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

SPONSOR Moore

DATE TYPED 2/23/05

HB 47

SHORT TITLE Remove Cougars From Regulated Game List

SB

ANALYST

Aguilar

REVENUE

Estimated Revenue

Subsequent

Years Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

($107.0)

($107.0) Recurring

Game Protection

Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

Conflicts with SB-16, SB-77 (both bills amend hunting & fishing fees, one of which is removed

under the provisions of this bill)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Game and Fish (DFG)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 47 removes cougars from the list of game animals regulated by the Department of

Game and Fish.

Significant Issues

House Bill 47 removes all protection and regulatory oversight of cougars by the department of

game and fish.

DGF would no longer be responsible for addressing cougar depredation complaints filed by

landowners.

House Bill 47 -- Page 2

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

The proposed bill, if adopted, will not negatively impact the department’s ability to meet per-

formance measures.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

Enacting this bill will decrease the department’s revenue by an estimated $107 thousand annu-

ally because cougar will not be protected no longer requiring a license. Currently, the depart-

ment conducts a cougar removal program in Southeast New Mexico to protect mule deer and

livestock from cougar depredation and responds to cougar depredation complaints statewide at a

cost of $47 thousand annually. The presumption is program would no longer be needed resulting

in a reduction of overall expenditures.

Personnel and contractors needed to deal with cougar issues (licensing, depredation) as well as

associated costs could be redirected to other department needs or not be utilized and remain in

the Game Protection Fund.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The department will no longer be mandated to estimate the populations, track harvest, enforce

laws pertaining to the taking of cougar, and recommending hunting structures to the State Game

Commission for cougar.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

Senate Bills 16 and 77 make changes to the fees charged for hunting and fishing licenses. This

bill removes one type of license from the license structure.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

Hunting proclamations and licenses have already been printed for the 2005 – 2006 hunting sea-

son which begins April 1, 2005. The legislature may wish to consider inserting an effective date

of April 1, 2006.

PA/lg