Honorable John Frullo, Chair, House Committee on Culture, Recreation & Tourism
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB83 by Flynn (Relating to a fee waiver for a combination resident hunting and fishing license for certain military personnel.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB83, As Introduced: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2019.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2018
$0
2019
$0
2020
$0
2021
$0
2022
$0
Fiscal Year
Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from Game,Fish,Water Safety Ac 9
2018
($239,000)
2019
($243,000)
2020
($247,000)
2021
($251,000)
2022
($255,000)
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend a portion of the Parks and Wildlife Code to exempt qualified disabled military veterans, resident active duty members of the US military, and resident active participants in the Texas Army National Guard, Texas Air National Guard, or Texas State Guard from paying a fee for a resident combo hunting and fishing license. Under the provisions of the bill, a valid military identification card issued by one of the Texas Military Forces would establish residency. The bill would not exempt non-disabled veterans or dependents from the license fee.
The bill would take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote in both chambers of the Legislature; otherwise it would take effect September 1, 2017.
Methodology
Under current law, resident active duty members of the US military or full-time active duty members of the Texas Military Forces are exempt from the fee on a hunting license and fishing license, and qualified disabled veterans are exempt from the fee on a Super Combo license, which includes hunting and fishing licenses and all additional stamps and endorsements. Based upon information provided by the Comptroller of Public Accounts and the Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), this analysis assumes that 25 percent of the population that the bill would exempt from paying a fee would apply for a combination license. In 2016, the estimated eligible resident population not already exempt from a combination license fee totaled 23,500; 25 percent of this population is 5,875. TPWD offers a range of combination hunting and fishing license package, and this analysis assumes an average value for the eligible population to be $39.38 each fiscal year. This analysis assumes annual increases in the eligible population above the 2016 population, resulting in increasing revenue losses each fiscal year.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 802 Parks and Wildlife Department