FISCAL NOTE

Date Requested: February 10, 2021
Time Requested: 05:09 PM
Agency: Natural Resources, WV Division of
CBD Number: Version: Bill Number: Resolution Number:
1694 Introduced SB114
CBD Subject:


FUND(S):

3200, 8707

Sources of Revenue:

Special Fund

Legislation creates:

Decreases Existing Revenue



Fiscal Note Summary


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


The purpose of this bill is to allow all resident West Virginia Veterans to hunt or fish without obtaining a hunting and/or fishing license. There are an estimated 137,337 resident West Virginia Veterans. An estimated 30,214 of these individuals would be eligible to hunt and/or fish in West Virginia without purchasing a license. At current license fees, each resident license holder contributes an average of $45.21 to the hunting and fishing license fund. The fiscal impact of providing free hunting and fishing privileges to these 30,214 individuals would be to decrease hunting and fishing license revenue to the Division of Natural Resources’ Wildlife and Law Enforcement programs by an estimated $1,365,975 annually. Because these individuals and future members of the Armed Forces would then be exempt from an inflation-indexed annual fee increase, 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 $326,859 annually, resulting in an estimated total revenue loss of $1,692,834 annually.



Fiscal Note Detail


Effect of Proposal Fiscal Year
2021
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
2022
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 -1,692,834 -1,692,834


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


Estimated number of Veterans in West Virginia = 137,337 Est. WV participation rate in hunting and/or fishing = 22% Est. # of licensable veterans who hunt and/or fish = 137,337 X 22% = 30,214 Est. annual license revenue per licensed sportsman = $45.21 Est. annual license revenue loss from 30,214 exemptions = 30,214 X $45.21 = $1,365,975 Est. annual federal aid revenue per licensed hunter = $17 Est. WV participation rate in hunting = 14% Est. # of veteran hunters=137,337 X 14% = 19,227 Est. annual federal aid revenue loss from 19,227 exemptions = 19,227 X $17 = $326,859 Est. annual license and federal aid revenue loss = $1,365,975 +$326,859 = $1,692,834



Memorandum


A reduction of revenue of this magnitude will result in the need to reduce payroll cost by eliminating at least 9 Natural Resources Police Officer positions. For additional information concerning this fiscal note, please contact: Zack Brown Zack.J.Brown@wv.gov 1-304-558-2771



    Person submitting Fiscal Note: Amanda Morris
    Email Address: amanda.l.morris@wv.gov