1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to natural resources; creating an off-highway
1.3 	vehicle safety and conservation grant program;
1.4 	proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
1.5 	chapter 84; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2004, section
1.6 	84.901.
1.7 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.8 	Section 1. [84.785] OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE SAFETY AND
1.9 	CONSERVATION GRANT PROGRAM.
1.10 		Subdivision 1.Creation. The commissioner of natural
1.11 	resources shall establish an off-highway vehicle safety and
1.12 	conservation grant program to make grants to organizations that
1.13 	meet the eligibility requirements under subdivision 3.
1.14 		Subd. 2.Purpose. The purpose of the off-highway vehicle
1.15 	safety and conservation grant program is to encourage
1.16 	off-highway vehicle clubs to assist in safety training;
1.17 	environmental education; and improving, maintaining, and
1.18 	monitoring public trails.  This section does not grant law
1.19 	enforcement authority.
1.20 		Subd. 3.Eligibility. To be eligible for a grant under
1.21 	this section, an organization must:
1.22 	(1) be a statewide, nonprofit organization that promotes
1.23 	the operation of off-highway vehicles in a manner that is safe
1.24 	and responsible;
1.25 	(2) support the safe operation of off-highway vehicles in a
1.26 	manner that does not conflict with the laws and rules that
2.1 	relate to the operation of off-highway vehicles;
2.2 	(3) have an interest in the safe, lawful, and responsible
2.3 	operation of off-highway vehicles;
2.4 	(4) be governed by a board of directors that has a majority
2.5 	of members who are representatives of off-highway vehicle clubs;
2.6 	and 
2.7 	(5) provide support to off-highway vehicle clubs.
2.8 		Subd. 4.Use of grant. An organization receiving a grant
2.9 	under this section shall use the grant money to promote and
2.10 	provide support to the Department of Natural Resources by:
2.11 	(1) training volunteers to assist in improving,
2.12 	maintaining, and monitoring public trails and other public
2.13 	lands;
2.14 	(2) providing assistance to the department in locating,
2.15 	recruiting, and training instructors;
2.16 	(3) publishing a manual in cooperation with the
2.17 	commissioner to be used to train volunteers in monitoring the
2.18 	operation of off-highway vehicles for safety, environmental, and
2.19 	other issues that relate to the responsible operation of
2.20 	off-highway vehicles;
2.21 	(4) collecting data on the operation of off-highway
2.22 	vehicles in the state; and 
2.23 	(5) publishing an annual report outlining accomplishments
2.24 	and annual costs related to the efforts under this subdivision.
2.25 	The report must be approved by the commissioner.
2.26 		Subd. 5.Volunteer status. Volunteers of the nonprofit
2.27 	organization and any volunteers under this section are not
2.28 	volunteers for purposes of section 84.089.
2.29 		Subd. 6.Worker displacement prohibited. The
2.30 	commissioner may not enter into any agreement that has the
2.31 	purpose of or results in the displacement of public employees by
2.32 	volunteers participating in the off-highway vehicle safety and
2.33 	conservation grant program under this section.  The commissioner
2.34 	must certify to the appropriate bargaining agent that the work
2.35 	performed by a volunteer will not result in the displacement of
2.36 	currently employed workers or workers on seasonal layoff or
3.1 	layoff from a substantially equivalent position, including
3.2 	partial displacement such as reduction in hours of nonovertime
3.3 	work, wages, or other employment benefits.

3.4 	Sec. 2. REPEALER.
 3.5 	Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 84.901, is repealed.