Honorable Ken King, Chair, House Committee on Culture, Recreation & Tourism
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1341 by Leach (Relating to waivers for entrance fees to state parks for resident first responders, military service members, and veterans.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1341, As Introduced : an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2023.
The legislation would waive entrance fees to state parks for certain Texas residents which would result in an estimated two-year negative impact of $4,326,230 to General Revenue-Dedicated Funds through the biennium ending August 31, 2023.
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2022
$0
2023
$0
2024
$0
2025
$0
2026
$0
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Revenue (Loss) from State Parks Acct 64
2022
($2,163,115)
2023
($2,163,115)
2024
($2,163,115)
2025
($2,163,115)
2026
($2,163,115)
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Parks and Wildlife Code to require the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to waive entrance fees to state parks for Texas residents who are first responders, members of the military, and veterans. The bill would define first responders as including firefighters, emergency medical service personnel, and law enforcement officers.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2021.
Methodology
According to TPWD, the average state park entrance fee is $5. State park entrance fee revenue is deposited to the credit of General Revenue-Dedicated State Parks Account No. 64 (GR-D 64). Based on state park visitation numbers maintained by TPWD, in fiscal year 2020, 7,316,998 people visited state parks. This amounts to approximately 25 percent of the Texas population based on the most recent U.S. Census data. According to the Texas Commission on Fire Protection, the Department of State Health Services, and the Commission on Law Enforcement, there are 177,208 first responders in Texas. Assuming 25 percent of first responders, or 44,302 individuals, visit state parks each year at $5 per person, the anticipated revenue loss to GR-D 64 would be $221,510.
Based on numbers maintained by the U.S. Department of Defense, State and National Guard, and the Texas Workforce Commission, there are 1,725,872 active duty and veteran military in Texas. Based on veteran participation in TPWD's Texas Parklands Passport program, the agency estimates that 22.5 percent of veterans, or 388,321 individuals, visit state parks each year. Waiving the $5 entrance fee for those individuals would result in an annual revenue loss of $1,941,605 to GR-D 64.
Based on the information provided by TPWD, this analysis assumes the total revenue loss from 432,623 individuals (44,302 first responders and 388,321 active duty and veteran military) at $5 per person would be $2,163,115 per year.
Based on information provided by TPWD and the Comptroller of Public Accounts, it is assumed that duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished utilizing existing resources.
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