NOTE: As provided in LFC policy, this report is
intended only for use by the standing finance committees of the
legislature. The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume
responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used for
other purposes.
The most recent FIR
version (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) is available on the Legislative
Website. The Adobe PDF version includes
all attachments, whereas the HTML version does not. Previously issued FIRs and attachments may be
obtained from the LFC in
SPONSOR: |
|
DATE TYPED: |
|
HB |
|
||
SHORT TITLE: |
|
SB |
812/aSCONC/aHGUAC |
||||
|
ANALYST: |
Valenzuela |
|||||
APPROPRIATION
Appropriation
Contained |
Estimated
Additional Impact |
Recurring or
Non-Rec |
Fund Affected |
||
FY03 |
FY04 |
FY03 |
FY04 |
|
|
|
NFI |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Parenthesis
( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
-
Report of the Legislative Finance
Committee to the Forty-sixth Legislature, First Session,
January 2003 for Fiscal Year 2003 – 2004, pp. 390 – 401.
Responses
Received From
Department
of Game and Fish
SUMMARY
Synopsis of the HGUAC Amendment
The House Government and Urban Affairs Committee
(HGUAC) amendment aligns the short title with the effect of the SCONC amendment
which eliminated the size restriction on game park fences.
Synopsis of the SCONC Amendment
The Senate Conservation Committee (SCONC)
amendment to Senate Bill 812 eliminates the acreage threshold that defines the
size of a game park and eliminates the game-proof fence height requirement.
Therefore, the current regulation mandating a fence no lower than seven and
one-half feet applies to all game parks, regardless of acreage.
Synopsis of Original Bill
Senate Bill 812 would
require that game-proof fences bordering game parks be no more than six feet in
height. The bill makes grammatical corrections to the statute.
Significant
Issues
Under current regulations, game-proof fences can
be no lower than seven and one half feet in height from ground level to top
wire or fence top. DGF reports that this height was developed through intensive
public involvement from game park owners and other concerned citizens.
DGF argues that the current height requirement
is in place to prevent against possible transmission of disease. The department
reports that animal health specialists believe game parks have a higher rate of
disease transmission because close proximity of game to each other in a limited
area. In some instances, game in game parks are
imported from other parks in other states, which could aid in disease
transmission such as chronic wasting disease.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
Senate Bill 812 does
not contain an appropriation.
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE
ISSUES
Chronic Wasting
Disease. Last summer, chronic
wasting disease was discovered on game ranches in
The Legislature in 2002 addressed this void. Senate Bill
151, which was enacted directed the department to
promulgate rules for controlling or eradicating the spread of contagious
disease in game animals. The bill gave
the department the authority, in collaboration with the state veterinarian, to
mitigate any problem through quarantine, treatment or destruction of the
animals. Senate Bill 151 also allowed DGF to use the game protection fund to
purchase the diseased animals and disinfect the premises of the game parks
where the animals had been housed. Enactment of Senate Bill 151 could have a
substantial impact on the game protection fund. DGF reports
MFV/yr