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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR:	Hanosh		DATE TYPED:	1/27/02		HB	246
SHORT TITLE:		No Hunting and Fishing License Fees for Vets				SB
					ANALYST:		Valenzuela

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY02	FY03	FY02	FY03
			0.1	Recurring	Game Protection Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates/Relates to Appropriation in The General Appropriation Act

REVENUE

Estimated Revenue		Subsequent Years Impact	Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY02	FY03
	($1,200.0)	($1,200.0)	Recurring	Game Protection Fund
	($375.0)	($375.0)	Recurring	Federal Funds
	($120.0)	($120.0)	Recurring	Habitat Stamp

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Legislative Finance Committee files

Department of Game and Fish

Veteran’s Service Commission

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 246 amends the current statute that provides free hunting and fishing licenses to disabled veteran’s of foreign wars. The bill would eliminate the language that restricts this benefit solely to disabled veterans, and thus making hunting and fishing licenses free to all residents of New Mexico who have served in the armed forces.

Significant Issues

The Veterans’ Service Commission estimates 170,000 veterans reside in New Mexico. The Department of Game and Fish estimates that 31,500 are hunters and fishermen, which represents the population targeted in this bill. The bill is not clear on the issue of whether persons who have served in the armed forces but were dishonorably discharged will receive this benefit.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The bill does not carry an appropriation. Enactment of HB 246 would have a substantial fiscal impact on the Department of Game and Fish. The department reports that it has estimated a loss of $1.2 million to the Game Protection Fund, $375.0 in federal funds, and $120.0 in the Habitat Stamp Fund. The impact of these lost revenues would be that the department would require a fee increase in 2004.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The department reports that it would have to hire additional staff to carry out the provisions of the bill.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

Are active duty service personnel eligible for this benefit?

MFV/njw