cost for a daily state-supported trail pass is $....... for an individual 16 years of
age or older. The fee must be collected at the time the pass is purchased. The daily pass is
valid only for the date designated on the pass form.
new text end

new text begin (c) A pass must be signed by the user across the front of the pass to be valid. The pass
is nontransferable after it is signed.
new text end

new text begin (d) The commissioner and agents shall issue a duplicate pass to a person whose pass is
lost or destroyed using the process established under section 97A.405, subdivision 3, and
rules adopted thereunder. The fee for a duplicate state-supported trail pass is $2.
new text end

Sec. 4.

new text begin [85.394] DISPOSITION OF RECEIPTS; PURPOSE.
new text end

new text begin Fees from state-supported trail passes must be deposited in the state treasury and credited
to a state-supported trail account in the natural resources fund and, except for the electronic
licensing system commission established by the commissioner under section 84.027,
subdivision 15, may be spent for the following purposes:
new text end

new text begin (1) grants-in-aid for state-supported trails to:
new text end

new text begin (i) counties and municipalities for constructing and maintaining trails; and
new text end

new text begin (ii) special park districts as provided in section 85.395 for constructing and maintaining
trails;
new text end

new text begin (2) administering the state-supported trail grant-in-aid program; and
new text end

new text begin (3) developing and maintaining state trails.
new text end

Sec. 5.

new text begin [85.395] STATE-SUPPORTED TRAIL GRANT-IN-AID PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall establish a grant-in-aid program for local units of government
and special park districts for acquiring, developing, and maintaining state-supported trails.
Grants are available for acquiring trail easements, but may not be used to acquire lands in
fee title. Local units of government and special park districts applying for and receiving
grants under this section are considered to have state-supported trails for one year following
the expiration of the recipient's last grant. The commissioner shall reimburse all public
sponsors of grants-in-aid state-supported trails based upon criteria established by the
commissioner. Before using any reimbursement criteria, a certain proportion of the revenue
must be allocated on the basis of user fee sales location.
new text end

Sec. 6.

new text begin [85.396] PENALTIES.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Use of state-supported trail without pass. new text end

new text begin Except as provided in section
85.392, subdivision 2, a person 16 years of age or older must not use a state-supported trail
without a valid, signed state-supported trail pass. A person who violates this subdivision is
guilty of a misdemeanor.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin False statements. new text end

new text begin A person who knowingly makes a false statement related to
an application for a state-supported trail pass is guilty of a misdemeanor.
new text end

Sec. 7.

new text begin [85.397] ENFORCEMENT.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner must enforce sections 85.391 to 85.397 as provided in sections
97A.201 to 97A.255.
new text end