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| SPONSOR: | Altamirano | DATE TYPED: | 02/27/01 | HB | |||
| SHORT TITLE: | Depredation Hunts and Fees | SB | 758 | ||||
| ANALYST: | Dotson | ||||||
| Subsequent
Years Impact |
Recurring
or Non-Rec |
Fund
Affected | ||
| FY01 | FY02 | |||
| See Fiscal
Implications |
See Fiscal
Implications |
Recurring | Game Depredation Fund | |
| See Fiscal
Implications |
See Fiscal
Implications |
Recurring | Game Protection Fund | |
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)
Relates to HB 798, 797 and SB 527
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Department of Game and Fish
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
SB 758 creates a new permit for elk hunts. The permit is a result of a landowners, lessees or employees filing a elk depredation complaint. The complaint may request a depredation hunt. If the depredation hunt is approved, the hunter(s) would be selected by a random drawing.
Significant Issues
According to the Department of Game and Fish, the bill conflicts with 17-3-15 NMSA 1978 - Additional deer license. This law states - "it is a misdemeanor for any person to procure or use more than one license to hunt big game in one year".
According to the Department of Game and Fish, this bill allows a hunter to hunt elk with an elk depredation license and to hunt elk in the same year with a regular elk hunting license. 17-3-15 NMSA 1978 does not allow anyone to hunt two elk or hold two elk licenses in the same year.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
A new fund is created in the State Treasury. The "Game Depredation Fund", administered by the Department of Game and Fish. The revenues from the sale of the elk depredation permits are deposited into the Game Depredation Fund and the Game Protection Fund. No estimate is available as to the revenues generated for each fund.
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
The Department of Game and Fish recommends, adding the language "except as allowed by statute or regulation" to state statute 17-3-15 NMSA 1978. This would eliminate the conflict between this bill and state statute 17-3-15 NMSA 1978.
The Department of Game and Fish reports the State Game Commission must adopt regulations that provide that a landowner implement a minimum number of interventions prior to the receipt of depredation authorizations. Depredation permits, if issued, must be sold and a maximum of 25% of the proceeds may be used to offset damage and the remainder used to fund a permanent solution.
PD/ar:prr