Subd. 1. Pass in possession.

While riding, leading, or driving a horse on horse trails and associated day use areas on state trails, in state parks, in state recreation areas, and in state forests, a person 16 years of age or over shall carry in immediate possession and visibly display on person or horse tack, a valid horse trail pass. The pass must be available for inspection by a peace officer, a conservation officer, or an employee designated under section 84.0835.

Subd. 2. License agents.

1. (a) The commissioner of natural resources may appoint agents to issue and sell horse trail passes. The commissioner may revoke the appointment of an agent at any time.
2. (b) The commissioner may adopt additional rules as provided in section 97A.485,

Subd. 11.

An agent shall observe all rules adopted by the commissioner for the accounting and handling of passes according to section 97A.485, subdivision 11.

1. (c) An agent must promptly deposit and remit all money received from the sale of passes, except issuing fees, to the commissioner.

Subd. 3. Issuance.

The commissioner of natural resources and agents shall issue and sell horse trail passes. The pass shall include the applicant's signature and other information deemed necessary by the commissioner. To be valid, a pass must be signed by the person riding, leading, or driving the horse.

Subd. 4. Pass fees.

1. (a) The fee for an annual horse trail pass is $20 for an individual 16 years of age and over. The fee shall be collected at the time the pass is purchased. Annual passes are valid for one year beginning January 1 and ending December 31.
2. (b) The fee for a daily horse trail pass is $4 for an individual 16 years of age and over. The fee shall be collected at the time the pass is purchased. The daily pass is valid only for the date designated on the pass form.

Subd. 5. Issuing fee.

In addition to the fee for a horse trail pass, an issuing fee of $1 per pass shall be charged. The issuing fee shall be retained by the seller of the pass. Issuing fees for passes sold by the commissioner of natural resources shall be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the horse trail account in the natural resources fund and are appropriated to the commissioner for the operation of the electronic licensing system. A pass shall indicate the amount of the fee that is retained by the seller.

Subd. 6. Disposition of receipts.

Fees collected under this section, except for the issuing fee, shall be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the horse trail account in the natural resources fund. Except for the electronic licensing system commission established by the commissioner under section 84.027, subdivision 15, the fees are appropriated to the commissioner of natural resources for trail acquisition, trail and facility development, and maintenance, enforcement, and rehabilitation of horse trails or trails authorized for horse use, whether for riding, leading, or driving, on state trails and in state parks, state recreation areas, and state forests.

Subd. 7. Duplicate horse trail passes.

The commissioner of natural resources and agents shall issue a duplicate pass to a person whose pass is lost or destroyed using the process established under section 97A.405, subdivision 3, and rules adopted thereunder. The fee for a duplicate horse trail pass is $2, with an issuing fee of 50 cents.