FISCAL NOTE
Date Requested: January 14, 2023
Time Requested: 02:09 PM |
| Agency: |
Natural Resources, WV Division of |
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| CBD Number: |
Version: |
Bill Number: |
Resolution Number: |
| 1073 |
Introduced |
HB2479 |
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| CBD Subject: |
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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.
Purpose of this bill is to enact a restriction on the number of antlered deer a licensed hunter may take to two per season and to place a point restriction on the second antlered deer harvested.
Should the bill become law, the bill will prohibit the Natural Resources Commission from establishing an annual antlered buck bag limit greater than two per license year.
Each year an annual bag limit (antlered/antlerless) is proposed by DNR Wildlife Resources Section and approved/disapproved by the Natural Resources Commission.
Currently an annual limit of three antlered deer per hunter is in place. Reducing the annual buck limit from three to two will have an estimated economic impact of $238,927 annually.
This bill will also restrict the hunter’s ability to harvest a second buck by implementing point restrictions. An estimated 37% of hunters will be restricted from harvesting a second buck resulting in an estimated $423,449 loss in RG, RB, RRG + RRB stamp sales.
Should this bill become law, the combined fiscal effect on the DNR will be an estimated loss of $662,376.
The anticipated reduction in revenue will result in the need to reduce the number of Natural Resources Police Officers by at least two full time officers.
Fiscal Note Detail
| Effect of Proposal |
Fiscal Year |
2023
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
2024
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 |
-662,376 |
-662,376 |
Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):
Actual effects of two buck limit imposed in 1995, projected to 2021 sales.
Actual
Actual Actual Actual Percent Actual Projected Projected License Projected
License # Sold # Sold Reduction Reduction 2021 Percent Reduction Fee Revenue
Class 1994 1995 in # Sold in # Sold # Sold Reduction in # Sold 2021 Reduction
RG 55,153 48,516 6,637 12% 21,487 12% 2,586 $21 $54,300
RB 22,923 18,791 4,132 18% 19,048 18% 3,434 $21 $72,104
E 41,619 40,393 1,226 3% 26,472 3% 780 $119 $92,797
RRG 11,050 10,375 675 6% 4,286 6% 262 $43 $11,258
RRB 3,073 2,834 239 8% 2,943 8% 229 $37 $8,469
Total => $238,927
Impact of point restrictions on additional buck license sales.
Given: Source:
All Individuals harvesting 2 bucks in 2021 7,123 Number individuals harvesting 2 bucks with no point restrictions
Individuals harvesting 2 bucks with < 6 points 4,463 Number of individuals harvest 2 bucks with 3+ point restrictions
% of Individuals not eligible to harvest 2nd buck 37% Percent of licensed Individuals not eligible to harvest a second deer based on point restrictions (=1 -(4,463/7,123))*100)
Number of RG license Sold 2021 21,487
Potential loss of RG sales 7,950 Number of potential RG stamps not sold due to point restrictions
Number of RB Licenses Sold 19,048
Potential loss of RB sales 7,048 Number of potential RB stamps not sold due to point restrictions
Potential loss of Resident RB+RG sales 14,998 Total number of RG + RB stamps not sold due to point restrictions
Cost of RG or RB stamp $ 21.00
Fiscal Loss due to point Restriction $ 314,958 Loss of Resident RG + RB stamp sales = (14,998 X $21.00)
Non Resident RRG stamps sold in 2021 4,286
Potential loss of RRG stamps 1,586 Number of RRG stamps lost due to point restrictions 4,286 x 37%
Cost of RRG Stamp $ 43.00 Cost of RRG
Fiscal loss due to point restrictions $ 68,198 number of RRG stamps lost due to point restrictions X $43.00
Non Resident RRB stamps sold in 2021 2,943
Potential loss of RRB stamps 1,089 Number of RRB stamps lost due to point restrictions = (2,943 x 37%)
Cost of RRB Stamp $ 37.00
Fiscal loss of RRB stamps $ 40,293 Fiscal loss of RRB stamps = (1,089 x $37.00)
Total loss of Non-Resident RRB +RRG stamps $ 108,491 Loss of Non-Resident (RRG +RRB) Stamps sales = ($68,198 + $40,293)
Total loss of Resident RG + RB stamps $ 314,958 Loss of Resident (RG + RB) Stamp sales (14,998 X $21.00)
Total loss due to point restriction $ 423,449 Total loss = (Resident + Non-Resident Stamp sales)
Total Loss $ 662,376 Loss due to 2 buck limit ($238,927) + loss due to point restriction ($423,449)
Memorandum
This bill will limit the Natural Resources Commission’s ability to properly manage and protect the wildlife resources for the State.
This legislation will hinder the Natural Resources Commission and impede its mandate in West Virginia Code §20-1-17, “To fix by regulation which it is hereby empowered to promulgate, in accordance with the provisions of chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, the open seasons and the bag, creel, size, age, weight and sex limits with respect to wildlife in this state.”
For additional information concerning this fiscal note, please contact:
Zack Brown 304-352-5126
Zack.J.Brown@wv.gov
Person submitting Fiscal Note: Amanda Morris
Email Address: amanda.l.morris@wv.gov