SF 1599

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 07/02/2019 09:40am

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; appropriating money to manage off-road vehicle
trails.

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

Section 1. new text begin APPROPRIATION; OFF-ROAD VEHICLE TRAILS.
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new text begin (a) $200,000 in fiscal year 2020 is appropriated from the off-road vehicle account in the
natural resources fund to the commissioner of natural resources for a contract with a project
administrator to assist the commissioner in planning, designing, and providing a system of
state touring routes for off-road vehicles by identifying sustainable, legal routes suitable
for licensed four-wheel drive vehicles and a system of recreational trails for registered
off-road vehicles. Any portion of this appropriation not used for the project administrator
is available for signage or promotion of the system. This is a onetime appropriation.
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new text begin (b) $200,000 in fiscal year 2020 is appropriated from the off-road vehicle account in the
natural resources fund to the commissioner of natural resources for a contract to prepare a
comprehensive, statewide, strategic master plan for trails for off-road vehicles. This is a
onetime appropriation. At a minimum, the plan must:
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new text begin (1) identify opportunities to develop new, high-quality, comprehensive trails for off-road
vehicles in a system that serves regional and tourist destinations;
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new text begin (2) enhance connectivity with trails for off-road vehicles, trails and parks for other
off-highway vehicles, and trails and parks for other types of vehicles;
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new text begin (3) provide opportunities for new exposure and economic development in greater
Minnesota;
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new text begin (4) help people connect with the outdoors in a safe and environmentally sustainable
manner;
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new text begin (5) create new and support existing opportunities for social, economic, and cultural
benefits and meaningful and mutually beneficial relationships for users of off-road vehicles
and the communities that host trails for off-road vehicles; and
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new text begin (6) require the commissioner to cooperate with local governments, organizations, and
other interested partners.
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new text begin (c) $200,000 in fiscal year 2020 is appropriated from the off-road vehicle account in the
natural resources fund to the commissioner of natural resources to share the cost by
reimbursing federal, tribal, state, county, and township entities for additional needs on roads
under their jurisdiction when the needs are a result of increased use by off-road vehicles
and are attributable to a border-to-border touring route established by the commissioner.
This paragraph applies to roads that are operated by a public road authority as defined in
Minnesota Statutes, section 160.02, subdivision 25. This is a onetime appropriation and is
available until June 30, 2023. To be eligible for reimbursement under this paragraph, the
claimant must demonstrate that:
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new text begin (1) the needs result from additional traffic generated by the border-to-border touring
route; and
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new text begin (2) increased use attributable to a border-to-border touring route has caused at least a
50 percent increase in maintenance costs for roads under the claimant's jurisdiction, based
on a ten-year maintenance average. The commissioner may accept an alternative to the
ten-year maintenance average if a jurisdiction does not have sufficient maintenance records.
The commissioner has discretion to accept an alternative based on a good-faith effort by
the jurisdiction. Any alternative should include baseline maintenance costs for at least two
years before the year the route begins operating. The ten-year maintenance average or any
alternative must be calculated from the years immediately preceding the year the route
begins operating.
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new text begin (d) Before reimbursing a claim under paragraph (c), the commissioner must consider
whether the claim is consistent with claims made by other entities that administer roads on
the touring route, in terms of the amount requested for reimbursement and the frequency
of claims made.
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