Honorable Charles Perry, Chair, Senate Committee on Water & Rural Affairs
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB733 by Perry (Relating to the authorization of a fee for participation in the Managed Lands Deer Program.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB733, As Introduced: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2021.
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
2020
$0
2021
$0
2022
$0
2023
$0
2024
$0
Fiscal Year
Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from Game, Fish, and Water Safety Acct 9
2020
$1,349,050
2021
$1,349,050
2022
$1,349,050
2023
$1,349,050
2024
$1,349,050
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Parks and Wildlife Code to allow the Parks and Wildlife Commission to establish and provide for the collection of a fee for participation in the Managed Lands Deer Program (MLDP). The bill does not set fee amounts and would authorize, but not require, the Parks and Wildlife Commission to establish the fee. The bill would take effect immediately upon a two-thirds vote, or on September 1, 2019.
Under the provisions of the bill, revenue from fees collected for participation in the MLDP would be deposited to General Revenue-Dedicated Game, Fish, and Water Safety Account No. 9. The Parks and Wildlife Department estimates that revenue collected from fees for participation in the MLDP would be $1,349,050 each fiscal year.
This legislation would do one or more of the following: create or recreate a dedicated account in the General Revenue Fund, create or recreate a special or trust fund either in, with, or outside of the Treasury, or create a dedicated revenue source. The fund, account, or revenue dedication included in this bill would be subject to funds consolidation review by the current Legislature.
Methodology
Under current law, the Parks and Wildlife Department is not able to charge a fee for participation in the MLDP. The agency began the program in fiscal year 2018 and has been enrolling participants with no fee since that time. Applicants for participation in MLDP choose either the Harvest Option or Conservation Option.
According to the Parks and Wildlife Department, there are 1,707 participants in the Harvest Option and 8,989 participants in the Conservation Option (4,521 in wildlife management associations or cooperatives) in 2019. This analysis assumes the number of participants would remain constant each fiscal year and that participation would require renewal each year. The agency has indicated it anticipates the fees for participation would be $30 for the Harvest Option, $250 for the Conservation Option, and $40 for members of wildlife management associations or cooperatives in the Conservation Option.
Based on analysis of the Parks and Wildlife Department, duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.
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