Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Summer 2016 | 19 Legislation Report approximately $60,000 in additional revenue for the SSTP program, which has an average budget of $850,000. From the SSTP budget, we fund grooming equipment grants, payments to law enforcement for patrols on the trails, our trails liability insurance policy, salaries for 1.5 employees and a host of other small expenses including office supplies, phone and internet. When you receive your registration renewal in the mail this August and you see that the fees have increased, this is the reason. The SSTP budget and the trail system is the beneficiary! H-308 Limitation on Liability The language in this bill was worked on in conjunction with the Governors Snowmobile Council since 2015. This piece of legislation finally made it through into law this year. The bill proposes to limit the liability of VAST for ordinary negligence in connection with any property damage or personal injury arising from snowmobile operation outside the Statewide Snowmobile Trail System, provided that VAST has exercised reasonable care in marking the boundaries of the SSTS. It is very similar language that is offered to the ski areas as protection when a skier operates out of bounds at the mountain. If riders are injured going off the trail, it limits the liability of VAST. S-224 Vermont’s Machinery Dealer Act This legislation was something that came to us from our lobbyists partway through the session. We reviewed the bill and decided to keep our nose out of it. However, it does affect snowmobiling here in Vermont. The bill significantly affects the relationship between equipment dealers and the manufacturers of the equipment. It is interesting to note that the Northeast Equipment Dealers Association indicates that there are 46 other states who have enacted statutes that protect dealers of machinery and agricultural equipment. Vermont is now the 47th. The new legislation covers farm and utility tractors, farm implements, farm machinery, forestry equipment, industrial equipment, utility equipment, yard and garden equipment, snowmobiles, ATVs, as well as attachments, accessories and repair parts. Essentially, this legislation evens the playing field a bit. Equipment manufacturers can no longer force dealers to take on more product than they can sell, and as a result cause them hardships and possibly force them to go out of business. It also standardizes the amount that manufacturers must pay for warranty work that the dealer performs on behalf of the manufacturer. It also increases the amount that manufacturers must pay dealers to repurchase the dealer’s inventory and parts if either party terminates the dealer agreement and allows a dealer to sell and service more than one manufacturer’s products in the same building. This legislation could not have come at a better time for dealers after such a poor winter in 2016. For more information on this bill you can visit the Northeast Equipment Dealers Association at www.ne-equip.org.