04-10-2010, 12:13 PM
[font "Verdana"][size 3]There appears to be some sportsmen confusion about the Sportsmen’s Fees Bill. The bill Has NOT passed. Currently it is on the Senate Calendar awaiting action, after being voted out of Environment Committee with a unanimous vote.[/size][/font]
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[font "Verdana"][size 3][url "http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=SB00207&which_year=2010"]S.B. No. 207 [/url](RAISED) ENVIRONMENT. 'AN ACT CONCERNING RECENT INCREASES IN HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSES AND AMENDING CERTAIN MOTOR VEHICLE FINES'[/size][/font][font "Verdana"], to reduce the recent increase in hunting and fishing fees to a twenty per cent increase, increase the fine for failure to wear a seat belt, increase the fine for certain motor vehicle infractions and create a new limited operator's permit that allows people who have been convicted of driving under the influence to drive to work and to school. REF. ENVIRONMENT. [/font][font "Verdana"]SUPPORT.[/font][font "Verdana"] Public Hearing 03/08. [/font][font "Verdana"]CCS Testimony. [/url]JFS 03/17 (w/Fee Chart). [/url]File Number 244 Senate Calendar Number 176 04/01. (If you can’t connect with links in this paragraph, go to [url "http://www.ctsportsmen.com/"]http://www.ctsportsmen.com[/url] under Hot Issues & Legislation then Other Proposed Bills.) [/font]
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[font "Verdana"][size 3]To understand the problem we’re facing you have to review the OFA (Office of Fiscal Analysis) FISCAL NOTE on the right of the bill site. The original bill submitted concerned sportsmen’s fees and increased DMV fines. [/size][/font][font "Verdana"]That bill generated [/font][font "Verdana"]$4,225,000 in DMV fines and a loss through DEP fee reductions of $3,298,939. Our object to make the bill revenue neutral was accomplished with a surplus of $926,000. With the inclusion of camping fees and parking, admission, boat launching, state parks and forests, and other state recreational facilities fees, there is a revenue loss of $3,321,000. Subtracting the sportsmen fee surplus from the camping revenue loss approximates $2.4 million. Additionally, the fee structure of camping/parks is only a 20% increase over old 2009 fees. Clearly both activities are recreational and should be raised the same amount for equitability. [/font]
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[font "Verdana"][size 3]A statement in the Fiscal Note also bothered us: “Due to the elasticity of demand[/size][/font][/url][url "http://www.cga.ct.gov/2010/FN/2010SB-00207-R000244-FN.htm#P46_1677#P46_1677"][font "Verdana"][size 1]1[/size][/font][/url][font "Verdana"], increasing nonresident camping fees is anticipated to result in a revenue loss of approximately $37,046. [/url][url "http://www.cga.ct.gov/2010/FN/2010SB-00207-R000244-FN.htm#P46_1678#P46_1678"]1[/url] Elasticity of demand measures the rate of response of quantity of a product or service demanded due to a price or fee change.” It is abundantly clear that “Elasticity of demand” applies to ALL licenses. We believe most legislators have received that message. [/font]
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[font "Verdana"][size 3]On a mostly positive note, [url "http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=492&which_year=2010&SUBMIT1.x=9&SUBMIT1.y=9"]SB 492 [font "Arial"]AN ACT CONCERNING DEFICIT MITIGATION FOR THE BIENNIUM ENDING JUNE 30, 2011.[/font][/url][/size][/font]
[/url][font "Verdana"][size 3] [/size][/font][font "Verdana"][size 3]debated[/size][/font][font "Verdana"][size 3] 0[black]3/26, included the fees and DMV fines issues. Again unfortunately, the sportsmen fee structure was premised on 20% and many required corrections, e.g., Nonresident marine fishing @ $60 was not changed. A Senate Republican amendment had the same language. The effective date was April 6. The Senate Passed the bill, but the Governor said she would veto and the bill died. Apparently drafters of the fees portion of the bill/amendment were/are not aware of the passage of SB 207 out of Environment Committee or its content. [/black][/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][black][size 3][url "http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=492&which_year=2010&SUBMIT1.x=9&SUBMIT1.y=9"][black] [/black][/url][/size][/black][/font]
[font "Verdana"][black][size 3][url "http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=492&which_year=2010&SUBMIT1.x=9&SUBMIT1.y=9"][black]What’s next? We are reevaluating the fee structure to insure all fees included are the same percentage; the bill passed by Environment Committee must remain intact; a possible increase in DEP penalties; and a potential increase in all fees to 30%. [/black][black][/black][/url][/size][/black][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 3][url "http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=492&which_year=2010&SUBMIT1.x=9&SUBMIT1.y=9"][black] [/black][/url][/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2][url "http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=492&which_year=2010&SUBMIT1.x=9&SUBMIT1.y=9"][black] [/black][/url][/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][url "http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=492&which_year=2010&SUBMIT1.x=9&SUBMIT1.y=9"][black] [/black][/url][/size][/font]
