Act 97 Separates ATV, Snowmobile Funds
An amendment to the Vehicle Code requires the establishment of separate restricted accounts in the state treasury, an effort to ensure the more equitable distribution of money collected from all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and snowmobbile operations.
Money the state collects from the registration, certification, sale of publications or services, and enforcement activity of ATVs and snowmobiles is placed in a restricted account. The money supports those operations, as well as construction and maintenance of snowmobile and ATV trails and acquisition of equipment, supplies and interests in land.
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources does not currently separate expenditures related to ATV projects from expenditures related to snowmobile projects. As a result, the money has been disproportionately allocated between the user groups. Although ATV operations bring in most of the money, a large portion of the available funds to to snowmobile projects.
Having a separate restricted account for each area of operation ensures that the dollars collected from a user group go to fund projects for that user group.
The Act also changes the composition of the Snowmobile and ATV Advisory Board, adding one member each from the Department of Community and Economic Development and the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association, and dropping representation from conservation or non-motorized recreation organizatons.
Read the full text of Act 97 of 2016 on the General Assembly's Web site at www.legis.state.pa.us/. Type "SB 648" in the search box in the upper right corner of the page, then click Printer's Number 1297.
The Act is effective Sept. 18, 2016.
Money the state collects from the registration, certification, sale of publications or services, and enforcement activity of ATVs and snowmobiles is placed in a restricted account. The money supports those operations, as well as construction and maintenance of snowmobile and ATV trails and acquisition of equipment, supplies and interests in land.
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources does not currently separate expenditures related to ATV projects from expenditures related to snowmobile projects. As a result, the money has been disproportionately allocated between the user groups. Although ATV operations bring in most of the money, a large portion of the available funds to to snowmobile projects.
Having a separate restricted account for each area of operation ensures that the dollars collected from a user group go to fund projects for that user group.
The Act also changes the composition of the Snowmobile and ATV Advisory Board, adding one member each from the Department of Community and Economic Development and the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association, and dropping representation from conservation or non-motorized recreation organizatons.
Read the full text of Act 97 of 2016 on the General Assembly's Web site at www.legis.state.pa.us/. Type "SB 648" in the search box in the upper right corner of the page, then click Printer's Number 1297.
The Act is effective Sept. 18, 2016.
