LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
March 19, 2007

TO:
Honorable Harvey Hilderbran, Chair, House Committee on Culture, Recreation, & Tourism
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB1309 by Hilderbran (Relating to the possession or transportation of certain snakes that are not indigenous to this country; providing a penalty.), As Introduced



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1309, As Introduced: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2009.



Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2008 $0
2009 $0
2010 $0
2011 $0
2012 $0




Fiscal Year Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from
GAME,FISH,WATER SAFETY AC
9
2008 $125,000
2009 $125,000
2010 $125,000
2011 $125,000
2012 $125,000

The bill would amend the Parks and Wildlife Code to require a permit for the possession or transport of live, non-indigenous venomous snakes or constrictors in Texas. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) would be required to establish the permit and permit fee, and to issue the permits no later than January 1, 2008.  The bill would take effect September 1, 2007.


Fiscal Analysis

 TPWD reports the bill would result in an anticipated revenue gain to the Game, Fish and Water Safety Account No. 9 of $125,000 in each year.


Methodology

TPWD currently has no regulatory authority concerning non-indigenous venomous snakes and constrictors, and as such, does not maintain statistics regarding the possible number of owners of such snakes. However, based on information received from businesses that sell snakes and constrictors, TPWD estimates that at a minimum, there are roughly 5,000 owners of venomous snakes/constrictors in Texas. Assuming that the permit fee will be established at $25, the new permit will generate a total of $125,000 per year (5,000 permitees x $25 = $125,000). According to TPWD, the department would incur additional costs associated with establishing the new permitting program and processing permit applications.  However, to the extent TPWD would incur additional costs, the fiscal implication to the department is not anticipated to be significant.


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:
JOB, WK, ZS, TB