FISCAL NOTE
Date Requested: February 22, 2021
Time Requested: 01:33 PM |
| Agency: |
Natural Resources, WV Division of |
|---|
| CBD Number: |
Version: |
Bill Number: |
Resolution Number: |
| 1521 |
Introduced |
HB2629 |
|
|---|
| CBD Subject: |
Natural Resources |
|---|
|
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 resident West Virginia Veterans or any member of any Reserve component 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 take advantage of the provisions in this bill in West Virginia.
The average resident license holder currently contributes $45.21 to the hunting and fishing license fund. It is estimated that this bill will decrease hunting and fishing license revenue by $1,365,975 annually.
The loss of these individuals as paid license holders will 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.
The anticipated reduction in revenue will result in the need to reduce the number of Natural Resource Police Officers by at least 5 full time officers. It is anticipated that the amount of revenue reduction will increase greater than the rate of inflation as more people take advantage of the license fee waiver.
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 |
-1,692,834 |
-1,692,834 |
| 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 Source: WV Veteran Administration 2019
Est. WV participation rate in hunting and/or fishing=22% US Fish and Wildlife Survey 2011
Est. # of licensable veterans who hunt and/or fish=137,337 X 22%=30,214
Est. annual license revenue per licensed sportsman=$45.21 Determined from 2020 DNR License Sales
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=$17.00
Est. WV participation rate in hunting=14% US Fish and Wildlife Survey 2011
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
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: Amanda Morris
Email Address: amanda.l.morris@wv.gov