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An Act To Improve the Safety of Snowmobile Trails
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §1893, sub-§3, ¶A,  as enacted by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. C, §1 and affected by c. 614, §9, is amended to read:
 
A.  The bureau is authorized to use the money credited to the Snowmobile Trail Fund to make grants-in-aid to political subdivisions, educational institutions, regional planning agencies, snowmobile groups and others for the construction and maintenance of snowmobile trails and for research, development and planning of snowmobile trails.
 
(1) For all grants disbursed after July 1, 1984, the bureau shall adopt rules specifying how to apply for the grants, which projects are eligible and the formula for state support.
 
(2) The bureau may charge a reasonable fee for these services and materials when the money credited to it under this paragraph is insufficient to satisfy the demand for the services and materials. All fees so collected must be deposited in the Snowmobile Trail Fund.
 
(3) If any of the money is not expended during the year in which the money is collected, the unexpended balance does not lapse, but is carried as a continuing account available for the purposes specified until expended.
 
(4) A political subdivision, educational institution, regional planning agency, snowmobile group or any other person or entity that receives money from the Snowmobile Trail Fund shall ensure that:
 
(a) All trail markings and signs on the snowmobile trails maintained by that political subdivision, educational institution, regional planning agency, snowmobile group or other person or entity that receives money from the Snowmobile Trail Fund substantially comply with guidelines regarding snowmobile trail signs published by the department; and
 
(b) A rope, cord, line, chain or similar material does not cross a snowmobile trail and is not used in any way to create a barrier to or within a snowmobile trail so as to create a potential hazard on a snowmobile trail maintained by that political subdivision, educational institution, regional planning agency, snowmobile group or other person or entity that receives money from the Snowmobile Trail Fund.
 
A person or entity that violates this subparagraph commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $500 must be adjudged. If a person or entity violates this subparagraph and that violation causes death or serious bodily injury, that person or entity, in addition to being liable for the fine described in this subparagraph, is not eligible to receive funding from the Snowmobile Trail Fund for 3 years after that death or serious bodily injury.
 
SUMMARY
This bill provides that a person or entity that receives money from the Snowmobile Trail Fund shall ensure that all trail markings and signs on the snowmobile trails maintained by that person or entity comply with guidelines regarding snowmobile trail signs published by the Department of Conservation and that a rope, cord, line, chain or similar material does not cross a snowmobile trail and is not used in any way to create a potential hazard on a snowmobile trail. A person or entity that violates these provisions is subject to a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $500 and, if the violation causes death or serious bodily injury, ineligibility to receive funding from the Snowmobile Trail Fund for 3 years.