Assigned to NREW &                                                                                                                FOR COMMITTEE

 

 


 

 

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Third Legislature, Second Regular Session

 

FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2310

 

game and fish; licenses; fees

 

Purpose

 

Revises the Arizona Game and Fish Department (Department) and Arizona Game and Fish Commission (Commission) authority regarding fees, licenses and reporting requirements.

 

Background

 

State laws relating to wildlife are administered by the Department, while control of the Department is vested with the five-member Commission (A.R.S. § 17-201).

 

The Department is responsible for: 1) conservation, enhancement and restoration of Arizona’s wildlife resources and habitats; 2) regulation and enforcement of watercraft and off-highway vehicles; and 3) operation and enforcement of hunting and fishing license programs.

 

In 2013, the Commission was authorized to establish fees for licenses, permit tags and stamps by rule. That authority expires July 1, 2019 (Laws 2013, Chapter 197).

 

Current statute establishes a cap on the total amount of fees collected in any fiscal year. The cap applies to watercraft fees, hunting and fishing licenses, permits and tags. Watercraft and boating fees may not exceed 50 percent more than the amount appropriated from the Watercraft Licensing Fund in FY 2013 (A.R.S. § 5-328). The appropriation in FY 2013 was $4,504,200 (2013 Appropriation Report).  License, permit, tag and stamp fees may not exceed 50 percent more than the amount appropriated from the Game and Fish Fund in FY 2013 (A.R.S. § 17-333.01). The appropriation in FY 2013 was $33,277,100 (2013 Appropriation Report).

 

Current law allows the Commission to issue complimentary licenses to pioneers and reduced fee youth licenses to boy and girl scouts.  Veterans with a permanent service-connected disability rated as 100 percent disabling may receive a complimentary license (A.R.S. § 17-336).

 

            There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

 

Provisions

 

1.      Repeals the limitation on total fees collected for watercraft and boating fees.

 

2.      Repeals the limitation on total fees collected for hunting and fishing licenses, permits, tags and stamps.

3.      Removes the requirement that licenses be signed in ink and allows the Commission to establish a method of signature by rule.

 

4.      Provides permanent authority for the Commission to establish license classifications and fees by rule and eliminates the expiration date of July 1, 2019.

 

5.      Provides general authority for the Commission to issue reduced fee or complimentary licenses and specifically addresses licenses for disabled veterans, pioneers and scouts.

 

6.      Allows, rather than requires, the Joint Legislative Audit Committee to assign a committee of reference to hold a public hearing to review the Commission’s annual report.  Eliminates the requirement to hold a hearing every five years.

 

7.      Allows license dealers to collect and charge a reasonable fee in addition to the amount charged for all licenses or permits, rather than retaining five percent of license sales.

 

8.      Makes technical and conforming changes.

 

9.      Becomes effective on the general effective date.

 

House Action

 

EENR             01/30/18          DP       8-0-0-1

3rd Read          02/12/18                      56-2-1-0-1

 

Prepared by Senate Research

February 21, 2018

KK/IC/lat