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Committee advances bill to raise wildlife and parks service charge, allow merchants to recover payment costs
Summary
The Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources voted to report House Bill 2633 favorably as amended, raising the Wildlife and Parks service charge on licenses to a maximum of $2 (migratory waterfowl stamps to $1) and allowing merchants to recover payment-processing costs such as credit-card fees.
The Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources voted to report House Bill 2633 favorably as amended after adopting an amendment that raises the service charge charged on Department of Wildlife and Parks licenses and permits and allows merchants to recover payment-processing costs.
Kyle, a legislative staff member who presented the bill, said the proposal “would increase the service charge fee for each license, permit, stamp, or other issue of the Department of Wildlife and Parks to an amount of not to exceed $2,” and that migratory waterfowl habitat stamps would be capped at $1. Representative Neely moved to pass the bill favorably; Representative Roth seconded the motion.
Representative Blackson introduced and explained the amendment, saying vendors had not seen an increase in the agent fee since 1989 and that even with the higher fee merchants often lose money on credit-card charges. Blackson described the change allowing merchants to “recover the actual amount of any cost incurred by reason of the method of payment,” noting that third-party vendor Brandt charges a flat $4.25 phone-line fee and a 2.95% credit-card fee for some transactions.
Committee discussion clarified that agent fees collected by outside vendors (for example, sports centers that sell licenses) are retained by those vendors; purchases made through KDWP offices do not incur the same credit-card surcharge. Blackson referenced the fiscal note, saying the $1 increase to $2 would add approximately $84,000 in revenue to Wildlife and Parks.
On a voice vote the committee adopted Blackson’s amendment, then moved to report HB 2633 favorably as amended. The motion carried on a voice vote; the committee report will send HB 2633, as amended, out of committee for further consideration on the floor.
The committee did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript. The committee chair said no additional committee meetings would be held that week and adjourned.
