MMA "Motorcycle Safety Fund Bill" for the
2013-2014 Legislative Session
Senate Bill Number 1365 filed by Senator Thomas McGee on behalf of the MMA and 11 Formal Co-Sponsors Angelo J. Puppolo, Sarah K. Peake, Elizabeth A. Poirier, James R. Miceli, Randy Hunt, Bradford Hill,Louis L. Kafka, Christine E. Canavan, Todd M. Smola, Michael R. Knapik, Carolyn C. Dykema
Every motorcyclist pays a $2.00 fee at every annual registration. This fee is supposed to be used to fund a Motorcycle Safety Fund. Though this motorcycle safety fund technically exists, it's under control of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and details of the amounts collected and spent are kept from the public.
MGL Chapter 90, Section 34 actual text, "Notwithstanding the first paragraph, $2 from each motorcycle registration fee shall be paid by the registrar or by the person collecting the registration fee into the General Fund and shall be appropriated solely for the purpose of promoting and advancing motorcycle safety."
Senate Bill Number 1365 seeks the following:
- to insure that this money stays in a separate fund specifically for Motorcycle Safety
- to insure this is fully funded and all dollars collected are deposited to thus fund
- to insure that the Treasurer cannot transfer dollars out of this fund to the General Fund
- to insure Quarterly Accountability detailing income and spending relating to this fund
- to insure these Quarterly Reports are delivered specifically to the MMA Chairman
- to insure these dollars are used for a Motorcycle Safety Program including, but not limited to:
* funding Motorcycle Safety Foundation approved Rider Education Courses and Instructor training
* maintaining a Policy Manual that shall provide minimum requirements for instructors and businesses that offer approved rider education courses in the commonwealth
* public awareness signage and billboards
FORMAL TEXT FOR SENATE BILL 1365-An Act establishing a motorcycle safety fund
Section 34 of Chapter 90 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the paragraph located from line 85 through line 88 and adding in place thereof the following: "Notwithstanding the first paragraph, $2 from each motorcycle registration fee shall be paid monthly by the registrar or by the person collecting the registration fee into a separate fund known as the Motorcycle Safety Fund for motorcycle safety related activities. Said fund shall consist of all revenue received by the commonwealth under Section thirty-four of Chapter ninety and which is specifically designated therein for said Motorcycle Safety Fund. All revenues credited under this section shall remain in the Motorcycle Safety Fund to administer a motorcycle safety program, which shall include, but not be limited to, funding Motorcycle Safety Foundation approved rider education courses and instructor training, maintaining a policy manual that shall provide minimum requirements for instructors and businesses that offer approved rider education courses in the commonwealth, and public awareness efforts. The State Treasurer shall not deposit such revenues in, or transfer such revenues to, the General Fund or any other fund other than the Motorcycle Safety Fund. The State Treasurer shall produce quarterly, an accounting report detailing income and expenditures relating to said Motorcycle Safety Fund, deliverable to the Chairman of the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association (MMA)."
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