HD54 - Assessing the Long-Range Financial Status of the Game Protection Fund

  • Published: 1991
  • Author: Select Committee
  • Enabling Authority: House Joint Resolution 76 (Regular Session, 1990)

Executive Summary:
The Joint Subcommittee established pursuant to HJR 76 (1990) held five meetings during 1990, including two public hearings and one working session. The public was afforded an opportunity to speak at each meeting, including the working session. In addition, through the use of a DGIF statewide telephone survey, the Joint Subcommittee sought public opinion concerning departmental funding.

During its first two meetings, the Joint Subcommittee received oral and written testimony form DGIF personnel and various interest groups regarding the present funding and operation costs of DGIF, the level of funding necessary to continue an effective game management program in the Commonwealth, and the current and future priorities of DGIF's programs and their associated costs. The third and fourth meetings, public hearings in Roanoke and Richmond, were held to solicit suggestions for funding DGIF in the future. At the Roanoke meeting, agency personnel also presented the preliminary results of their statewide telephone survey. Finally, during its working session in Richmond, the Joint Subcommittee developed the following six recommendations:

1. The diversion of revenues derived from boat registration and titling fees should be prohibited.

2. All interest earned on the Game Protection Fund should be credited to that fund.

3. DGIF should be given the authority to sell "bonus deer permits" as a means of controlling the deer population while providing additional revenue for the agency.

4. The driving public should be allowed to support DGIF's programs by purchasing special wildlife conservationist vehicle license plates.

5. Nonresidents should be allowed to fish in waters stocked with trout if they possess an appropriate five-day nonresident trip fishing license and a nonresident trout license.

6. The Joint Subcommittee assessing the long-range financial status of the Game Protection Fund should be continued for an additional year.

While Recommendation 1 above is in the form of a letter to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, a Copy of which is attached as Appendix J, Recommendations 2 through 6 are in the form of legislation. Copies of these proposed bills are attached as Appendices K through O.