Hello to my fellow Off-Roaders. I wasn't sure if this topic has come up yet but I wanted to get the word out about proposed nasty changes to our OHV Program, coming in the form of Senate Bill 742, Authored by Darrell Steinberg (D), Sacramento.


This legislation is still in it's early stages of becoming law and is still being negotiated on a weekly basis in Sacramento weekly by a group consisting of the Authors of the Bill, Governor's Aids, Off-Roaders, Environmentalists, Law Enforcement, Dealerships and the OHMVR Division. As the bill sits right now, the OHV Coalition opposes it unless amended. The OHV Coalition is made up of AMA (National, Dist 36, Dist 37 DualSport & OffRoad), ASA, Cal 4Wheel, Blue Ribbon Coalition, CORVA, California Nevada Snowmobile Assoc, Friends of Oceano Dunes, ORBA and SDORC.

There have been many changes in this proposal since February when it was first introduced. The latest update came on May 21st which had been amended to remove the threat of eliminating the red sticker from being registered (yes, that means red stickered rides would be illegal) but there's still so much more that is left answered. They still want to increase the registration fees to about $75 every two years, how they're going to handle the money, the list goes on.

Since we're still negotiating, there's no Call to Action just yet. Right now, it's about letting my fellow off-roaders know what's happening around them and sharing what information has been shared with me.

I have a forum called Legislative Issues that has discussions open regarding each part of the bill that I would like to invite you to come visit. You can participate there or bring it back here but I can guarantee, your voice will be heard in Sacramento and by the Leadership negotiating on our behalf.

Also, if any of you would like to discuss this more in detail, please feel free to PM me.

Click HERE (http://www.glamisdunes.com/invision/index.php?showforum=181) for the link or you can start here at my Welcome Introduction (http://www.glamisdunes.com/invision/index.php?showtopic=105903) to find out who and what drives me.

Thanks,

AFo4

Cool. I'll keep my eyes on this one as it progresses.

Thanks

Good deal!

Have a great weekend!



-Vicki Cossey

Here's part of the analysis that will go before the Senate Floor to be voted on if it is to go to the Assembly side.

This bill seeks to revise multiple aspects of the program.
Specifically, this bill:

1. Requires the use fee for state vehicle recreation areas
to be at least $10 for the first vehicle and an
additional $10 for each towed trailer. The Department
will set the actual use fee.

2. Increases the number of the Governor's appointees to the
commission from three to five and require Senate
confirmation of all gubernatorial appointees.

3. Changes the role of the commission so that the
commission would review and approve all general plans
for SVRAs and review all plans for new and expanded
local and regional vehicle recreation areas that have
applied for grant funds. The commission shall approve
the OHV program's strategic plans. The commission would
no longer approve minor and major capitol outlay
expenditures for SVRAs.

4. Allows other state agencies, in addition to the federal
and local governments, to apply for restoration grants
for OHV related activities that occur on state lands
outside of the state parks system.

5. Establishes minimum spending levels for the following
categories of grants:

A. 45 percent on facility maintenance and
operation, trail maintenance, meeting soil
standards and wildlife habitat plans, and the
planning and construction of new and expanded
local and regional riding opportunities.

B. 20 percent on local and federal law
enforcement needs.

C. 20 percent on restoration.

D. Five percent on education programs that
teach both OHV riding safety and environmental
responsibility.

6. Requires the division to establish guidelines to
determine the eligibility and priorities for grants
that, at a minimum, establish maximum grant amounts and
require all applicants to provide a 25 percent match of
funds.

7. Requires the director of DPR to approve of all grants
and cooperative agreements instead of the commission.

8. Requires new or expanded local and regional
opportunities, in order to be eligible for grant funds,
to comply with the same wildlife and soil standards as
SVRAs and the potential of the facility to reduce
illegal OHV riding in the surrounding area.

9. Allows up to 50 percent of the law enforcement grants to
be allocated by a needs-based, non-competitive process
to local law enforcement entities for personnel and
related equipment. The remainder of the law enforcement
grants will be distributed on a competitive basis for
federal law enforcement and special projects needs.

10.Allocates an unspecified percentage of the OHV Trust
Fund to DPR to support recreation associated with OHV
use outside of the SVRA system, upon appropriation by
the Legislature.

11.Eliminates the sunset date for the commission and extend
the sunset date for the OHV program until 2013.

12.Sunsets the Conservation and Enforcement Services
Account and associated spending restrictions.

13.Establishes the factors to be used to determine the
appropriate amount of fuel tax attributable to OHV use
by a formula instead of a biennial fuel tax study.

14.Increases the portion of the license registration fee
for an OHV that is deposited in the OHV Trust Fund from
$8 to $67.

15.Specifies that violations for riding in state or federal
wilderness areas also applies to areas that are closed
to OHV recreation.

and the link to join in on the conversation regarding this...

http://www.glamisdunes.com/invision/index.php?showtopic=109275