LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

Revision 1

April 8, 2003

TO:	Honorable Harvey Hilderbran, Chair, House Committee on State Cultural and Recreational Resources
FROM:	John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB2900 by Phillips (Relating to the fee charged for a nonresident fishing license.), As Introduced

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2900, As Introduced: 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 AC 9
2004	$507,466
2005	$507,466
2006	$507,466
2007	$507,466
2008	$507,466

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would increase the fee charged for a nonresident fishing license from $15 to $50 or an amount set by the Parks and Wildlife Commission, whichever amount is more.  The bill is expected to generate an estimated revenue gain to Game, Fish and Water Safety Account No. 9 of $507,466 per fiscal year.

Methodology

Non-resident fishing license fees are currently $30. Non-residents are also eligible (under Parks & Wildlife Code section 46.0051) to purchase a temporary five (5) day Non-Resident Fishing License for a fee set by the Parks and Wildlife Commission (currently $20). The proposed change affects only the regular Non-Resident fishing license, without increasing the minimum cost of the temporary Non-Resident license. Based on the difference in price between the two licenses, a significant number of non-residents are expected to purchase the much less expensive temporary license in lieu of the regular non-resident license. In addition, historically, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department license sales decline by 4 percent following a price increase.

In fiscal year 2002, 43,635 non-resident fishing licenses and 49,242 temporary non-resident fishing licenses were sold.  Total revenue from these two licenses was approximately $2.2 million. In addition to a 4 percent decline in license sales, it is anticipated that 20 percent of current non-resident anglers will opt to purchase the less expensive temporary license.   Based on these assumptions, and after accounting for the 5 percent of collections retained licensed deputies, the net revenue gain to Game, Fish and Water Safety Account No. 9 is estimated to be $507,466 per fiscal year.

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, CL, MS, ZS