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