NOTE: As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended for use by the standing finance committees of the legislature.  The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used in any other situation.



Only the most recent FIR version, excluding attachments, is available on the Intranet. Previously issued FIRs and attachments may be obtained from the LFC office in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.





F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T





SPONSOR: Madalena DATE TYPED: 02/09/00 HB HJM 58
SHORT TITLE: Indiscriminate Killing of Cougars SB
ANALYST: Valenzuela


APPROPRIATION



Appropriation Contained
Estimated Additional Impact
Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY00 FY01 FY00 FY01
NFI NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)



Duplicates SJM 37



SOURCES OF INFORMATION



LFC Files

Department of Game and Fish (DGF)



SUMMARY



Synopsis of Bill



House Joint Memorial 58 requests the State Game Commission and the Department of Game and Fish to discontinue its plans to kill cougars. Rather, it requests the commission to implement proactive scientific approaches of preserving the endangered desert bighorn sheep populations.



Significant Issues



Last year, the State Game Commission approved a rule to kill 34 cougars each year, in an effort the preserve bighorn sheep populations throughout New Mexico. The joint memorial indicates that simply killing cougars is not an effective mechanism to the predation problem and indicates that the agency has not pursued all options in this regard.



FISCAL IMPLICATIONS



House Joint Memorial 58 does not contain an appropriation and would not have a fiscal or administrative impact on the DGF.



MFV/gm