Finance Committee

Wednesday, 9:00am, Jan. 28, 2004

Committee Agenda Item No. 2
Presenter: Mary Fields

Finance Committee
Financial Review Update
January 2004

I. Executive Summary: Staff will present a financial review for FY 2004 year-to-date, including an update on revenues for Account 9, Game, Fish and Water Safety and Account 64, State Parks and an operating budget status.

The Business Improvement Plan and stamp fund allocation will also be discussed.

Committee Agenda Item No. 3
Presenter: Mary Fields
Gene McCarty

Finance Committee
License Fee Restructure
January 2004

I. Executive Summary: Staff will present an overview and discussion of FY 2005 license structure options and stamp allocations, including a request to publish proposed changes in the Texas Register. Proposed changes will incorporate the Freshwater Stamp as authorized by the 78th Legislature.

Committee Agenda Item No. 4
Presenter: Julie Horsley

Finance Committee
Chapter 53 Finance Rule Review
January 2004

I. Executive Summary: This item proposes a rule review of 31 TAC Chapter 53- Finance, as well as amendments to the Chapter to incorporate the following: (1) items proposed as part of the license fee restructuring effort; (2) provisions related to House Bill 1989, 78th Legislature, Regular Session; and (3) fee changes to selected licenses.

II. Discussion: House Bill 1, 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, Article IX, Sec. 167 directs each state agency to perform a review of regulations not less than every four years and to either readopt, amend or repeal each rule, provided that the agency has not acted on the rule in the interim.

In December of 2003, the Department published in the Texas Register a Notice of Plan to Review in which the agency outlined a proposed schedule for undertaking the required review. Pursuant to the published rule review plan, the Department plans to publish in the Texas Register a Notice of Intent to Review Chapter 53.

The rule review will propose primarily housekeeping type changes aimed at clarification, consistency, and consolidation of fee and related information. Other proposed amendments will include:

• License restructuring
• Changes to reflect provisions of House Bill 1989 (relating to creation of freshwater fishing stamp)
• Fee changes for selected fees

Staff requests permission to publish the proposed changes in the Texas Register for public comment.

Committee Agenda Item No. 5
Presenter: Phil Durocher

Finance Committee
MOU with Parks and Wildlife Foundation of Texas for the Jasper Fish Hatchery
January 2004

I. Executive Summary: Staff will discuss and seek Commission endorsement of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between this Agency and the Parks and Wildlife Foundation of Texas. The MOU describes the roles of the Foundation and the Agency in identifying potential sites, site selection, fundraising and capital development for a new freshwater fish hatchery to replace the Jasper State Fish Hatchery.