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Panel asks LSO to draft bill to require state to cover Game and Fish revenue impacts from mandated fee reductions
Summary
Members asked LSO to draft language ensuring the state covers revenue shortfalls when the Legislature mandates lower license fees, a change intended to prevent the agency's programs from absorbing legislative fee decisions without appropriation.
The committee asked LSO to draft a bill clarifying that when the Legislature mandates reduced license fees or other changes that lower fee revenue for the Game and Fish Department, the state should appropriate funding to cover the difference rather than requiring the department and license buyers to absorb the cost.
Representative Campbell said the committee should avoid having sportsmen and program users carry the cost of legislative fee decisions. "We ought to pay for what we give away," she told colleagues, and the committee voted to request LSO prepare proposed language to change the statutory ask process to an obligation to fund mandated fee impacts.
Staff noted the statutory language currently requires the department to "submit an ask" to the Legislature for lost revenues when fees are mandated; the proposed direction is intended to examine replacing that permissive ask with statutory language that would obligate the state to fund the adjustment. LSO will draft language for committee consideration at the next interim meeting.
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