LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              March 11, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Edmund Kuempel, Chair, House Committee on State
               Recreational Resources
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB1482  by Deshotel (Relating to certain exemptions from
               fishing license fee requirements.), As Introduced
  
**************************************************************************
*  Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for    *
*  HB1482, As Introduced:  positive impact of $0 through the biennium    *
*  ending August 31, 2003.                                               *
*                                                                        *
*  The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal      *
*  basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of    *
*  the bill.                                                             *
**************************************************************************
  
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:
  
          ****************************************************
          *  Fiscal Year  Probable Net Positive/(Negative)   *
          *               Impact to General Revenue Related  *
          *                             Funds                *
          *       2002                                   $0  *
          *       2003                                    0  *
          *       2004                                    0  *
          *       2005                                    0  *
          *       2006                                    0  *
          ****************************************************
  
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
  
         *****************************************************
         * Fiscal Year    Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from   *
         *                   Game, Fish and Water Safety      *
         *                      Account/ GR-Dedicated         *
         *                              0009                  *
         *      2002                               $(361,582) *
         *      2003                                (405,338) *
         *      2004                                (447,245) *
         *      2005                                (437,437) *
         *      2006                                (485,113) *
         *****************************************************
  
Fiscal Analysis
  
The bill would require the commission to waive fishing license fees for
residents under 17 years and for residents 65 or older.
  
  
Methodology
  
Parks and Wildlife advises that as of September 1, 2000, discounted
fishing license were required for certain resident senior citizens
instead of being exempt. The Senior Resident Combination Hunting and
Fishing License fee at $10.00; and the Senior Resident Super Combination
Hunting and Fishing License package at $25.00.

According to Parks and Wildlife previous sales history indicates
increasing numbers of sales in these categories which equates to
approximately 5% of the state's population 65 years of age. There would
be an anticipated revenue loss associated with implementation of this
bill, as seniors who currently pay a discounted fee for licenses would
become exempt from fee requirements,  The revenue loss, as calculated by
the agency, is  based on the $6 special resident fishing license only.
Estimates of revenue generated from the combination licenses were
unavailable due to relatively recent implementation.

Provisions waiving fee requirements for residents under 17 would not
result in a revenue loss, as this group is currently exempt from license
requirements under agency rules.

Methodology assume that 5% of the senior population will continue to
purchase discounted fishing licenses and that overall state population
increases (averaged approximately 2% annually from 1990 through 1998)
will at least offset the number of senior anglers who cease fishing.

Fiscal Impact 2002-2006: Probable revenue loss from fishing license
exemptions for residents 65 and older is estimated at $2.1 million over
the next five years to Fund 009.   The revenue loss is estimated to
continue increasing each year for the next 25-30 years.
  
  
Local Government Impact
  
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   802   Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
LBB Staff:         JK, CL, MF, SK