Proposal to fund Game and Parks amended, advanced

A bill that would divert state sales tax revenue to the state Game and Parks Commission was amended and advanced from select file March 19.

LB814, introduced by Lincoln Sen. Bill Avery, would dedicate the state sales tax revenue derived from the sale or lease of motorboats and personal watercraft for commission infrastructure maintenance projects.

Currently, state sales tax revenue is deposited into the state General Fund, the State Highway Capital Improvement Fund and the Highway Allocation Fund. Under LB814, the revenue also would be directed to a newly created Game and Parks Commission Capital Maintenance Fund.

The state sales tax revenue collected from all-terrain and utility-type vehicles that have been titled in Nebraska also would be dedicated to the Game and Parks Commission Capital Maintenance Fund under the bill.

Avery introduced an amendment that incorporated provisions of LB982, a bill originally introduced by Fullerton Sen. Annette Dubas. The amendment would allow manufacturers to market new varieties of all-terrain and utility-type vehicles by amending vehicle dimension restrictions and tire definitions.

Senators adopted the amendment on a 36-0 vote and advanced the bill to final reading on a voice vote.