Colorado Legislative Council Staff

STATE

REVISED FISCAL NOTE

(Replaces Fiscal Note dated April 7, 1998)

TABOR Refund Impact

No State General Fund Impact

Cash Fund Revenue and Expenditure Impact


Drafting Number:

Prime Sponsor(s):

LLS 98-906

Rep. Johnson

Sen. Dennis

Date:

Bill Status:

Fiscal Analyst:

April 16, 1998

Senate Agriculture

Steve Tammeus (866-2756)

 

TITLE:            CONCERNING THE CREATION OF A WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT PUBLIC EDUCATION ADVISORY COUNCIL.


Summary of Legislation


STATE FISCAL IMPACT SUMMARY

FY 1998/99

FY 1999/2000

State Revenues

General Fund

Wildlife Management Public Education Account



Gifts, Donations, and Reimbursements

State Expenditures

General Fund

Wildlife Cash Fund

Wildlife Management Public Education Account



$2,000

*




*

FTE Position Change

None

None

Local Government Impact — None


*The amount of the program expenditures would be limited to the amount of gifts, donations, and reimbursements credited to the account.


            This reengrossed bill requires the Director of the Division of Wildlife under the Department of Natural Resources to appoint nine persons, meeting certain qualifications, to the Wildlife Management Public Education Advisory Council. The bill provides the council statewide responsibility and authority, and requires the advisory council to perform the following duties:

 

               oversee the design of a comprehensive media-based public information program to educate the general public of the benefits of wildlife, wildlife management, and wildlife-related recreational opportunities in Colorado;

               prepare an operational plan for the division director’s approval by December 1, 1998; and

               expend moneys from the Wildlife Management Public Education Fund in accordance with the operational plan approved by the director of the division; except that all expenditures shall be within the scope of the authorization of the operational plan.


            The bill creates the Wildlife Management Public Education Account within the Wildlife Cash Fund. Moneys in the account shall consist of moneys collected from gifts, donations, and reimbursements from other sources to the advisory council. All investment earnings of the account are to be credited to the account. Moneys in the account are to be used by the advisory council to carry out the provisions of the bill. The members of the advisory council are to be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses from the Wildlife Cash Fund. The reengrossed bill appropriates $2,000 Wildlife Cash Fund to the Department of Natural Resources for allocation to the advisory council for FY 1998-99.


            The provisions of the bill are to be repealed effective July 1, 2001, subject to legislative sunset review. The bill is to become effective July 1, 1998.


            The provisions of this bill will affect state cash fund revenue and expenditures. Therefore, the bill is assessed as having a state fiscal impact.



State Revenues


            This bill authorizes gifts, donations, and reimbursements from other sources to be credited to the Wildlife Management Public Education Account in the Wildlife Cash Fund. The amounts of the gifts and donations would be exempt from state spending limitations and TABOR refund considerations. The amounts of the gifts and donations have not been estimated.


            The amounts of the reimbursements from other sources may be subject to state spending limitations and TABOR refund considerations. The sources of those reimbursements have not been identified and the amounts of those reimbursements have not been estimated.



TABOR Refund Impact


            Section 20 of Article X of the Colorado Constitution, limits the maximum annual percentage increase in state fiscal year spending. Once total state revenue from all sources that are not specifically excluded from fiscal year spending exceeds these limits for the fiscal year, the state constitution requires that the excess shall be refunded in the next fiscal year unless voters approve a revenue change as an offset. Based on the current Legislative Council economic forecast, it is projected that the state will be in a TABOR refund position during each of the next five fiscal years. Any increase or decrease in state revenue from changes in fees, fines, licenses, or other revenue sources will affect the amount of the state revenue to be refunded.



State Expenditures


            This bill requires the advisory council to prepare an operational plan by December 1, 1998, and oversee the design of a media-based public information program. The advisory council’s actual and necessary meeting costs are to be funded by the Wildlife Cash Fund. The amount of the actual and necessary costs is based upon the following assumptions:

 

               that the Division of Wildlife will not provide administrative support to the advisory council;

               that the advisory council will meet once per month during July through November, 1998 for a total of 5 meetings;

               that the advisory council will meet on an as-need basis after November, 1998; and

               that eight of the nine advisory council members will be reimbursed for mileage and meeting expenses.


            The total amount of the advisory council’s actual and necessary expenses is estimated to be $1,605 Wildlife Cash Fund for FY 1998-99.


            This fiscal note assumes that any subsequent implementation of the public information program will be subject to the availability of sufficient amounts of gifts, donations, or reimbursements credited to the Wildlife Management Public Education Account in the Wildlife Cash Fund.



Spending Authority


            This fiscal note would imply that the Department of Natural Resources would require a Wildlife Cash Fund spending authority of $2,000 for FY 1998-99.



Departments Contacted


            Natural Resources