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It will also be an action item at the next TPWD Commission meeting on March 31st.

Action
Combination and Super-Combination License Rules
Stamp Fund Allocation Methodology
March 31, 2011

I. Executive Summary: This item seeks adoption of a proposed amendment that would alter the stamp-allocation methodology for revenues from the sale of combination and super-combination licenses.

II. Discussion: Under Parks and Wildlife Code, §50.001, the Commission is required to allocate net revenue to individual stamp funds from the sale of stamps that are included in a combination license package. By statute, the methodology must incorporate the proportionate discounted price of each stamp, the estimated utilization of each stamp, or a combination of those methods. Under current rule (31 TAC §53.130), the department conducts an annual survey of stamp utilization and uses that data to allocate combination license revenue to individual stamp funds. The current rule has been in effect since 2006. Trends over the last five years show that there is little variation in survey results from year to year. The proposed changes to the current rule would replace the current annual survey with a survey conducted once every three years and would base the allocation on an average of the survey results from the most recent three, four, or five surveys.

At the January 2011 meeting of the Finance Committee, staff received permission to publish proposed changes to the current rule in the Texas Register for public comment. The proposed amendment was published in the February 25, 2011, issue of the Texas Register (36 TexReg 1232). Staff will present a summary of public comment, if any, at the time of the meeting.

III. Recommendation: Staff recommends the Parks and Wildlife Commission adopt the following motion:

“The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopts an amendment to 31 TAC 53.130, concerning Combination and Super Combination License Packages, with changes as necessary to the proposed text as published in the February 25, 2011 issue of the Texas Register (36 TexReg 1232).”