LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 6, 2009

TO:	Honorable Craig Estes, Chair, Senate Committee on Agriculture & Rural Affairs
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB968 by Homer (Relating to the use of crossbows for hunting.), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB968, Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2011.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

The bill would amend the Parks and Wildlife Code to allow the use of crossbows by any individual during the archery-only season, provided the individual has a valid archery hunting stamp, except in a county that does not permit hunting with a firearm (Grayson County).  Under current law, only hunters with upper limb disabilities may use crossbows during archery-only season.  The bill would provide that hunters with upper limb disabilities would still be permitted to use a crossbow in Grayson County during the archery-only season, with a valid archery stamp.  The bill would take effect September 1, 2009.

General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2010	$0
2011	$0
2012	$0
2013	$0
2014	$0

All Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Revenue Gain from Game,Fish,Water Safety Ac 9	Probable (Cost) from Game,Fish,Water Safety Ac 9
2010	$172,554	($19,515)
2011	$172,554	($19,515)
2012	$172,554	($19,515)
2013	$172,554	($19,515)
2014	$172,554	($19,515)

Fiscal Analysis

The estimated annual revenue to the General Revenue-Dedicated Game, Fish and Water Safety Account No. 9 is $172,554 per fiscal year, offset by additional costs of $19,515 per fiscal year for transaction fees.

Methodology

According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) there were approximately 1,040,832 hunting license holders in fiscal year 2008.  Of those, approximately 527, 279 purchased the archery stamp needed for archery-only season, leaving 513,533 hunting license holders available to purchase the archery stamp.  Of the 512,533 it is estimated that approximately 50 percent are exclusively migratory game bird hunters that would not use a crossbow. The other 50 percent (256,777) hunt deer, turkey and other game that could potentially be hunted with a crossbow. 

From this population of 256,777 it is estimated that approximately 10 percent would actually hunt with a crossbow (25,677).  At $7 per stamp, this would represents a net revenue gain to the General Revenue-Dedicated Game, Fish and Water Safety Account No. 9 of $172,554 per fiscal year, after taking into account a 4 percent agent fee charged by Walmart and other retailers who sell the stamp. 

Additionally, there is a $0.76 per unit electronic transaction fee charged to TPWD resulting in increased costs of approximately $19,515 per fiscal year.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

802 Parks and Wildlife Department

LBB Staff:

JOB, SZ, ZS, TB, SD