FLORIDA BASS PLATE

"BASS SPECIALTY PLATE--LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT"

In 1994, (then Game and Freshwater Fish Commission),  the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) was faced with a projected $3.5 million deficit, which was brought about by receiving fewer general tax dollars and selling fewer hunting and fishing licenses. Yet the need to protect habitat and manage fish and wildlife was becoming more demanding as Florida's human population boom continued. Knowing that general tax and user fee increases were unpopular with both the public and Legislature, the FWC looked for a voluntary means of increasing revenues--preferably something that would provide value to the contributor.

They decided that a specialty plate for conservation purposes was a good choice, since many people would choose to purchase one for the direct value they receive of having an attractive plate that proclaims their interest in fish and wildlife conservation. In order to make this idea a reality, a bill had to be sponsored both in the Florida House of Representatives and in the Florida Senate. Moreover, due to the large number of plates that were already authorized, and some people's feelings that we did not need any more, an informal requirement that 8,500 Floridians sign a petition prior to the Legislature considering the bill had to be met. This was accomplished with the assistance of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society's (BASS) Florida Federation, and a number of other conservation and recreation groups.

Senator George Kirkpatrick and Representative Randy Mackey quickly agreed to champion the bills during the 1995 session and both men ushered the bill through the respective committees to the floor. Unfortunately, the bill could not be scheduled for a vote in the Senate that year, and like all of the other proposed specialty plate bills in 1995 it died. What did pass was a formal requirement that henceforth for a specialty plate to be authorized the following requirements had to be met: (1) a $30,000 application fee had to be given to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles for their production and startup costs, (2) 10,000 Floridians, with registered vehicles, had to express their intent to purchase a tag, (3) a marketing plan had to be submitted, and (4) a fiscal impact projection presented.

By the time the 1996 Session rolled around the FWC had met all four of these requirements. Most notably, they had acquired more than 18,000 signatures based on grass roots efforts, before the signature campaign could be turned off. That was 5,000 signatures more than any other plate sponsor acquired.

Senator Kirkpatrick again agreed to sponsor the bill in the Senate in 1996. Representative Mackey had already reached the limit of bills he was allowed to sponsor, so he provided support but could not sponsor the bill personally. Rather, Representative Jerrold Burroughs stepped forward and guided the bill through the appropriate House committees. Near the end of the 1996 legislative session the bill passed and was soon thereafter signed into law by Governor Lawton Chiles.

The bill authorizes a specialty plate to be created with the image of a bass on the left side, Florida at the top and the words "go fishing" on the bottom. The Legislature designated a $25 annual fee for the plate, all of which goes to the FWC for conservation programs to maintain the level of protection and management for the state's fish and wildlife resources. As with other specialty tags, a $2 annual fee is also collected to cover the administrative costs of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Thanks to the many citizens who care about protecting habitat for fish and wildlife, and to legislative champions like Senator Kirkpatrick, and Representatives Burroughs and Mackey, the bass plate is expected to generate $500,000 in the first full year and at least a million dollars per year after that. Now that is a win-win-win situation, with no increased taxes, no greater user fee burden on the anglers and hunters who pay for most of Florida's fish and wildlife conservation, and a beautiful tag for anyone who decides to voluntarily help support the conservation effort.

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