SB 188

This bill increases the maximum dollar amount per mile that the Department

of Natural Resources may pay to counties for actual expenses related to maintaining

snowmobile trails.

Under current law, state aid is available for the actual cost of maintaining a

qualifying snowmobile trail, but may not exceed $250 per mile per year. Under this

bill, the maximum aid available is increased to $300 per mile per year.

Under current law, a county that exceeds $250 per mile in maintenance

expenses and $150 per mile in grooming expenses in a fiscal year is eligible for

supplemental aid payments the following fiscal year. Under this bill, a county that

exceeds $300 per mile in maintenance expenses and $200 per mile in grooming

expenses in a fiscal year is eligible for supplemental aid payments the following fiscal

year.

Also under current law, most snowmobiles operated on a public snowmobile

corridor must display a trail use sticker issued by DNR. There are three categories

of snowmobiles for which DNR issues trail use stickers: snowmobiles exempt from

registration, snowmobiles owned by members of a snowmobile club, and

snowmobiles owned by those who are not members of a snowmobile club. DNR is

required to charge a specific fee for a trail use sticker issued for snowmobiles in each

category. The current categories and fees apply only to trail use stickers issued from

fiscal years 2015-16 to 2018-19. This bill eliminates the fiscal year limitations on

these categories and fees.