Finance Committee
Wednesday, 9:00 a.m., April 14, 1999
Commission Hearing Room4200 Smith School Road
Austin, TX 78744
| Item No. |
Subject | Public Hearing Agenda Item No. |
|---|---|---|
| Approval of the Committee Minutes from the previous meeting. | ||
| Summary of Minutes | ||
| 1. | Chairman's Charges (Oral Presentation) | Committee Only |
| 2. | Financial Review Staff: Jayna Burgdorf |
Committee Only |
| 3. | Legislative Appropriations
Status |
Committee Only |
| 4. | Reciprocal Licenses Staff: Jim Dickinson |
Committee Only |
| 5. | Update on State Park
Audit Staff: Bob Cook |
Committee Only |
| 6. | Other Business |
Summary of Minutes
Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission
Finance Committee
January 20, 1999
BE IT REMEMBERED that heretofore on the 20th day of January 1999, there came to be heard matters under the regulatory authority of the Parks and Wildlife Commission of Texas, in the commission hearing room of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Headquarters complex, Austin, Travis County, Texas beginning at 9:30 a.m., to-wit:
I. FINANCE COMMITTEE:
Chair: Lee M. Bass
Mickey Burleson
Nolan Ryan
Ernest Angelo, Jr.
Ray Clymer
Susan Howard-Chrane
Carol E. Dinkins
Dick Heath (absent)
John Avila, Jr. (absent)
II. OPENING STATEMENT:
Chairman Lee M. Bass called the meeting to order. The opening statement was read into the record by Executive Director Andrew Sansom.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Chairman Lee M. Bass asked for a motion to approve the minutes from the November 4, 1998 meeting. The motion was moved by Commissioner Ernest Angelo, Jr. and seconded by Nolan Ryan. The motion passed unanimously.
III. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WERE PRESENTED TO THE COMMITTEE:
1. BRIEFING - Chairman's Charges
Presenter: Andrew Sansom
2. BRIEFING First Quarter Financial Review
Presenter: Jayna Burgdorf
Account 9 Game, Fish, and Water Safety comparisons showed the following. As of January 13, license revenue is up almost $400,000 compared to prior year. September through December, boat registration is down $129,000 compared to our projections.
Account 64, State Park, December revenue was up 16% as compared to prior year. For the year we have collected $5 million in fee revenue. No adjustments to the revenue projections were recommended as two-thirds of the fiscal year remains.
The second revenue bond issuance was on January 13. We expect to close and receive those proceeds by the end of January.
Ms. Burgdorf also discussed the appropriations process to prepare everyone for the legislative session.
3. ACTION Local Park Funding
Presenter: Mr. Tim Hogsett
Mr. Hogsett reviewed the proposed grant funding for a local park grant match project for outdoor recreation facilities. There have been 38 requests received for a total request of $12.7 million from the Texas Recreation and Parks account. The recommendation was to fund the top 19 projects for $6.48 million in matching funds and to move this item to the full Commission as a consent agenda item.
The motion was moved by Commissioner Mickey Burleson and seconded by Commissioner Susan Howard-Chrane. The motion passed unanimously and was recommended for the consent agenda.
4. ACTION Boat Ramp Funding
Presenter: Mr. Tim Hogsett
Mr. Hogsett reviewed the boat ramp grants for 75% matching funds to five local governments in the amount of $899,685 in federal funds from the Wallop Breaux program. Mr. Hogsett reported that we currently have more funding available for boat ramps than requests for new construction. We are currently looking at developing a program for repairs and major maintenance of the 300-plus boat ramps that we have on our existing inventory and some of the boat ramps in some of our state parks. It is believed that there will be as much as a half million dollars available from additional federal money for that program. It was requested to move this item to the full Commission as a consent agenda item.
The motion was moved by Commissioner Nolan Ryan and seconded by Commissioner Carole E. Dinkins. The motion passed unanimously and was recommended for the consent agenda.
5. ACTION Indoor Recreation Grants
Presenter: Mr. Tim Hogsett
Mr. Hogsett reviewed the grants for indoor recreation facilities that will be funded out of the Texas Recreation parks account. There were requests from eight sponsors requesting $3,303,795 in matching funds. Funding was recommended for the top 5 scoring projects in the amount of $2.3 million and partial funding of the 6th project in the amount of $178,405. It was requested to move this item to the full Commission as a consent agenda item.
