1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to natural resources; modifying all-terrain 
  1.3             vehicle safety training and youth operating 
  1.4             provisions; amending Minnesota Statutes 1998, sections 
  1.5             84.925, subdivision 1; and 84.9256, subdivision 1. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 84.925, 
  1.8   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  1.9      Subdivision 1.  [PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.] The commissioner 
  1.10  shall establish a comprehensive all-terrain vehicle 
  1.11  environmental and safety education and training program, 
  1.12  including the preparation and dissemination of vehicle 
  1.13  information and safety advice to the public, the training of 
  1.14  all-terrain vehicle operators, and the issuance of all-terrain 
  1.15  vehicle safety certificates to vehicle operators over the age of 
  1.16  12 years who successfully complete the all-terrain vehicle 
  1.17  environmental and safety education and training course.  For the 
  1.18  purpose of administering the program and to defray a portion of 
  1.19  the expenses of training and certifying vehicle operators, the 
  1.20  commissioner shall collect a fee of not to exceed $5 $10 from 
  1.21  each person who receives the training and shall deposit the fee 
  1.22  in the all-terrain vehicle account.  The commissioner shall 
  1.23  cooperate with private organizations and associations, private 
  1.24  and public corporations, and local governmental units in 
  1.25  furtherance of the program established under this section.  The 
  2.1   commissioner shall consult with the commissioner of public 
  2.2   safety in regard to training program subject matter and 
  2.3   performance testing that leads to the certification of vehicle 
  2.4   operators.  By June 30, 2003, the commissioner shall incorporate 
  2.5   a riding component in the safety education and training program. 
  2.6      Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 84.9256, 
  2.7   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  2.8      Subdivision 1.  [PROHIBITIONS ON YOUTHFUL OPERATORS.] (a) 
  2.9   Except for operation on public road rights-of-way that is 
  2.10  permitted under section 84.928, a driver's license issued by the 
  2.11  state or another state is required to operate an all-terrain 
  2.12  vehicle along or on a public road right-of-way. 
  2.13     (b) A person under 12 years of age shall not: 
  2.14     (1) make a direct crossing of a public road right-of-way; 
  2.15     (2) operate an all-terrain vehicle on a public road 
  2.16  right-of-way in the state; or 
  2.17     (3) operate an all-terrain vehicle on public lands or 
  2.18  waters.  
  2.19     (c) Except for public road rights-of-way of interstate 
  2.20  highways, a person 12 years of age but less than 16 17 years may 
  2.21  make a direct crossing of a public road right-of-way of a trunk, 
  2.22  county state-aid, or county highway or operate on public lands 
  2.23  and waters, only if that person: 
  2.24     (1) possesses a valid all-terrain vehicle safety 
  2.25  certificate issued by the commissioner or is 16 years old with a 
  2.26  valid driver's license; and 
  2.27     (2) is accompanied on another all-terrain vehicle by a 
  2.28  person 18 years of age or older who holds a valid driver's 
  2.29  license.  
  2.30     (d) All-terrain vehicle safety certificates issued by the 
  2.31  commissioner to persons 12 years old, but less than 16 years 
  2.32  old, are not valid for machines in excess of 90cc engine 
  2.33  capacity, unless: 
  2.34     (1) the person has successfully completed the safety 
  2.35  education and training program under section 84.925, subdivision 
  2.36  1, including a riding component; and 
  3.1      (2) the riding component of the training was conducted 
  3.2   using an all-terrain vehicle with over 90cc engine capacity.