Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance

committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports

if they are used for other purposes.

Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are a vailable on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us).

Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not. Previously issued FIRs and

attachments may be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

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

SPONSOR Jennings

DATE TYPED 2/16/2005 HB

SHORT TITLE Raise Nonresident Game & Fish License Fees

SB 336

ANALYST Aguilar

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$709.0

Recurring Game Protec-

tion Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Conflicts with HB-47, SB-16, SB-77

REVENUE

Estimated Revenue

Subsequent

Years Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

Indeterminate

$1,500.0 Recurring

Game Protection

Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Game & Fish (DGF)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 336 Senate Bill 2 raises license fees for certain non-resident and temporary hunting

and fishing licenses.

Senate Bill 336 -- Page 2

Senate Bill 336 appropriates $709 thousand from the game protection fund to the Department of

Game and Fish for the purpose of providing salary increases for game and fish law enforcement

commissioned conservation officers, clerical, secretarial, and farm and ranch workers of the de-

partment.

The bill makes the appropriation contingent upon the department adopting a tiered salary sched-

ule for all employees based on experience and job qualifications; and with respect to commis-

sioned law enforcement officers, based on education, experience and risk. DGF is directed to re-

quest the state personnel office to reclassify commissioned officers or to assign them to an alter-

native pay band.

Significant Issues

The fee increases included in SB 336 are expected to generate approximately $1.5 million annu-

ally.

The Department of Game and Fish generates the majority of its revenue through the sale of hunt-

ing and fishing licenses, with fees fixed by statute. Inflation and appropriations for nonrecurring

projects have caused overall expenditures to surpass revenues, reducing cash balances in the

fund. This has produced a situation where increasing revenue has become a priority. Increasing

license fees is one way the department has identified to generate additional revenue.

The license fees amended in this bill are sold during the hunting and fishing license year that

runs from April 1

st

to March 31

st

. The licenses for the 2005-2006 license year have already been

ordered and printed and the computer systems have been programmed. The agency notes the fee

increases should be implemented on April 1, 2006 in order to allow for production of printed ma-

terials and updates to computer systems.

The department in 2004 implemented a salary adjustment for conservation officers to deal with

salary compaction issues. In addition the department has completed a study of conservation offi-

cer compensation. To date, the State Personnel Office has not been contacted to consider reclas-

sifying these positions.

The department has also completed a comprehensive study of salaries agency wide. At this time,

no action has been taken regarding the study.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $709 thousand contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the game pro-

tection fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2006

shall revert to the game protection fund.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

SB 336 conflicts with HB-47, SB-16 and SB-77. All four bills amend the same section of law.

Senate Bill 336 -- Page 3

TECHNICAL ISSUES

The Department requests that this bill be amended to include an effective date of April 1, 2006.

The current version of the bill does not specify an effective date, which would provide for im-

plementation during 2005. In order to allow time for printed materials to be changed and com-

puter systems to be updated, the April 2006 effective date is needed.

PA/njw