The motion was moved by Commissioner Susan Howard-Chrane and seconded by Commissioner Nolan Ryan. The motion passed unanimously and was recommended for the consent agenda
IV. ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Lee M. Bass adjourned the committee.
Committee Agenda Item No. 1
Presenter: Andrew Sansom
Finance Committee
Briefing
Chairman's Charges
April 1999
(This item will be an oral presentation.)
Committee Agenda Item No. 2
Presenter: Jayna Burgdorf
Finance Committee
Briefing
Financial Review
April 1999
I. Discussion: Staff will present a financial review for year to date FY99, including an update on Account 9, Game, Fish and Water Safety and Account 64, State Parks. This presentation will focus on the sale of hunting and fishing licenses, boat registration and titling fees, and state park fees.
Committee
Agenda Item No. 3
Presenter: Andrew Sansom
Finance
Committee
Briefing
Legislative Appropriations
Status
April 1999
I. Discussion: Staff will brief the Commission on the legislative appropriations request status.
Committee
Agenda Item No. 4
Presenter: Jim Dickinson
Finance
Committee
Action
Reciprocal Fishing
Agreements and Fishing Rules
April 1999
I. Discussion: Texas currently has reciprocal fishing agreements with Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Kansas. Our residents that are becoming 65 years of age currently purchase a special resident fishing license for $6.00. Residents who were born before September 1, 1930 are exempt from the requirement of having a fishing license. Current regulations allow nonresidents from Oklahoma 64 years of age or older and nonresidents from Kansas and Louisiana 65 years of age and older to fish without a license in Texas. The Executive Director sent letters to the three states involved last October of our intention to eliminate the current exemption for their seniors. The amendments proposed to our fishing license exemption and fee rules would provide the same rules for nonresidents fishing in Texas that we require of our residents if the nonresidents state of residence is willing to enter into an agreement to provide the same privilege to our citizens.
The proposed rule change would also clarify the practice of selling a Special Resident Fishing license to persons otherwise exempt from purchasing a fishing license and persons who purchase a temporary fishing license in order for these individuals to obtain a red drum tag.
II. Recommendation: The staff recommends the Finance Committee adopt the following motion:
"The Finance Committee of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes staff to publish proposed amendments to 31 TAC §§ 53.1 and 53.3 concerning fishing license fees and exemptions in the Texas Register for comment. The Finance Committee of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission proposes the termination of all existing reciprocal fishing agreements effective August 31, 1999."
Attachment - 1
1. Exhibit A – Proposed Regulations
Committee
Agenda Item No. 4
Exhibit A
Regulations
Proposed Preamble
§ 53.1. License Issuance Procedures, Fees, Possession and Exemption Rules.
(a)-(c) (No change.)
(d) The following categories of persons are exempt from fishing license requirements and fees for the license years beginning September 1, (1999) [1995], and thereafter:
(1) –(2) (no change.)
[(3) non-residents 65 years of age or older from Kansas and Louisiana; ]
(3) [(4)] non-residents whose birthdate is before September 1, 1930 and whose state of residence enters into a reciprocal agreement with Texas [ non-residents 64 years of age or older from Oklahoma];
(4) [(5)] residents whose birth date is before September 1, 1930;
(5) [(6)] persons who hold valid Louisiana non-resident fishing licenses while fishing on all waters inland that form a common boundary between Texas and Louisiana from a line across Sabine Pass between Texas Point and Louisiana Point if the State of Louisiana allows a reciprocal privilege to persons who hold valid Texas annual or temporary non-resident fishing licenses; and
(6) [(7)] residents of Louisiana who meet the licensing requirements of their state while fishing on all waters inland that form a common boundary between Texas and Louisiana from a line across Sabine Pass between Texas Point and Louisiana Point if the State of Louisiana allows a reciprocal privilege to Texas residents who hold valid Texas fishing licenses.
(e) (No change)
§ 53.3. Other Recreational Hunting and Fishing Licenses, Stamps, and Tags
(a)-(c) (No change).
(d) Fishing licenses. The following license fee amounts are effective for the license year beginning September 1, 1999 [1996], and thereafter:
(1)-(2) (No change).
(3) special resident fishing (type 203)--$6.00.[;] Nonresidents who are 65 years of age or older and whose state of residence enters into a reciprocal agreement with Texas are designated as residents and may purchase a special resident fishing license;
(4)-(9) (No change).
(e) –(g) (No change.)
Committee
Agenda Item No. 5
Presenter: Bob Cook
Finance
Committee
Briefing
Update on State Park Audit
April 1999
I. Discussion: Staff
will present a status
report on the implementation
and recommendations of
the state auditor’s
report on state parks.
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