1.2relating to natural resources; providing for snowmobile registration by agents;
1.3modifying snowmobile registration and trail sticker requirements; modifying
1.4fees; providing for disposition of fees; authorizing rulemaking; amending
1.5Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 84.82, subdivisions 2, 3, by adding a
1.6subdivision; 84.8205, subdivision 1; 84.83, subdivisions 2, 3; 84.86, subdivision
1.71.
1.8BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.9    Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 84.82, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
1.10    Subd. 2. Application, issuance, reports, additional issuing fee. (a) Application for
1.11registration or reregistration shall be made to the commissioner or, an authorized deputy
1.12registrar of motor vehicles, or an agent appointed by the commissioner according to
1.13subdivision 12 in a format prescribed by the commissioner and shall state the legal name
1.14and address of every owner of the snowmobile.
1.15    (b) A person who purchases a snowmobile from a retail dealer shall make application
1.16for registration to the dealer at the point of sale. The dealer shall issue a dealer temporary
1.1721-day registration permit to each purchaser who applies to the dealer for registration.
1.18The temporary permit must contain the dealer's identification number and phone number.
1.19Each retail dealer shall submit completed registration and fees to the deputy registrar at
1.20least once a week. No fee may be charged by a dealer to a purchaser for providing the
1.21temporary permit.
1.22    (c) Upon receipt of the application and the appropriate fee as hereinafter provided,
1.23the commissioner or, deputy registrar, or agent shall issue to the applicant, or provide
1.24to the dealer, an assigned registration number or a commissioner or deputy registrar
1.25temporary 21-day permit. Once issued, the registration number decal must be affixed to
2.1the snowmobile in a clearly visible and permanent manner for enforcement purposes as
2.2the commissioner of natural resources shall prescribe. A dealer subject to paragraph (b)
2.3shall provide the registration materials or temporary permit to the purchaser within the
2.4temporary 21-day permit period. The registration is not valid unless signed by at least one
2.5owner. The temporary permit must indicate whether a snowmobile state trail sticker under
2.6section 84.8205 was purchased.
2.7    (d) Each deputy registrar of motor vehicles acting pursuant to section 168.33, shall
2.8also be a deputy registrar of snowmobiles. The commissioner of natural resources in
2.9agreement with the commissioner of public safety may prescribe the accounting and
2.10procedural requirements necessary to assure efficient handling of registrations and
2.11registration fees. Deputy registrars shall strictly comply with these accounting and
2.12procedural requirements.
2.13    (e) A fee of $2 in addition to that otherwise prescribed by law shall be charged for:
2.14    (1) each snowmobile registered by the registrar or a deputy registrar and the
2.15additional fee shall be disposed of in the manner provided in section 168.33, subdivision
2.162 ; or
2.17    (2) each snowmobile registered by the commissioner and the additional fee shall
2.18be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the snowmobile trails and enforcement
2.19account in the natural resources fund.; and
2.20(3) each snowmobile registered by an agent and the additional fee may be retained
2.21by the agent.

2.22    Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 84.82, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
2.23    Subd. 3. Fees for registration. (a) The fee for registration of each snowmobile,
2.24other than those used for an agricultural purpose, as defined in section 84.92, subdivision
2.251c, or those registered by a dealer or manufacturer pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) shall be
2.26as follows: $45 $75 for three years and $4 $10 for a duplicate or transfer.
2.27(b) The total registration fee for all snowmobiles owned by a dealer and operated for
2.28demonstration or testing purposes shall be $50 per year.
2.29(c) The total registration fee for all snowmobiles owned by a manufacturer and
2.30operated for research, testing, experimentation, or demonstration purposes shall be $150
2.31per year. Dealer and manufacturer registrations are not transferable.
2.32(d) The onetime fee for registration of an exempt snowmobile under subdivision
2.336a is $6.

