Committee backs fee increases for Bureau of Criminal Identification, including $25 registry hike; sponsor cites $1 million shortfall

The House Public Utilities and Energy Committee on Friday recommended favorably the first substitute to HB 4 25, a bill that would raise fees collected by the Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) and change the timing for transfers from the concealed-weapon permit account to the state’s suicide prevention education fund.

The measure would increase the fee for persons on the offender registry from $100 to $125 and raise certain nonresident concealed-firearm permit fees. The bill also amends when surplus money in the concealed-weapon permit account may flow to the suicide prevention education fund by allowing a reserve to build before transfers occur.

Proponents said the increases are intended to close a program funding gap. Joe Brown, finance director for the Utah Department of Public Safety, told the committee the BCI program “spends around $4,000,000 to operate,” and that projected revenue for the year is about $2.8 million to $3 million — leaving an approximate $1 million shortfall. Brown also said software and other fixed costs have risen, and that the department has reduced staff in the program by attrition.

Bill lan…