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| SPONSOR: | Duran | DATE TYPED: | 02/16/01 | HB | |||
| SHORT TITLE: | Change Name of Space Center Division | SB | 504 | ||||
| ANALYST: | Moran | ||||||
| Recurring
or Non-Rec |
Fund
Affected | ||||
| FY01 | FY02 | FY01 | FY02 | ||
|
See Narrative |
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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
The bill seeks to amend Section 9-6-9 NMSA 1978 to rename a division of the Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA). Currently, the OCA is composed of nine divisions, one of which is called "the space center." This bill would rename this division "the New Mexico Museum of Space History."
Significant Issues
OCA claims that this change in names would allow the division to clarify its mission by stressing the unique historical events within New Mexico that helped shape the U.S. Space program and interpret how these events contributed to the overall development of the history, science and technology of space. This in turn would allow the OCA to market that uniqueness on a national and international level, attracting visitors to the state's history, physical setting and continuing accomplishments. By distinguishing this division within the OCA from the numerous other "space centers" in the nation (e.g. Kennedy Space Center, Johnson Space Center, Virginia Air & Space Center, etc.), the New Mexico Museum of Space History would communicate to tourists and visitors the crucial role our state has played, and continues to play, in the development of mankind's aerospace endeavors.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
Though there are no appropriations within this bill, the OCA suggests that this name change will have a positive fiscal result on the state's tourism industry. They claim that the name change may indirectly result in increased revenue by clarifying the mission and role of the division and thus attract additional visitation. What's more, this name change will not result in any cost to the State nor will it result in direct costs or revenues for the agency.
RJM/ar