A top state official wants Kansans who are 65 and older to start paying for hunting and fishing licenses.

Robin Jennison, secretary of the Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, plans to introduce legislation ending the current exemption on the fees.

State licenses for hunting and fishing both carry an $18 fee. Jennison told the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday that charging older residents the fees would help his agency maintain its finances.

Jennison says the state adopted an exemption on the fees for Kansans 70 and older in 1937. The age was dropped to 65 in 1971.