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





SPONSOR: Begaye DATE TYPED: 02/14/01 HB 682
SHORT TITLE: NA Advisory Committee for Per Diem &

Mileage

 SB
ANALYST: Chabot



APPROPRIATION



Appropriation Contained
Estimated Additional Impact
 Recurring

or Non-Rec

 Fund

Affected

FY01 FY02 FY01 FY02
$ 15.0 Recurring General Fund



(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)



SOURCES OF INFORMATION



LFC Files

Governor's Committee on Concerns of the Handicapped (GCCH)



SUMMARY



Synopsis of Bill



This bill appropriates $15.0 from the general fund to GCCH for the purpose of paying per diem and mileage expenses for members of the Native American advisory committee to GCCH.



Significant Issues



Members of the Governor's Committee receive per diem and mileage for attending committee meetings. According to GCCH, Native American attend meetings because Native Americans with disabilities have significant issues accessing disability-related programs inside the Pueblos and Reservations. The bill references the Native American advisory committee for GCCH. However, this advisory committee does not exist. GCCH would welcome their participation on more than an ad hoc basis. Native American attendees are not authorized per diem to attend these meetings since they are not official members of the Governor's Committee.



FISCAL IMPLICATIONS



The appropriation of $15.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2002 shall revert to the general fund.





ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS



GCCH, in conjunction with the Office of Indian Affairs, would have to develop policies and procedures on selecting a Native American advisory committee to GCCH and how many members would be authorized per diem and mileage. Since the appropriation is specific, separate accounting would be required to ensure the funding is used exclusively for per diem and mileage of Native American advisory committee members.



TECHNICAL ISSUES



If the intent of the bill was to provide formal recognition of a Native American advisory committee to GCCH, Sec 28-10-1 NMSA 1978 should be amended to include Native American representation. If this done, the per diem for Native American advisory committee representatives could be included in the GCCH budget.



POSSIBLE QUESTIONS