1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to natural resources; modifying cross-country 
  1.3             ski pass provisions; amending Minnesota Statutes 1998, 
  1.4             sections 85.40, subdivision 5; 85.41, subdivisions 1, 
  1.5             4, and 5; 85.42; 85.44; and 85.45, subdivision 1. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 85.40, 
  1.8   subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
  1.9      Subd. 5.  [CROSS-COUNTRY SKI TRAIL.] "Cross-country ski 
  1.10  trail" means a public pathway designated and promoted for cross 
  1.11  country skiing, excluding trails that have not received state 
  1.12  acquisition or betterment funds for recreational purposes in 
  1.13  state parks as defined in section 85.012, on state forest lands 
  1.14  as defined in section 89.001, on state trails as defined in 
  1.15  section 85.015, on elements of the regional recreation open 
  1.16  space system as defined in section 473.147, or on trails within 
  1.17  the cross-country ski grant-in-aid program as defined in section 
  1.18  85.44.  
  1.19     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 85.41, 
  1.20  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  1.21     Subdivision 1.  [ON PERSON.] While skiing on cross-country 
  1.22  ski trails, a person between the ages of 16 and 64 years age 16 
  1.23  and over shall carry in immediate possession a valid, signed 
  1.24  cross-country ski pass.  A landowner who grants an easement for 
  1.25  a grant-in-aid ski trail is not required to have a pass when 
  2.1   skiing on the landowner's property.  
  2.2      Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 85.41, 
  2.3   subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
  2.4      Subd. 4.  [FORM.] The department shall provide forms and 
  2.5   blanks to all agents authorized to issue passes by the 
  2.6   commissioner.  The pass shall be with the skier and available 
  2.7   for inspection by any peace or conservation officer.  The pass 
  2.8   shall include the applicant's name signature and other 
  2.9   information deemed necessary by the commissioner. 
  2.10     Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 85.41, 
  2.11  subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
  2.12     Subd. 5.  [AGENT'S ISSUING FEE.] The fee for a 
  2.13  cross-country ski pass shall be increased by the amount of an 
  2.14  issuing fee of 50 cents $1 per pass.  The issuing fee may shall 
  2.15  be retained by the seller of the pass.  A pass shall indicate 
  2.16  the amount of the fee that is retained by the seller.  This 
  2.17  subdivision does not apply to any pass sold by the state.  
  2.18     Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 85.42, is amended 
  2.19  to read: 
  2.20     85.42 [USER FEE; VALIDITY.] 
  2.21     (a) The fee for an annual cross-country ski pass is $5 for 
  2.22  an individual pass or $7.50 for a combination husband and wife 
  2.23  pass $9 for an individual age 16 and over.  The fee for a 
  2.24  three-year pass is $14 for an individual pass or $21 for a 
  2.25  combination husband and wife pass $24 for an individual age 16 
  2.26  and over.  This fee shall be collected at the time the pass is 
  2.27  purchased.  Three-year passes are valid for three years 
  2.28  beginning the previous July 1.  Annual passes are valid for one 
  2.29  year beginning the previous July 1.  Passes are not transferable.
  2.30     (b) The cost for a daily cross-country skier pass is $1 $2 
  2.31  for an individual age 16 and over.  This fee shall be collected 
  2.32  at the time the pass is purchased.  The daily pass is valid only 
  2.33  for the date designated on the pass form. 
  2.34     (c) A pass must be signed by the skier across the front of 
  2.35  the pass to be valid and becomes nontransferable on signing.  
  2.36     Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 85.44, is amended 
  3.1   to read: 
  3.2      85.44 [CROSS-COUNTRY SKI TRAIL GRANT-IN-AID PROGRAM.] 
  3.3      The commissioner shall establish a grant-in-aid program for 
  3.4   local units of government and special park districts for the 
  3.5   acquisition, development, and maintenance of cross-country ski 
  3.6   trails.  Grants shall be available for acquisition of trail 
  3.7   easements but may not be used to acquire any lands in fee 
  3.8   title.  Local units of government and special park districts 
  3.9   applying for and receiving grants under this section shall be 
  3.10  considered to have cross-country ski trails for one year 
  3.11  following the expiration of their last grant.  The department 
  3.12  shall reimburse all public sponsors of grants-in-aid 
  3.13  cross-country ski trails based upon criteria established by the 
  3.14  department.  Prior to the use of any reimbursement criteria, a 
  3.15  certain proportion of the revenues shall be allocated on the 
  3.16  basis of user fee sales location.  
  3.17     Sec. 8.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 85.45, 
  3.18  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  3.19     Subdivision 1.  [SKIING WITHOUT PASS.] No person may ski on 
  3.20  a public cross-country ski trail, including a grant-in-aid 
  3.21  cross-country ski trail, without a valid, signed cross-country 
  3.22  ski pass. Effective July 1, 1984, any person who violates this 
  3.23  subdivision is guilty of a petty misdemeanor.