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State of
DEPARTMENT
OF NATURAL RESOURCES |
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JENNIFER M. GRANHOLM governor |
REBECCA A. HUMPHRIES director |
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State of
DEPARTMENT
OF NATURAL RESOURCES |
|
|
JENNIFER M. GRANHOLM governor |
REBECCA A. HUMPHRIES director |
POSITION
The Department of
Natural Resources (Department) is opposed to the enactment of House Bill 5189.
PROBLEM/BACKGROUND
Currently, disabled
veterans entitled to receive benefits at the 100 percent rate, who are not
legally blind, may purchase hunting and fishing licenses at the discounted
senior rate of 60 percent. They do not
currently receive a discount for entry to state parks or for camping in state
forests or state parks.
DESCRIPTION OF BILL
The bill would amend the Natural Resources and
Environmental Protection Act (NREPA) to allow resident veterans who were
permanently and totally disabled as a result of military service and entitled
to veterans' benefits at the 100 percent rate, for a disability other than
blindness, or a resident who has been a prisoner of war, to obtain free of
charge, any hunting and fishing license under Part 435 of NREPA. In addition, the Department would be required
to waive the fees for entry and camping in state parks and for state forest
camping for these veterans.
SUMMARY OF ARGUMENTS
Pro
Disabled veterans and
former prisoners of war have paid a high price for serving their country and
should receive this small measure of compensation.
Con
Revenue to the
Department would be decreased by allowing selected veterans free access to
hunting, fishing, camping, and state parks.
Most of these activities are funded almost exclusively by user fees, and
any decrease in revenue may result in service reductions impacting all
users. Subsidizing a certain segment of
society for altruistic reasons is a noble action. However, if such a subsidy is proposed, there
must also be a funding mechanism to accompany the proposal. Reductions to the revenue streams of the Park
Improvement Fund, the Game and Fish Protection Fund, and the Forest Recreation
Fund negatively impacts all users, since it is the users who will be
subsidizing this program through increased fees. A more balanced approach to funding this
program, along with any other similar "special" consideration for a
target group, would be to provide for a funding source that is diversified
beyond the user community.
The Department is required to
certify annually, to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the number of
hunting and fishing licenses sold that resulted in net revenue to the
Department. This number is used in
determining the amount of the federal apportionment awarded to the state under
the Dingell Johnson - Pittman Robertson programs. The free licenses would not be included in
that number, so the federal apportionment would be reduced.
Discussions with Veterans Administration officials
reveal that the current number of eligible Michigan veterans (disabled and POW)
is unknown. Additionally, there is no
verification process currently in place in order to determine actual
eligibility.
The Department may demand proof of
eligibility for these free licenses and permits, but it is unclear how the
Department would be able to determine eligibility for on-line purchases or for
making camping reservations through the Central Reservation System.
Camping in the state forests is
based on the honor system with customers depositing the correct fees in an
unmanned receptacle. Verification of
eligibility would become an enforcement issue, along with payment compliance of
ineligible users.
FISCAL/ECONOMIC
IMPACT
Are there revenue or
budgetary implications in the bill to the --
Budgetary:
N/A
Revenue:
A negative revenue
impact would occur to the extent that qualifying disabled veterans or former
prisoners of war currently purchase hunting and fishing licenses, parks motor
vehicle permits, or camp in state parks or state forests and pay for the
privilege of participating in those activities.
Current full price hunting and fishing fees are $15 in most cases, $6 at
the senior citizens rate, which these veterans would be eligible to pay. Parks motor vehicle permits are $24 for an
annual pass and $6 for a daily pass, and camping fees primarily range from $10
to $33 per night. The extent of the
revenue impact is unknown since the number of people who would qualify for and
take advantage of this benefit is unknown.
In addition, federal revenue would
be lost. In Fiscal Year 2004-2005,
certified hunting and fishing licenses generated $8.50 and $10 respectively per
license. The free licenses would not
qualify for the federal apportionment.
Comments:
N/A
Budgetary:
N/A
Revenue:
Overall decline in revenues generated for
self-supporting state agency programs.
Comments:
N/A
Comments:
N/A
OTHER STATE DEPARTMENTS
ANY OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION
This
bill is virtually identical to HB 4303 introduced on
ADMINISTRATIVE
RULES IMPACT
Rules can be
promulgated to provide for administration of the act.
_______________________________
Rebecca A. Humphries
Director
_______________________________
Date
PRD/FMFM/LED
