FISCAL NOTE

Date Requested: January 15, 2015
Time Requested: 06:21 PM
Agency: Natural Resources, Division of
CBD Number: Version: Bill Number: Resolution Number:
1321 Introduced SB77
CBD Subject: Military and Veterans


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 members of the West Virginia National Guard to obtain free hunting and fishing licenses while serving in the West Virginia National Guard and upon full retirement licenses for life. There are an estimated 9,303 Guard and Reserve members in West Virginia. An estimated 22 percent of these individuals, 2,047 individuals, would be of licensable age and would hunt and/or fish in West Virginia. At current license fees, each resident license holder 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 2,047 individuals would be to decrease hunting and fishing license revenue to the Division of Natural Resources’ Wildlife and Law Enforcement programs by an estimated $88,732 annually. Because these individuals and future members of the National Guard would then possess a lifetime license (making them immune to inflation-indexed annual fee increases), the projected revenue losses to the State would increase in future years at a rate even greater than the inflation rate. The loss of these individuals as paid license holders would also reduce the State’s ability to capture federal aid revenue by an additional $23,444 annually, resulting in an estimated total revenue loss of $112,175 annually. Issuing Class C licenses to these individuals would also increase agency costs by an estimated $10,000 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 license holders. 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 license holders for providing agency services to all. Finally, any reduction in paid license holders 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 5,000 10,000
Personal Services 0 2,500 5,000
Current Expenses 0 2,500 5,000
Repairs and Alterations 0 0 0
Assets 0 0 0
Other 0 0 0
2. Estimated Total Revenues 0 -56,088 -112,175


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


Estimated number of Guard and Reserve members in West Virginia=9,303 Est. WV participation rate in hunting and/or fishing=22% Est. # of licensable veterans who hunt and/or fish=9,303X22%=2,047 Est. annual license revenue per licensed sportsman=$43.35 Est. annual license revenue loss from 2,047 exemptions=2,047X$43.35=$88,732 Est. annual federal aid revenue per licensed hunter=$18.00 Est. WV participation rate in hunting=14% Est. # of veteran hunters=9,303X14%=1,302 Est. annual federal aid revenue loss from 1,302 exemptions=1,302X$18=$23,444 Est. annual license and federal aid revenue loss=$88,732+$23,444=$112,175



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 license holders. 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 license holders for providing agency services to all. Finally, any reduction in paid license holders 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: STEVE BROWN
    Email Address: WALTER.S.BROWN@WV.GOV