SENATE BILL No. 924

 

 

December 7, 2005, Introduced by Senators McMANUS, KUIPERS, JELINEK and GARCIA and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs.

 

 

 

     A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled

 

"Natural resources and environmental protection act,"

 

by amending sections 74117 and 81116 (MCL 324.74117 and 324.81116),

 

section 74117 as amended by 2003 PA 170 and section 81116 as

 

amended by 2003 PA 111.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 74117. (1) The department may require park permits and

 

collect park permit fees for entry into a state park or portion of

 

a state park posted in the manner prescribed by this part. The

 

department shall prepare and distribute park permits to implement

 

this part.

 

     (2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, an annual

 

park permit shall be issued and shall authorize the entry of the


 

motor vehicle to which it is originally attached within the

 

confines of any state park or recreation area during the calendar

 

year for which it is issued. The fee for the annual park permit is

 

as follows:

 

     (a) Until January 1, 2007, for the owner of a resident motor

 

vehicle, $24.00, except as follows:

 

     (i) The fee for the owner of a resident motor vehicle who is 65

 

years of age or older is $6.00.

 

     (ii) The fee for the owner of a resident motor vehicle who, at

 

the time of purchase, is in possession of a food stamp card and

 

personal identification is $18.00.

 

     (b) Until January 1, 2007, for the owner of a nonresident

 

motor vehicle, $29.00.

 

     (3) A daily permit, valid for 1 day only, shall authorize the

 

entry of the motor vehicle to which it is originally attached

 

within the confines of a state park during the day for which it is

 

issued. The fee for a daily permit is as follows:

 

     (a) Until January 1, 2007, for the owner of a resident motor

 

vehicle, $6.00.

 

     (b) Until January 1, 2007, for the owner of a nonresident

 

motor vehicle, $8.00.

 

     (4) A person who has obtained an annual motor vehicle permit

 

under this section for a recreational vehicle to be used as a

 

stationary primary camping shelter camped legally in and not moved

 

from a state park campground during the period of the camping stay

 

may obtain a duplicate motor vehicle permit for a towed second

 

motor vehicle present at the time of entry for a fee of $6.00


 

effective for the duration of camping stay.

 

     (5) The department shall provide  an annual report  to the

 

standing committees in the senate and house of representatives

 

along with the appropriate budget subcommittees that primarily

 

consider issues pertaining to natural resources  issues  an annual

 

report that details the revenue stream generated by the fee

 

structure under this section. This report shall be presented not

 

later than December 31 each year and shall include information on

 

the impact of the revenue stream on the Michigan state parks

 

endowment fund created in section 35a of article IX of the state

 

constitution of 1963 and provided for in section 74119, the use of

 

the general fund for funding the state park system, and other

 

relevant issues that impact funding needs for the state park

 

system.

 

     (6) A resident motor vehicle is a vehicle that is registered

 

as a motor vehicle in this state.

 

     (6)  (7)  This part applies only to the entry of motor

 

vehicles into the state parks and to the park permits authorized in

 

this part and does not obviate the necessity of obtaining

 

additional permits for special services or park privileges as

 

previously or subsequently may be required by law or by rules

 

promulgated by the department. The department shall designate each

 

person in the state authorized to sell park permits and shall

 

require as a condition of the designation that a surety bond be

 

furnished in an amount and in a form and with the surety as is

 

acceptable to the department. After being designated by the  

 

Department  department, a person may issue park permits in


 

accordance with this part.

 

     (7)  (8)  Commercial motor coaches or vans with a capacity of

 

more than 12 passengers are not eligible to enter a state park with

 

an annual park permit. Until January 1, 2007, the daily fee to

 

allow commercial motor coaches or vans with a capacity of over 12

 

passengers daily entry into a state park is $15.00.

 

     (8)  (9)  The department may add to the cost of a reservation

 

or a motor vehicle entrance or camping fee the charges that the

 

state incurs because of the use of a credit card.

 

     (9) If a person's annual park permit is lost or destroyed, the

 

department shall provide that person with a replacement park permit

 

free of charge. The department may require a person requesting a

 

replacement park permit to supply sufficient evidence of the loss

 

or destruction of the original park permit.

 

     (10) It is the intent of the legislature that if, on September

 

30 of any state fiscal year, the amount of money in the

 

countercyclical budget and economic stabilization fund created in

 

section 351 of the management and budget act, 1984 PA 431, MCL

 

18.1351, exceeds $250,000,000.00, then general fund/general purpose

 

support for state parks operations for the following state fiscal

 

year shall be equal to or exceed 50% of the revenues generated by

 

motor vehicle entrance fees under this section during the previous

 

state fiscal year.

 

     (11) As used in this section, "resident motor vehicle" means a

 

vehicle that is registered as a motor vehicle in this state.

 

     Sec. 81116. (1) The owner of an ORV requiring licensure under

 

this part shall file an application for a license with the


 

department or a dealer on forms provided by the department. If an

 

ORV is sold by a dealer, the application for a license shall be

 

submitted to the department by the dealer in the name of the owner.

 

The application shall be signed by the owner of the vehicle and

 

shall be accompanied by a fee of $16.25. A person shall not file an

 

application for registration that contains false information. Upon

 

receipt of the application in approved form and upon payment of the

 

appropriate fee, the department or dealer shall issue to the

 

applicant a license which shall be valid for the 12-month period

 

for which it is issued. A license shall be issued for the 12-month

 

period beginning April 1 and ending March 31 each year.

 

     (2) Dealers may purchase from the department ORV licenses for

 

resale to owners of vehicles requiring licensure under this part.

 

The department shall refund to dealers the purchase price of any

 

ORV licenses returned within 90 days after the end of the 12-month

 

period for which they were valid. The dealer shall maintain and

 

provide to the department records of ORV license sales on forms

 

provided by the department. In addition to the sale of ORV

 

licenses, a dealer engaged in the sale, lease, or rental of ORVs as

 

a regular business may sell any other license or permit authorized

 

by the department to be sold by other dealers under the statutes of

 

this state.

 

     (3) The license shall be permanently attached to the vehicle

 

in the manner prescribed and in the location designated by the

 

department before the vehicle may legally be operated in accordance

 

with this part.

 

     (4) If at the time of sale the purchaser certifies on a form


 

provided by the department that the purchased vehicle otherwise

 

requiring a license under this part will be used and stored outside

 

of this state and will not be returned by the purchaser to this

 

state for use, then a license is not required.

 

     (5) If a license acquired by the owner of an ORV is lost or

 

destroyed, the department shall provide that person with a

 

replacement license free of charge. The department may require a

 

person requesting a replacement license to supply sufficient

 

evidence of the loss or destruction of the original license.