130th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 142		LR 99(01)
	An Act To Give the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Rule-making Authority To Establish a Bear Season Framework and Bag Limits
	Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement for Original Bill
	Sponsor: Rep. Martin of Eagle Lake
	Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement
			FY 2021-22	FY 2022-23	Projections  FY 2023-24	Projections  FY 2024-25
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$60,543	$60,543	$60,543	$60,543
Revenue
	General Fund		($60,543)	($60,543)	($60,543)	($60,543)
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill allows the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW) to establish bear hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits through rule-making and reduces the fee charged for a resident bear hunting permit from $27 to $10. Based on the number of permits issued before the fee was increased in 2002, IFW estimates that a lower permit fee will increase the number of permits issued by approximately 1815 annually compared to the 4,629 issued annually on average under current law, partially offsetting the lower fee. The net difference is a revenue loss of $60,543 annually starting in fiscal year 2021-22.  Any additional costs to IFW as a result of the rule-making process for bear hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits are anticipated to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.