REGISTRATION OF SNOWMOBILES, ORVs,

AND VESSELS BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

House Bill 5496

Sponsor:  Rep. Wayne Schmidt

House Bill 5497

Sponsor:  Rep. Joel Sheltrown

House Bill 5498

Sponsor:  Rep. Jeff Mayes

Committee:  Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources

Complete to 10-07-09

A REVISED SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILLS 5496-5498 AS INTRODUCED 10-01-09

The bills would amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to provide that when a state, county, or municipal law enforcement agency registered or licensed a snowmobile, ORV, or vessel, the registration or license would not expire. 

The snowmobile registration decals (House Bill 5496), ORV licenses (House Bill 5497), and vessel decals (House Bill 5498) issued to state, county, or municipal law enforcement agencies would not contain an expiration date or year, but would include the words "law enforcement," have a black background, and otherwise be of uniform size and design. 

These provisions would apply to registrations or licenses issued more than 180 days after the bills took effect. 

MCL 324.82105 (snowmobiles)

MCL 324.81116 (ORVs)

MCL 324.80124 (vessels)

FISCAL IMPACT:

House Bills 5496 and 5498 would have minimal fiscal impact on the Department of State.  The Department has the authority to license snowmobiles and vessels.  Currently, governmental entities pay a registration fee of $3.00 every three years for vessels and registrations for snowmobiles are free and are issued every three years.  Under the provisions of the bills, registrations for law enforcement agency snowmobiles and vessels would become permanent and would no longer need to be renewed.  Because of the relatively small number of registrations that would be impacted by the provisions of these bills, the fiscal impact to the State of Michigan would be minimal.

House Bill 5497 would have no significant fiscal impact on the Department of Natural Resources, which licenses ORVs.  A registration for an ORV is currently $16.25 per year; however, the Department does not charge law enforcement agencies for licenses or trail permits and currently issues approximately 50 licenses to law enforcement agencies each year.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Shannan Kane

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Viola Bay Wild

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.