3.1    Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 84.82, is amended by adding a subdivision to
3.2read:
3.3    Subd. 12. Registration agents. The commissioner may appoint agents to issue
3.4snowmobile registrations. The commissioner may revoke the appointment of an agent
3.5at any time. The commissioner may adopt additional rules as provided in section
3.697A.485, subdivision 11. An agent shall observe all rules adopted by the commissioner
3.7for accounting and handling of snowmobile registrations pursuant to section 97A.485,
3.8subdivision 11. An agent shall promptly deposit and remit all money received from the
3.9sale of snowmobile registrations, exclusive of the issuing fee, to the commissioner.

3.10    Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 84.8205, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
3.11    Subdivision 1. Sticker required; fee. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b),
3.12a person A snowmobile that is not registered in the state or that is registered by a
3.13manufacturer or dealer under section 84.82, subdivision 3, paragraph (b) or (c), may not
3.14operate a snowmobile be operated on a state or grant-in-aid snowmobile trail unless a
3.15snowmobile state trail sticker is affixed to the snowmobile.
3.16(b) The commissioner of natural resources shall issue a sticker upon application
3.17and payment of a $15 fee. The fee for a three-year snowmobile state trail sticker that is
3.18purchased at the time of snowmobile registration is $30 is:
3.19(1) $35 for a one-year snowmobile state trail sticker purchased by an individual; and
3.20(2) $15 for a one-year snowmobile state trail sticker purchased by a dealer or
3.21manufacturer.
3.22(c) In addition to other penalties prescribed by law, a person an individual in
3.23violation of this subdivision must purchase an annual state trail sticker for a fee of $30
3.24$70. The sticker is valid from November 1 through June 30. Fees collected under this
3.25section, except for the issuing fee for licensing agents, shall be deposited in the state
3.26treasury and credited to the snowmobile trails and enforcement account in the natural
3.27resources fund and, except for the electronic licensing system commission established by
3.28the commissioner under section 84.027, subdivision 15, must be used for grants-in-aid,
3.29trail maintenance, grooming, and easement acquisition.
3.30    (b) (d) A state trail sticker is not required under this section for:
3.31    (1) a snowmobile owned by the state or a political subdivision of the state that is
3.32registered under section 84.82, subdivision 5;
3.33    (2) a snowmobile that is owned and used by the United States, an Indian tribal
3.34government, another state, or a political subdivision thereof that is exempt from
3.35registration under section 84.82, subdivision 6;
4.1    (3) (2) a collector snowmobile that is operated as provided in a special permit issued
4.2for the collector snowmobile under section 84.82, subdivision 7a;
4.3    (4) (3) a person operating a snowmobile only on the portion of a trail that is owned
4.4by the person or the person's spouse, child, or parent; or
4.5    (5) (4) a snowmobile while being used to groom a state or grant-in-aid trail.
4.6    (c) A temporary registration permit issued by a dealer under section 84.82,
4.7subdivision 2, may include a snowmobile state trail sticker if the trail sticker fee is
4.8included with the registration application fee.

4.9    Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 84.83, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
4.10    Subd. 2. Money deposited in the account. Fees from the registration of
4.11snowmobiles and from the issuance of snowmobile state trail stickers and the unrefunded
4.12gasoline tax attributable to snowmobile use pursuant to section 296A.18 shall be deposited
4.13in the state treasury and credited to the snowmobile trails and enforcement account.

4.14    Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 84.83, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
4.15    Subd. 3. Purposes for the account; allocation. (a) The money deposited in the
4.16account and interest earned on that money may be expended only as appropriated by
4.17law for the following purposes:
4.18(1) for a grant-in-aid program to counties and municipalities for construction and
4.19maintenance of snowmobile trails, including maintenance of trails on lands and waters of
4.20Voyageurs National Park; on Lake of the Woods; on Rainy Lake; on the following lakes in
4.21St. Louis County: Burntside, Crane, Little Long, Mud, Pelican, Shagawa, and Vermilion;
4.22and on the following lakes in Cook County: Devil Track and Hungry Jack;
4.23(2) for acquisition, development, and maintenance of state recreational snowmobile
4.24trails;
4.25(3) for snowmobile safety programs; and
4.26(4) for the administration and enforcement of sections 84.81 to 84.91 and
4.27appropriated grants to local law enforcement agencies.
4.28(b) No less than ....... percent of revenue collected from snowmobile registration
4.29and snowmobile state trail sticker fees must be expended for grants-in-aid to develop,
4.30maintain, and groom trails and acquire easements.

