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

SPONSOR Heaton

DATE TYPED 1/24/2005 HB 37

SHORT TITLE Game & Fish Licenses Over Internet

SB

ANALYST Aguilar

REVENUE

Estimated Revenue

Subsequent

Years Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

Indeterminate

Recurring

Game Protection

Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Game and Fish (DGF)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 37 provides for hunting license applications to be accepted over the internet and fur-

ther provides penalties for a nonresident to possess a resident license

Significant Issues

The Department of Game and Fish receives over 110,000 applications for limited hunt drawings

each year. HB 37 clarifies the department’s ability to accept applications for licenses over the

internet. Currently, hunters who apply using a paper application or over the telephone must mail

in a signature page and remit the entire hunt fee. In the event a hunter is not picked, a refund

check is mailed to the applicant. Provisions contained in HB 37 allow for applicants who apply

using an online process to use a credit card and only pay the application fee until the drawing is

held. If successful in the drawing, the department then charges the credit card for the full license

fee. HB 37 further exempts hunters applying for a license using either the telephone or the inter-

net from signing an application prior to the issuance of a license. Hunters using paper applica-

tions will continue to remit the entire hunt fee at the time of application.

House Bill 37 -- Page 2

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

Provision contained in HB 37 will streamline licensing procedures for both the consumer and the

public by allowing for a more efficient process. At present the department collects considerable

revenue annually which must be returned to unsuccessful applicants. Streamlining this process

should lead to more efficiency in agency fiscal processes.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

This change in statute has the potential to increase a greater number of applicants to submit hunt

application online rather than using paper methods. The department realizes income from inter-

est earned on hunt fees collected and deposited during the draw period. The impact on revenues

is indeterminate at this time. The department notes that any reduction in income will be more

than offset in savings realized in labor savings. This too is indeterminate.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The process for accepting online applications currently exists, the only difference will be that

hard copy signatures will not be required.

PA/yr