FISCAL NOTE

Date Requested: January 26, 2015
Time Requested: 04:10 PM
Agency: Natural Resources, Division of
CBD Number: Version: Bill Number: Resolution Number:
2055 Introduced HB2214
CBD Subject: Natural Resources


FUND(S):

3200

Sources of Revenue:

Special Fund

Legislation creates:

Neither Program nor Fund



Fiscal Note Summary


Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.


The purpose of this bill is to allow lineal descendants of resident landowners to hunt, trap, and fish on the landowner’s property without obtaining a license to do so. If the bill were to become law, an estimated 15,070 individuals would take advantage of this benefit. At current license fees, each resident licenseholder contributes an average of $43.35 to the hunting and fishing license fund. The fiscal impact of providing free hunting and fishing privileges to these 15,070 individuals would be to decrease hunting and fishing license revenue to the Division of Natural Resources’ Wildlife and Law Enforcement programs by an estimated $653,273 annually. Additionally, the Division of Natural Resources currently receives approximately $19.39 in federal revenue for each licensed hunter. The loss of these 15,070 individuals as paid licenseholders would reduce the State’s ability to capture federal aid revenue by an additional $292,202 annually, resulting in an estimated total revenue loss of $945,475 annually. License revenue and federal aid provide the bulk of the operating and capital improvements revenue for the agency’s wildlife and law enforcement programs. By law, all hunters and anglers in West Virginia must be served by the agency’s wildlife and law enforcement programs, including those who are not paid licenseholders. Currently, the agency estimates that 43 percent of all hunters and anglers do not purchase a hunting or fishing license, thus placing the total financial responsibility for supporting wildlife and law enforcement programs on those who do purchase licenses. This bill would increase the number of sportsmen who will not purchase a license, thus increasing the financial responsibility on paid licenseholders for providing agency services to all. Finally, any reduction in paid licenseholders hurts the agency’s ability to secure federal aid revenues that are used to help keep license fees low for everyone. More free hunting and fishing license privileges for some must inevitably result in higher license fees for others, thereby reducing participation and economic impact from sportsman expenditures in the state.



Fiscal Note Detail


Effect of Proposal Fiscal Year
2015
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
2016
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation)
1. Estmated Total Cost 0 0 0
Personal Services 0 0 0
Current Expenses 0 0 0
Repairs and Alterations 0 0 0
Assets 0 0 0
Other 0 0 0
2. Estimated Total Revenues 0 -472,738 -846,475


Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):


Estimated number of individuals who would take advantage of this benefit=15,070 Est. annual license revenue per licensed sportsman=$43.35 Est. annual license revenue loss from 15,070 exemptions= 15,070 X $43.35=$653,273 Est. annual federal aid revenue per licensed hunter=$19.39 Est. annual federal aid revenue loss from 15,070 exemptions = 15,070 X $19.39 = $292,202 Est. annual license and federal aid revenue loss= $653,273 + $292,202 = $945,475



Memorandum


By law, all hunters and anglers in West Virginia must be served by the agency’s wildlife and law enforcement programs, including those who are not paid licenseholders. Currently, the agency estimates that 43 percent of all hunters and anglers do not purchase a hunting or fishing license, thus placing the total financial responsibility for supporting wildlife and law enforcement programs on those who do purchase licenses. This bill would increase the number of sportsmen who will not purchase a license, thus increasing the financial responsibility on paid licenseholders for providing agency services to all. Finally, any reduction in paid licenseholders hurts the agency’s ability to secure federal aid revenues that are used to help keep license fees low for everyone. More free hunting and fishing license privileges for some must inevitably result in higher license fees for others, thereby reducing participation and economic impact from sportsman expenditures in the state.



    Person submitting Fiscal Note: Emily S. Fleck
    Email Address: Emily.S.Fleck@wv.gov