Bill > S2515

This bill establishes a snowmobile educational safety program by amending existing laws. It adds the Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts, Inc. to a list of entities in chapter 21 of the General Laws. It also introduces new definitions for "Director," referring to the director of law enforcement within the office of law enforcement or their designee, and "Office of Law Enforcement" or "Office of Environmental Law Enforcement," which is established under chapter 21A. The most significant provision, found in a new section 21A of chapter 90B, requires individuals under 18 years of age to complete an approved snowmobile safety and responsibility course, which must be at least 6 hours long and cover criminal penalties and forfeiture processes. Parents or legal guardians of operators under 14 must also participate in at least one session of the course. Operators must carry proof of completion, and equivalent courses from other states will be recognized. However, there are exemptions for those operating on private land, for 14-year-olds and older, for younger operators accompanied by a qualified adult, for those under direct supervision of a certified instructor, and for individuals exempted by regulation.