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 Tripp
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
2-7-06
2-9-06 HB 634/aHENRC
SHORT TITLE Prohibit Computer-Assisted Hunting
SB
ANALYST Woods
APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)
Appropriation
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY06
FY07
NFI
NFI
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Duplicates SB157
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
Department of Game and Fish (DGF)
Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of HENRC Amendment
House Energy and Natural Resources Committee amendment to HB634 amends the legislation
as follows:
1. On page 2, line 1, after the semicolon insert “or”.
2. On page 2, line 3, strike “; or” and insert in lieu thereof a period.
3. On page 2, strike lines 4 through 6 in their entirety.
House Energy and Natural Resources Committee amendment to HB634 attaches no additional
appropriation to the legislation.
pg_0002
House Bill 634/aHENRC – Page
2
Synopsis of Original Bill
House Bill 634, which relates to Game and Fish; Prohibiting Computer-Assisted Hunting of Ani-
mals or Birds; Providing Penalties, seeks to enact:
Section 1. A new section of Chapter 17, Article 3 NMSA 1978, as follows:
"[NEW MATERIAL] COMPUTER-ASSISTED REMOTE HUNTING PROHIBITED--
PENALTIES.--
A. A person shall not:
(1) engage in computer-assisted remote hunting;
(2) provide or operate facilities for the purpose of computer-assisted remote hunting;
(3) create, maintain, provide, advertise or sell computer software or an internet web
site for the purpose of computer-assisted remote hunting;
(4) entice, possess or confine an animal or bird for the purpose of computer-assisted
remote hunting; or
(5) import into or export from this state an animal or bird, or any part of an animal or
bird, that is taken or captured by computer-assisted remote hunting.
B. A person who violates the provisions of this section shall be sentenced in accordance
with the provisions of Section 17-2-10 NMSA 1978.
C. When a person who violates the provisions of this section possesses a license, certifi-
cate or permit issued by the state game commission, the license, certificate or permit
shall be subject to revocation by the commission pursuant to Sections 17-1-14 and 17-3-
34 NMSA 1978.
D. As used in this section:
(1) "computer-assisted remote hunting" means the use of a computer or other elec-
tronic device, equipment or software to access the internet and remotely control the
aiming and discharge of a bow, crossbow or firearm of any kind for the purpose of
hunting, taking or capturing an animal or bird; and
(2) "facilities for computer-assisted remote hunting" means the real property and
improvements on the property associated with computer-assisted remote hunting, in-
cluding hunting blinds, offices and rooms equipped to facilitate computer-assisted
remote hunting."
Section 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2006.
There is no appropriation attached to this legislation.
pg_0003
House Bill 634/aHENRC – Page
3
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The Department of Game and Fish (DGF) indicates that there will be little, if any, revenues gen-
erated from this bill. Anyone violating the provisions of this bill would be subject to prosecution
in magistrate court. If fined, the court money is routed to the education fund. Only civil penal-
ties for illegally taking game are routed back to Game Protection Fund (516). This is estimated
to be very low as the Department has not received a report of anyone hunting in this manner in
New Mexico. There may be a very minimal cost in investigating and prosecuting individuals
that violate this prohibition. This cost is easily absorbed as Conservation Officers are already
stationed in the field and routinely check people for compliance and investigate alleged viola-
tions of Chapter 17.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
DGF adds that this bill makes in it a misdemeanor crime to participate in internet or computer-
assisted hunting. Specifically, the bill makes it illegal for any one to participate in computer-
assisted remote hunting, provide or operate facilities, advertise, create, maintain or sell an inter-
net website or computer software for this prohibited purpose. It makes it illegal to entice, pos-
sess, confine an animal or bird for the purposes of computer-assisted hunting; to import or export
(including parts) an animal or bird for purposes of taking by computer-assisted hunting.
TECHNICAL ISSUES
DGF notes that this bill would make it illegal to take, capture or kill all animals and birds includ-
ing protected game, non-protected game and birds as well as domestic animals and livestock by
computer-assisted hunting. Page 2, line 20 states… for the purpose of hunting, taking or captur-
ing an animal or bird. Likewise Page 2, line 2 refers to an animal or bird. And again on Page 2,
line 4-5 refers to an animal or bird. This would mean that rabbits, skunks, coyotes, dogs, cats,
pigeons, chickens, horses, as well as cougars, bears or elk could not be taken, captured or killed
with the aid of internet remote computer technology. Even nuisance or problem animals (wild or
domestic) could not be killed, taken or captured by internet hunting.
Traditionally, the Department by and through Conservation Officers actively enforce Chapter 17
laws and rules related to protected game, fish and birds and furbearers. Some limited enforce-
ment is also carried out on threatened and endangered species as well as other wild by nature
animals. Conservation Officers do not enforce laws on domestic and livestock animals. En-
forcement of domestic animals is currently carried out by municipalities, livestock board and
other agencies with jurisdiction. This bill will establish that Conservation Officers actively in-
vestigate and prosecute anyone that participates in computer-assisted hunting, no matter what
type of animal or bird it is including livestock like goats, chickens or horses, and domestic ani-
mals like dogs or cats. If it is the intent of this bill to have Conservation Officers investigate and
prosecute anyone who attempts to kill, take or capture by computer-assisted hunting, then the bill
is correct. If this is not the intent, then the scope of authority or limitation on the type of animal
and bird this applies to needs to be changed.
CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP
Duplicates SB157
BW/yr