LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 25, 2005

TO:	Honorable Kenneth Armbrister, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB1765 by Harris (Relating to certain programs and permits administered by the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife.), As Introduced

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1765, As Introduced: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2007.

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
2006	$0
2007	$0
2008	$0
2009	$0
2010	$0

All Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from GAME,FISH,WATER SAFETY AC 9
2006	($97,500)
2007	($110,500)
2008	($123,500)
2009	($136,500)
2010	($149,500)

The bill would amend provisions of the Parks and Wildlife Code related to scientific breeder's permits to (1) remove Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authority to determine the period of validity for the permit, granting this authority to the Legislature; (2) authorize the Legislature, rather than the Commission, to determine the fee for the permit; and (3) allow microchips as an acceptable form of deer identification.

Fiscal Analysis

Estimated revenue loss to the General Revenue-Dedicated Game, Fish and Water Safety Account No. 9 of $208,000 over the 2006-07 biennium.

Methodology

Current statutory language provides that the fee for a scientific breeder's permit is $50 or an amount set by the Commission. The Commission has set the price for these permits at $180. Because under bill provisions the permit fee is $50 or an amount set by the Legislature, this estimate assumes that the fee would be set at $50 until such time as the Legislature acted to increase the fee. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) indicates the TPWD currently issues approximately 750 scientific breeder's permits per year, with the number of permitees increasing by approximately 100 per year. Revenue loss associated with this bill is estimated at $97,500 in fiscal year 2006 (750 permits x a $130 decrease in permit fee revenue), increasing by $13,000 in each year thereafter.

The bill allows scientific breeders to use microchip implants to identify deer. In order to properly enforce provisions of the code, the TPWD indicates its Law Enforcement division would require one electronic chip reader (at a cost of $300 each) in each county of the state (254), for a total cost to the department of $76,200 in fiscal year 2006.  This estimate assumes the department can absorb this cost within existing resources.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

802 Parks and Wildlife Department

LBB Staff:

JOB, WK, ZS, TB