LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 10, 2003

TO:	Honorable Harvey Hilderbran, Chair, House Committee on State Cultural and Recreational Resources
FROM:	John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1989 by Ellis (Relating to hunting and fishing stamps issued by the Parks and Wildlife Department; providing a penalty.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1989, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2005.

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
2004	$0
2005	$0
2006	$0
2007	$0
2008	$0

All Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from Game, Fish, Water Safety Account 9
2004	$4,123,000
2005	$4,123,000
2006	$4,123,000
2007	$4,123,000
2008	$4,123,000

Fiscal Analysis

The bill requires a freshwater fishing stamp, and requires freshwater anglers in the State of Texas purchase this stamp or endorsement in addition to a fishing license.  Funds from these stamp sales are reserved for the repair, maintenance, renovation, or replacement of freshwater fish hatcheries and purchase of fish for stocking public waters.  The bill eliminates the archery, muzzleloader, and freshwater trout stamp permits.  The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department estimates that the bill would generate a net revenue gain of $4.1 million per fiscal year to Game, Fish and Water Safety Account No. 9.

Methodology

The revenue estimate was derived as follows. 

Freshwater stamp sales were estimated using average annual sales of resident, non-resident, and special fishing licenses, and adjusted for the behavioral effect of higher fishing license prices and 5 percent of collections retained by licensed deputies.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:	304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 802 Parks and Wildlife Department
LBB Staff:	JK, JO, CL, MS, ZS