FISCAL NOTE

Senate Bill 381 as introduced and as substituted and reported by the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry would increase the administrative obligations of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources by an undetermined amount, to: (1) register hunt masters, at no cost, in the use of dogs to hunt deer; (2) issue citations and warnings from any person using a hunting dog without registering as a hunt master; (3) investigate reported incidences of dogs intentionally killed or injured while engaged in hunting activities; (4) report annually to the Advisory Board of Conservation and Natural Resources an the Legislature the number of citations or warnings issued by game wardens for violations of fish and game laws or rules; and (5) adopt rules implementing registration of hunt masters and handling of hunting dogs. The increased obligations could be offset partly by the $1,000 fine collected by the Department from persons removing, tampering or interfering with any collar, tag or remote tracking and behavior correction device from hunting dogs without the owner's permission.

This bill could increase receipts to the State General Fund and municipal general funds from fines; increase receipts to the State General Fund, county general funds, municipal general funds, and other funds to which court costs are deposited; and could increase the obligations of the State General Fund, district attorneys, and local jails by an undetermined amount dependent upon the number of persons charged with and convicted of the offenses provided by this bill and the penalties imposed.