SB504: relative to hunting and fishing licenses for disabled veterans.

SB 504-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2016 SESSION

16-2791

10/09

SENATE BILL 504-FN

AN ACT relative to hunting and fishing licenses for disabled veterans.

SPONSORS: Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Forrester, Dist 2; Sen. Cataldo, Dist 6; Rep. R. Ober, Hills. 37; Rep. P. McCarthy, Hills. 29; Rep. Theberge, Coos 3; Rep. Ladd, Graf. 4; Rep. Baldasaro, Rock. 5

COMMITTEE: Energy and Natural Resources

ANALYSIS

This bill allows a veteran with a disability rating of at least 60 percent from the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs to receive a special hunting and fishing license upon payment of an administrative fee only.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

16-2791

10/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Sixteen

AN ACT relative to hunting and fishing licenses for disabled veterans.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Fish and Game; Licenses; Disabled Veterans. Amend RSA 214:13 to read as follows:

214:13 Disabled Veterans[, Totally and Permanently Disabled]. If the applicant for a fishing and hunting license is a resident of the state, has received a discharge other than dishonorable from service in any war or police action in which the United States has been engaged and [is totally and permanently disabled from such] has a disability rating of at least 60 percent from service-connected disability as determined by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs, the executive director shall issue a special veteran's license to said applicant. Said license shall be perpetual. The executive director shall retain the records for such licenses for a period not less than 7 years. Loss or destruction of the license after 7 years shall obligate the licensee to re-establish eligibility. A $10 administrative fee shall be charged once, upon application to the executive director for such license.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2016.

LBAO 16-2791

1/12/16

SB 504-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT relative to hunting and fishing licenses for disabled veterans.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Fish and Game Department states this bill, as introduced, will decrease fish and game fund revenue by an indeterminable amount in FY 2017 and each year thereafter and increase fish and game fund expenditures by $5,289 in FY 2017. There will be no impact on county and local revenues or expenditures.

METHODOLOGY:

The Fish and Game Department states this bill allows a veteran with a disability rating of at least 60 percent, from the US Department of Veterans’ Affairs, receive a special hunting and fishing license upon payment of a $10 administrative fee only. The Department states it is unable to predict this bill’s impact on fish and game fund revenue as it does not have sufficient data. However, for informational purposes and based on the stated assumptions, the Department has provided data and a potential estimate of this bill’s impact on fish and game fund revenue.

Assumptions

Veteran data is as of 2012 from the US Department of Veterans’ Affairs. The Fish and Game Department states actual figures would likely be higher now.

Licensed totally disabled veterans as a percentage of totally disabled veterans in the state:

New Hampshire (NH) – 84.0%

Vermont (VT) – 12.7%

Maine (ME) – 1.3%

The number of newly eligible veterans seeking special permit will be at same percentage rate as licensed totally disabled veterans.

All newly eligible veterans for the special permit would purchase at the same rates as existing 100 percent disabled veterans:

NH – 42% Fishing / 58% Combination

VT – 14% Fishing / 86% Combination

ME – 5% Fishing / 95% Combination

Current fee amounts:

Special permit administration fee (one-time) - $10

Resident Fishing License - $45.00

Resident Combination License - $58.50

Non-Resident Fishing License - $63.00

Non-Resident Combination License - $153.50

Resident State

NH

VT

ME

# Current Veterans Between 60% - 100% Disabled

3,909

2,262

7,703

Estimated # Currently Licensed, Which Become Eligible For Special Permit Under This Bill

3,284

287

99

Estimated # Currently Licensed, Which Become Eligible For Special Permit Under This Bill - FISHING LICENSE

1,379

40

5

Estimated # Currently Licensed, Which Become Eligible For Special Permit Under This Bill - COMBINATION LICENSE

1,905

247

94

(Less: Traditional Fishing License Revenue)

($62,068)

($2,531)

($315)

(Less: Combination License Revenue)

($111,426)

($37,887)

($14,583)

Subtotal

($173,494)

($40,418)

($14,898)

Total Potential Revenue Decrease (Annual)

($228,809)

Add: Special Permit Administrative Fee Revenue (One Time)

$32,840

$2,870

$1,000

Total Potential Revenue Increase (One-Time)

$36,710

The Department states this bill would require an estimated expenditure of $5,289 in FY 2017 for administrative expenses, specifically new application costs.