Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance

committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports

if they are used for other purposes.

Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are a vailable on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us).

Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not. Previously issued FIRs and

attachments may be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Vigil

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1-27-06

2-9-06 HB 536/aHJC

SHORT TITLE Unlawful Trophy Animal Disposition Penalties

SB

ANALYST Woods

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

NFI

NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

REVENUE (dollars in thousands)

Estimated Revenue

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

FY08

N/A

20.0 - 40.0

20.0 - 40.0

Recurring Game Protec-

tion Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates SB395

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Game and Fish (DGF) (SB395)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of HJC Amendment

House Judiciary Committee amendment to HB536 amends the legislation as follows:

1. On page 2, line 2, after “The” insert “damages are intended to compensate the

state for the loss of unique public resources, and therefore any”.

House Judiciary Committee amendment to HB536 adds no appropriation, nor alters the original

revenue estimates attached to the legislation.

House Bill 536/aHJC – Page

2

Synopsis of Original Bill

House Bill 536, Relating to Game Animals; Providing Authority to Establish Civil Penalties for

Unlawful Disposition of a Trophy Animal, amends Section 1. Section 17-2-26 NMSA 1978 (be-

ing Laws 1912, Chapter 85, Section 45, as amended) in order to provide for higher civil damages

that may be recovered in the name of the State of New Mexico for unlawful wounding, killing or

possession of trophy animals as designated by State Game Commission rule.

There is no appropriation attached to this legislation.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The Department of Game and Fish (DGF) indicates that the proposed bill will have minimal de-

partmental impact, further that modest revenues could be possibly be realized. Presently, DGF

policy allows officers to recover the value of the loss of the game or fish illegal taken by allow-

ing a violator to voluntarily pay the civil assessment value of the game or fish taken. If a person

voluntarily pays, then he or she is allowed to make up to 3 payments and no civil suit is filed. If

a person does not agree to voluntarily pay, then the Conservation Officer files a claim in magis-

trate court in the name of the state along with the filing fee of $67.00 per case. Most individuals

opt to pay voluntarily.

The Department spends less than $700.00 annually on these civil filing fees. If civil penalties are

increased for trophy game, then it is expected that individuals will be less likely to voluntarily

pay a civil penalty. The results of this bill may increase the filing fees that the Department will

have to pay to the courts. However, it is unknown what the fiscal impact will be and it is ex-

pected that the cost could be absorbed without huge consequences to the operating budget.

Civil penalties received for the unlawful taking or possession of game or fish are disposed di-

rectly into the Game Protection Fund (516). Currently, it is estimated that the Department re-

ceives $5.0 - $7.5 in revenue from civil penalties. If civil penalties on trophy poaching are ap-

proved, then the revenue from trophy penalties should be much higher. It is unknown how

much money will be generated from this increase, but annual estimates are $20.0 – $40.0. This

could decrease over time as higher civil damages are expected to be a deterrent to poaching.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

DGF indicates that this legislation allows the State Game Commission to establish rules defining

trophy animals and to set civil penalties at a level that would create an additional deterrent to the

unlawful killing or possession of trophy animals. Individuals violating game and fish law can be

prosecuted criminally in court and a suit may also be brought in the name of the state for the loss

of the game or fish taken.

The legislation also provides that licenses, certificates or permits will not be sold to persons ow-

ing civil damages until the civil penalty has been paid. It is expected that civil judgments could

effectively be obtained from many individuals residing outside of New Mexico who violate our

game laws because the State belongs to the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact. This compact

allows the other participating states (21) to temporarily suspend license privileges to a violator in

his or her home state if they have not satisfied a judgment or met their obligation to take care of

any court matters.

House Bill 536/aHJC – Page

3

DGF adds that the department has received numerous comments from the public that support

higher penalties for wildlife violators, especially for those taking trophy animals. Some have

indicated that the criminal fine and civil penalty are too low.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

DGF suggests that due to increased civil damage assessments, offenders may choose a civil trial

instead of paying the amount voluntarily. This would require additional time in court by offi-

cers.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

The money from current civil assessments is deposited into the Game Protection Fund. The

revocation of licenses meets the intent of the violator compact.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

This bill would give the State Game Commission authority to determine what a trophy animal is

and what the value of such is. Although free-ranging game and fish belong to the state, many

individuals have a stake in this resource. Landowners, guides, and local economies depend on

the hunting industry to generate millions of dollars. Likewise, trophy game or the chance to take

a trophy animal can generate thousands of dollars to individuals. This bill allows the state game

commission to determine the value with well rounded participation by anyone interested to put

forth their opinions on what constitutes a trophy and what that value is considered to be for each

trophy species. This is consistent with the Commissions’ decision making authority where this

body passes rules on game and fish while considering zones of temperatures, distribution, abun-

dance, economic value and breeding habits of game animals, birds and fish (17-1-26 NMSA).

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

DGF indicates that, presently, for example, the civil assessments for deer are $250 and an elk is

$500. The value either through sale or as a personal prize to a poacher for a trophy deer or elk is

believed to substantially exceed these civil amounts. The public has criticized the Department

that a poacher is more willing to take a chance of “getting caught” because the consequences of

taking a trophy animal are not that great, especially monetarily.

BW/yr