SNOWMOBILE PERMIT EXCEPTION H.B. 5149 (S-2): FLOOR ANALYSIS
House Bill 5149 (Substitute S-2 as reported) Sponsor: Representative Pat Gagliardi
House Committee: Conservation, Environment and Great Lakes Senate Committee: Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
The bill would amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to create an exemption to the snowmobile trail permit requirement, for snowmobiles used solely for transportation on the frozen surface of public waters for the purpose of ice fishing. These snowmobiles would be exempt from the requirement of purchasing and displaying a snowmobile trail permit sticker.
Under the Act, in addition to registering a snowmobile, a person who wants to operate a snowmobile in this State must purchase a Michigan snowmobile trail permit sticker. A permit is valid for one year and costs $10. A trail permit sticker must be permanently affixed to the forward half of the snowmobile. The bill would add “directly above or below the headlight of the snowmobile”. The bill would prohibit a person from charging a fee for a snowmobile trail permit in an amount that was greater than the fee printed on the face of the permit. The bill specifies that, to obtain a snowmobile trail permit, an applicant would have to provide all information required on the permit application.
Currently, a person who fails to secure a permit is responsible for a civil infraction and subject to a $50 fine plus court costs. The bill specifies that the person would be responsible for a “state civil infraction” and subject to a $50 “civil fine”; the bill would delete reference to court costs.
The Act permits the Department of Natural Resources to contract with a person to act as an agent of the Department of State for the purpose of issuing snowmobile trail permits, and requires the Department of State to sell the permits to agents in bulk. The bill would delete references to the Department of State.
The bill is tie-barred to Senate Bill 660, which also would create an exemption to the trail permit requirement for snowmobiles used for ice fishing. Senate Bill 660 has been enrolled and is tie- barred to House Bill 5149.
MCL 324.82118 Legislative Analyst: S. Margules
The bill would result in an indeterminate decrease in State revenues, depending on the number of snowmobilers who would be exempt from the purchase of a trail sticker.
Date Completed: 2-22-96 Fiscal Analyst: G. Cutler
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.