4.31    Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 84.86, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
4.32    Subdivision 1. Required rules. With a view of achieving maximum use of
4.33snowmobiles consistent with protection of the environment the commissioner of natural
5.1resources shall adopt rules in the manner provided by chapter 14, for the following
5.2purposes:
5.3(1) Registration of snowmobiles and display of registration numbers decals.
5.4(2) Use of snowmobiles insofar as game and fish resources are affected.
5.5(3) Use of snowmobiles on public lands and waters, or on grant-in-aid trails.
5.6(4) Uniform signs to be used by the state, counties, and cities, which are necessary
5.7or desirable to control, direct, or regulate the operation and use of snowmobiles.
5.8(5) Specifications relating to snowmobile mufflers.
5.9(6) A comprehensive snowmobile information and safety education and training
5.10program, including but not limited to the preparation and dissemination of snowmobile
5.11information and safety advice to the public, the training of snowmobile operators, and
5.12the issuance of snowmobile safety certificates to snowmobile operators who successfully
5.13complete the snowmobile safety education and training course. For the purpose of
5.14administering such program and to defray expenses of training and certifying snowmobile
5.15operators, the commissioner shall collect a fee from each person who receives the
5.16youth or adult training. The commissioner shall collect a fee, to include a $1 issuing
5.17fee for licensing agents, for issuing a duplicate snowmobile safety certificate. The
5.18commissioner shall establish both fees in a manner that neither significantly overrecovers
5.19nor underrecovers costs, including overhead costs, involved in providing the services.
5.20The fees are not subject to the rulemaking provisions of chapter 14 and section 14.386
5.21does not apply. The fees may be established by the commissioner notwithstanding
5.22section 16A.1283. The fees, except for the issuing fee for licensing agents under this
5.23subdivision, shall be deposited in the snowmobile trails and enforcement account in the
5.24natural resources fund and the amount thereof, except for the electronic licensing system
5.25commission established by the commissioner under section 84.027, subdivision 15, and
5.26issuing fees collected by the commissioner, is appropriated annually to the Enforcement
5.27Division of the Department of Natural Resources for the administration of such programs.
5.28In addition to the fee established by the commissioner, instructors may charge each person
5.29up to the established fee amount for class materials and expenses. The commissioner shall
5.30cooperate with private organizations and associations, private and public corporations,
5.31and local governmental units in furtherance of the program established under this clause.
5.32School districts may cooperate with the commissioner and volunteer instructors to
5.33provide space for the classroom portion of the training. The commissioner shall consult
5.34with the commissioner of public safety in regard to training program subject matter and
5.35performance testing that leads to the certification of snowmobile operators.
6.1(7) The operator of any snowmobile involved in an accident resulting in injury
6.2requiring medical attention or hospitalization to or death of any person or total damage
6.3to an extent of $500 or more, shall forward a written report of the accident to the
6.4commissioner on such form as the commissioner shall prescribe. If the operator is killed
6.5or is unable to file a report due to incapacitation, any peace officer investigating the
6.6accident shall file the accident report within ten business days.

6.7    Sec. 8. TRANSITION.
6.8An individual who, on the effective date of this act, possesses an unexpired
6.9snowmobile registration that was issued before the effective date of this act and who was
6.10required to display a valid snowmobile state trail sticker before the effective date of this
6.11act must continue to display a valid snowmobile state trail sticker according to Minnesota
6.12Statutes 2010, section 84.8205, until such time as the snowmobile registration is renewed
6.13under the terms of this act.

6.14    Sec. 9. CONFORMING RULEMAKING.
6.15The commissioner of natural resources may use the good cause exemption under
6.16Minnesota Statutes, section 14.388, subdivision 1, clause (3), to amend Minnesota Rules,
6.17chapter 6100, to conform to sections 1 to 8. Minnesota Statutes, section 14.386, does
6.18not apply to rulemaking under this section, except as provided in Minnesota Statutes,
6.19section 14.388.