OFF-ROAD VEHICLE SAFETY EDUCATION - S.B. 574 (S-3): COMMITTEE SUMMARY
Senate Bill 574 (Substitute S-3)
Sponsor: Senator Burton Leland
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to allow the Department of Natural Resources to administer the Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) Safety Education Program and revise the membership of the ORV Trails Advisory Board.
Current law requires people under the age of 16 to be in possession of a safety certificate in order to operate an ORV. The Department of Education conducts an ORV safety education course that people under the age of 16 must complete and pass in order to receive a safety certificate. The grants are made from the Safety Education Fund to agencies or schools that conduct ORV safety education courses. The Fund is supported with $1 from each ORV license. The total ORV license fee is $16.25. The Department of Education is directed to appoint an individual, a Safety Chief Instructor, to certify ORV instructors and to inspect training courses.
The bill would eliminate references to the Department of Education and direct the Department of Natural Resources to administer the program. The parameters and requirements for the safety certificates and the grants would be unchanged.
The bill also would revise the membership of the ORV Trails Advisory Board by requiring that one of the members represent an ORV dealer group. Currently, ORV dealers are represented by either users or dealers.
MCL 324.81101 et al.
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no net fiscal impact on the State. The Governor recommended elimination of this program in the FY 2003-04 budget for the Department of Education. The Senate Committee restores this program in the Department of Natural Resources, including $344,300 from the Safety Education Fund, of which $294,300 is for grants and $50,000 for grant administration. This is the same amount of ORV Safety Education grant funding made available in FY 2002-03 in the Department of Education budget.
- Fiscal Analyst: Jessica Runnels
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.