Rep. Curt Oda, R-Clearfield, is calling for the fees collected for concealed gun permits to go directly to the Bureau of Criminal Identification, rather than to the general fund.

"This income becomes a hidden tax if we don't keep the fees with the program they were collected for," Oda said.

The interim Law Enforcement Committee approved the measure Wednesday and moved it forward for consideration in January's session.

Business is booming for BCI because Utah's concealed-carry permit has become popular nationwide - applicants don't have to live in Utah or even set foot in the state to qualify for the $59 permit. But only a fraction of the growing fees collected, $650,000 this year, are returned to pay for administration.

The bureau projects the number of concealed weapon applicants will break a record 16,000 by the end of this year - 60 percent of the permits going to out-of-state residents.

As a result, BCI has been forced to divert resources from other programs, including required background checks on teachers and health care providers.

If Oda's bill passes, BCI would increase staff for firearms permits, accelerating other background checks. BCI Chief Ed McConkie said the fees should cover the bureau's gun permit costs, but "If we continue to be what many have dubbed 'a national permit,' that could change."

Oda acknowledged that a state audit of the concealed weapons program found that even with the dedicated fees, BCA would fall short of covering its costs.

"It's going to be close," Oda said. "We need to give it a couple of years, then analyze it after time."