18 Mar 2017

Save The California OHV Program – Pick Up The Phone!!

On March 7th we published an AMA Action alert about the California OHV Program being in peril due to SB 249.  We have subsequently discovered that all members of the Transportation Committee, currently looking at this Senate Bill, were not on the AMA contact list.  So we now are asking every one to pick up the phone and call all the members of this committee.  This action should take no more than 15 minutes of your time.  Why so little?  When you call you will reach a staff member and you will need to tell them your’re opposed to SB 249.  They will take your name and there is no reason to go into detail.  The office keeps records of the number of people that call to oppose the bill and this will have an impact on how the Committee members looks at the bill.  To use an old Cliché “United we stand – Divided we fall”!

Call them all!!           Call during normal business hours!!

 

This cherished program, long seen as a model nationwide, is slated for renewal due to a sunset provision that was included in the previous program authorization.

  • If adopted as written, SB 249 would begin to dismantle decades of work and indeed mark the end of this nationally recognized and celebrated program.
  • Senate Bill 249 would result in a diversion of these funds for non-OHV related purposes and also proposes to reduce the number of OHV representation on the OHV Commission. Additionally it would severely limit opportunities for public involvement in the decision-making process in the future.
SB 249 is a Very Serious Threat to the California OHV Program!

A program that not only provides quality, sustainable, family oriented recreation for citizens and visitors alike, but also emphasizes environmental sustainability and protection, as well as public safety and partnerships with federal government agencies that provide OHV opportunities. This program uses no general fund monies and is, in fact, based on a user-pay, user-benefit style model.  Monies used to pay for the program include those taxes collected on fuel, State Vehicle Recreation Areas (SVRAs) entrance fees and vehicle registrations (green and red stickers).

Please Call All The Committee Members!!

Dave Picket
Legislative Action Office, District 36
Jerry Fouts
President, District 36