Honorable Charles Perry, Chair, Senate Committee on Water & Rural Affairs
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB489 by Springer (Relating to the use of certain weapons in or on the beds or banks of certain rivers and streams in particular counties.), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Parks and Wildlife Code to extend an existing authorization for bow fishing in navigable rivers in certain counties to include additional counties. The bill would also repeal restrictions on the use of a boat or other floating device for hunting in certain counties. The offense repealed by the bill may be variously a Class C Parks and Wildlife Code misdemeanor or a Parks and Wildlife Code state jail felony.
Local Government Impact
A Class C Parks and Wildlife Code misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of not less that $25 nor more than $500. Costs associated with enforcement and prosecution could likely be absorbed within existing resources. Revenue gain from fines imposed and collected is not anticipated to have a significant fiscal impact.