FISCAL NOTE

Date Requested: January 26, 2015
Time Requested: 11:23 AM
Agency: Natural Resources, Division of
CBD Number: Version: Bill Number: Resolution Number:
2355 Introduced HB2399
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 exempt all veterans of the Armed Forces or any reserve component thereof from having to obtain a hunting, trapping, or fishing license (not including stamps). The Division of Natural Resources estimates that 50,335 residents in total, meeting these military qualifications are currently purchasing annual hunting and fishing licenses in West Virginia. At current fees, each resident licenseholder contributes approximately $29.50 annually in base license revenue (not including stamps). The estimated annual base license revenue currently contributed by these 50,335 individuals is $1,485,123. That revenue will be lost if the bill is passed. The loss of these individuals as fully-paid licenseholders would also reduce the State’s ability to capture federal aid revenue by an additional $906,039 annually, resulting in an estimated total revenue loss of $2,391,162 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 those 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. Although this bill does not propose to grant free hunting and fishing privileges, it does propose discounted fees that will generate insufficient operating revenue for the agency to properly serve these individuals and all other sportsmen. Finally, any reduction in the number of fully-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 or reduced-fee hunting and fishing license privileges for some must inevitably result in increased 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 -1,195,581 -2,391,162


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


646,000 adult males in WV population (US Bureau of Census) 818,000 adult females in WV population (US Bureau of Census) 166,426 male veterans in WV population (US Dept. of Veterans Affairs) 15,771 female veterans in WV population (US Dept. of Veterans Affairs) 182,197 veterans in WV population (US Dept. of Veterans Affairs) 219,329 resident hunting and fishing license buyers (WVDNR Annual Report)



Memorandum


By law, all hunters and anglers in West Virginia must be served by those 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. Although this bill does not propose to grant free hunting and fishing privileges, it does propose discounted fees that will generate insufficient operating revenue for the agency to properly serve these individuals and all other sportsmen. Finally, any reduction in the number of fully-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 or reduced-fee hunting and fishing license privileges for some must inevitably result in increased license fees for others, thereby reducing participation and economic impact from sportsman expenditures in the state.



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