HF3398

Purpose

• Establish a new Winter Sports Conservation Special License Plate program and create a dedicated Winter Sports Conservation Account to fund winter sport facilities and conservation efforts in Minnesota.

Issuance of plates

• The commissioner must issue Winter Sports Conservation plates (or a single motorcycle plate) to an owner of:
  • a passenger automobile, noncommercial one-ton pickup truck, motorcycle, or recreational vehicle (RV).
• Applicants must:
  • pay the special plate fees (as defined in section 168.12, subdivision 5) for each set of plates, plus other required fees,
  • pay the vehicle registration tax (as required by section 168.013),
  • pay all other fees required by the chapter,
  • contribute upon initial application and at least annually to the Winter Sports Conservation Account, and
  • comply with the applicable laws and rules governing registration and licensing.

Design

• The plate design must include the phrase WINTER SPORTS CONSERVATION.

Plate transfer

• Plates may be transferred to another qualified motor vehicle registered to the same owner if the owner pays a transfer fee of $5, by application to the commissioner.

Exemption

• Plates issued under this section are exempt from section 168.1293, subdivision 2.

Contributions and use of funds

• Contributions collected under the initial application and annual contributions must be deposited into the Winter Sports Conservation Account, established in the special revenue fund.
• Money in the account is first used to cover the annual administrative costs of administering the account (the Department of Public Safety’s portion).
• The remaining funds are allocated to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) with:
  • 50% for grants or aid to develop, maintain, and groom snowmobile trails and to acquire easements, and
  • 50% for distribution to Keep It Clean MN to support efforts to reduce waste on ice (as described in section 97C.363).

Administrative and oversight notes

• The arrangement operates notwithstanding certain general appropriation rules (notwithstanding section 84.83, subdivision 3, paragraph b), meaning this funding path is intended to function with its own dedicated allocations.

Notable changes to existing law

• Creates a new license plate program (Winter Sports Conservation Special Plates) and a dedicated account (Winter Sports Conservation Account) within the special revenue fund.
• Establishes ongoing annual donor contributions to this account from plate owners.
• Allocates funds annually between snowmobile trail development/grooming/easements and the Keep It Clean MN program to reduce ice waste.
• Introduces specific design and transfer provisions for the new plates and provides an exemption from another existing plate-related provision.

Relevant Terms - Winter Sports Conservation Special License Plates - Winter Sports Conservation Account - Special revenue fund - Department of Public Safety (administrative costs) - Department of Natural Resources (trail/grooming/easement funding) - Keep It Clean MN - Snowmobile trails - Easements - Grants/aid to develop maintain and groom trails - 97C.363 (Keep It Clean MN funding reference) - Transfer fee ($5) - Design phrase: WINTER SPORTS CONSERVATION - Minnesota Statutes sections: 168.12, 168.013, 168.1293, 84.83 (notwithstanding)