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House Considers User Fees to Help Fund Volunteer Search-and-Rescue; Bill Circled for Further Work
Summary
Representative Valentine introduced HB32 to create a grant-funded search-and-rescue support program financed by modest increases to hunting habitat fees, boat/ORV registrations, and an $80,000 general-fund appropriation. The bill was circled for further consideration; sponsors and members debated eligible uses and reimbursement for rental versus maintenance costs.
Representative Valentine presented House Bill 32 (described in the floor caption as a recreation-impact/search-and-rescue funding bill) and urged colleagues to support funding for volunteer search-and-rescue units. The sponsor said volunteers shoulder most costs and cited examples where multi-day searches required dozens of vehicles, aircraft, snowmobiles and other equipment, imposing substantial out-of-pocket and county expenses.
Under the sponsor’s explanation, HB32 would: add a $0.25 increase to the habitat fee on hunting licenses; add a $0.50 increase to registrations for boats and off‑road vehicles; and appropriate $80,000 from the General Fund. The proceeds would be administered by a volunteer grant board and distributed to counties to help with equipment, training and small grants to search-and-rescue units; the sponsor described the split as roughly one-third from each revenue source so funds align with where services are rendered.
Floor members pressed clarifying questions about reimbursable line items, for example whether the bill intended to pay maintenance and operating costs for privately owned vehicles used by volunteers. Members discussed an amendment to strike the words "repair and operation" from an enumerated list allowing funds to pay rental, repair and operation costs (a change suggested to avoid opening the program to broader personal-equipment claims). The sponsor indicated willingness to accept a clarifying amendment restricting payments to rental and replacement/upgrade of county- or unit-owned equipment.
After discussion, members moved to "circle" the bill for additional work; the motion carried and the bill was circled for further consideration on the calendar. (Note: the transcript at points references "House Bill 42" in the same exchange; the sponsor and floor caption identify this measure as House Bill 32. The article reports the sponsor’s identification and the captioned bill number shown on the floor.)
