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

SPONSOR HENRC

DATE TYPED 3/17/05

HB 78/HENRCS/aHTRC/aSFC

SHORT TITLE Game Commission Habitat Acquisition & Fees SB

ANALYST Aguilar

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

NFI

Indeterminate Recurring Habitat Man-

agement fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

REVENUE

Estimated Revenue

Subsequent

Years Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

$840.0 - $900.0

$840.0 - $900.0 Recurring

Habitat Manage-

ment Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Game and Fish (DGF)

Taxation and Revenue Department (TRD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of SFC Amendment

The Senate Finance Committee amendment to House Bill 78 as previously amended, reduces the

cost of the Habitat Management Stamp fee from $5.00 annually to $3.00 annually. The amend-

ment also creates an exception that waives the requirement of this stamp for all individuals under

the age of 18.

Synopsis of HTRC Amendment

The House Taxation and Revenue Committee amendment to the House Energy and Natural Re-

House Bill 78/HENRCS/aHTRC -- Page 2

sources Committee substitute for House Bill 78 changes the requirement that a license indicate

whether a habitat stamp fee has been paid. The amendment provides for the licensee to demon-

strate the habitat stamp fee has been paid.

Synopsis of Original Bill

The House Energy and Natural Resources Committee substitute for House Bill 78 provides for

the improvement, maintenance, development and operation of property for fish and wildlife habi-

tat, imposes a habitat acquisition and management fee, creates a fund and establishes the ability

to request appropriations.

Significant Issues

The committee substitute limits the imposition of the habitat management fee to one fee per in-

dividual purchaser per year regardless of the number of applicable licenses received.

HENRCS/HB78 directs all funds received to the Habitat Management Fund. Money in the fund

may be expended only upon appropriation by the legislature and only for the improvement,

maintenance, development and operation of property for fish and wildlife habitat management.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

This would assist the Department in meeting a current performance measure under the Conserva-

tion Services Program to beneficially impact up to 100,000 acres of wildlife annually within the

state.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

It is estimated that approximately 1.4 to 1.5 million dollars could be recognized annually for the

State Game Commission to use for the improvement, maintenance, development and operation

of property for fish and wildlife habitat.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

Other administrative implications could include utilizing portions of current staff time to analyze

and develop necessary projects for fish and wildlife habitat. This function is currently available

within the Department.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

The Department of Game and Fish notes the current wording of the committee substitute con-

tains language regarding the stamp that could cause a conflict in interpretation. On page 6, lines

22 through 25, it appears that every license must contain the validation. On page 7, lines 1

through 4, the bill explain that people only need to pay one habitat improvement fee per year,

regardless of the number of licenses they purchase. Please see amendments section below for a

suggested resolution. The department proposes the following amendment for consideration by

the Legislature:

On page 6, line 24, strike the words “it indicates” and replace them with the words “the license

House Bill 78/HENRCS/aHTRC -- Page 3

holder can demonstrate”. This would make it clearer that a validation or stamp from one li-

cense can serve as proof for another license held by the same person.

PA/yr:lg