[Airwaves]

it seems very strange the Dept of Safety does not have a better handle on statistics to back up the need for this bill or even a better idea of how much it will cost boaters!

The Department of Safety states this bill will increase certain boat fees, including registration, transfer, and license fees. This bill will also increase the portion of registration fees paid to the lake restoration and preservation fund and the portion paid to authorized registration agents not working directly for the Department. The Department assumes current registrations by boat type will mirror data from the most recent year available, $1.8 million in FY 2006. However, as total boat registration has declined since FY 2006, the Department estimates this bill will increase state restricted revenue to the navigation safety fund by $1.5 million annually. The Department does not have information on the number of boat transfers, therefore the additional state restricted revenue from a $2 increase in transfer fees cannot be calculated. Additionally, this bill increases the number of years a license to operate commercial vehicles is valid from two years to five years. The Department states this change will decrease restricted revenue from license renewal fees by an indeterminable amount in FY 2010 and each year thereafter. The Department states this bill imposes a $10 fee to retake failed examinations. The Department assumes 110 failures per year will increase restricted revenue by $1,100 in FY 2010 and each year thereafter. The Department estimates the $11 increase in cost for a captain’s license would increase restricted revenue by $3,861 in FY 2010 and each year thereafter (351 captains’ licenses x $11 = $3,861).

The Department of Safety estimates this bill will increase revenue to the lakes restoration fund by approximately $250,000 ($1 x 250,000 boats) annually. The increase in agent fees would increase revenue to some local governments who are municipal agents, however, the Department cannot determine how many agents are local governments, therefore the fiscal impact on local revenues cannot be calculated.