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[font "Verdana"][size 3][url "http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=SB00207&which_year=2010"]S.B. No. 207 [/url](RAISED) ENVIRONMENT. 'AN ACT CONCERNING RECENT INCREASES IN HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSES AND AMENDING CERTAIN MOTOR VEHICLE FINES'[/size][/font][font "Verdana"], to reduce the recent increase in hunting and fishing fees to a twenty per cent increase, increase the fine for failure to wear a seat belt, increase the fine for certain motor vehicle infractions and create a new limited operator's permit that allows people who have been convicted of driving under the influence to drive to work and to school. REF. ENVIRONMENT. [/font][font "Verdana"]SUPPORT.[/font][font "Verdana"] Public Hearing 03/08. [/font][font "Verdana"]CCS Testimony. [/url]JFS 03/17 (w/Fee Chart). [/url]File Number 244 Senate Calendar Number 176 04/01. (If you can’t connect with links in this paragraph, go to [url "http://www.ctsportsmen.com/"]http://www.ctsportsmen.com[/url] under Hot Issues & Legislation then Other Proposed Bills.) [/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 3] [/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 3]To understand the problem we’re facing you have to review the OFA (Office of Fiscal Analysis) FISCAL NOTE on the right of the bill site. The original bill submitted concerned sportsmen’s fees and increased DMV fines. [/size][/font][font "Verdana"]That bill generated [/font][font "Verdana"]$4,225,000 in DMV fines and a loss through DEP fee reductions of $3,298,939. Our object to make the bill revenue neutral was accomplished with a surplus of $926,000. With the inclusion of camping fees and parking, admission, boat launching, state parks and forests, and other state recreational facilities fees, there is a revenue loss of $3,321,000. Subtracting the sportsmen fee surplus from the camping revenue loss approximates $2.4 million. Additionally, the fee structure of camping/parks is only a 20% increase over old 2009 fees. Clearly both activities are recreational and should be raised the same amount for equitability. [/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 3] [/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 3]A statement in the Fiscal Note also bothered us: “Due to the elasticity of demand[/size][/font][/url][url "http://www.cga.ct.gov/2010/FN/2010SB-00207-R000244-FN.htm#P46_1677#P46_1677"][font "Verdana"][size 1]1[/size][/font][/url][font "Verdana"], increasing nonresident camping fees is anticipated to result in a revenue loss of approximately $37,046. [/url][url "http://www.cga.ct.gov/2010/FN/2010SB-00207-R000244-FN.htm#P46_1678#P46_1678"]1[/url] Elasticity of demand measures the rate of response of quantity of a product or service demanded due to a price or fee change.” It is abundantly clear that “Elasticity of demand” applies to ALL licenses. We believe most legislators have received that message. [/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 3] [/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 3]On a mostly positive note, [url "http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=492&which_year=2010&SUBMIT1.x=9&SUBMIT1.y=9"]SB 492 [font "Arial"]AN ACT CONCERNING DEFICIT MITIGATION FOR THE BIENNIUM ENDING JUNE 30, 2011.[/font][/url][/size][/font]
[/url][font "Verdana"][size 3] [/size][/font][font "Verdana"][size 3]debated[/size][/font][font "Verdana"][size 3] 0[black]3/26, included the fees and DMV fines issues. Again unfortunately, the sportsmen fee structure was premised on 20% and many required corrections, e.g., Nonresident marine fishing @ $60 was not changed. A Senate Republican amendment had the same language. The effective date was April 6. The Senate Passed the bill, but the Governor said she would veto and the bill died. Apparently drafters of the fees portion of the bill/amendment were/are not aware of the passage of SB 207 out of Environment Committee or its content. [/black][/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][black][size 3][url "http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=492&which_year=2010&SUBMIT1.x=9&SUBMIT1.y=9"][black] [/black][/url][/size][/black][/font]
[font "Verdana"][black][size 3][url "http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=492&which_year=2010&SUBMIT1.x=9&SUBMIT1.y=9"][black]What’s next? We are reevaluating the fee structure to insure all fees included are the same percentage; the bill passed by Environment Committee must remain intact; a possible increase in DEP penalties; and a potential increase in all fees to 30%. [/black][black][/black][/url][/size][/black][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 3][url "http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=492&which_year=2010&SUBMIT1.x=9&SUBMIT1.y=9"][black] [/black][/url][/size][/font]
[font "Verdana"][size 2][url "http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=492&which_year=2010&SUBMIT1.x=9&SUBMIT1.y=9"][black] [/black][/url][/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][url "http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=492&which_year=2010&SUBMIT1.x=9&SUBMIT1.y=9"][black] [/black][/url][/size][/font]
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