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

SPONSOR:	Romero		DATE TYPED:	3/5/01		HB
SHORT TITLE:		Services for Special Needs Indian Children				SB	764
					ANALYST:		Dunbar

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY01	FY02	FY01	FY02	Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
	$ 150.0			Recurring	General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Developmental Disabilities Planning Council(DDPC)

Health Policy Commission(HPC)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

SB 764 appropriates $150.0 from the general fund to the Department of Finance and Administration for expenditure in fiscal year 2002 to continue the provision of services for home-based service coordination for Indian children with disabilities or special medical needs.

Significant Issues

The funds appropriated would provide support and assistance to Indian children with special needs, including those in rural areas.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

This structure would provide increased efficiency for the delivery of services to Indian children with disabilities and/or medical needs by providing greater coordination with service providers and increasing the knowledge of options available for families of children with special needs.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

SB 764 appropriates $150.0 from the general fund to the Department of Finance and Administration for expenditure in fiscal year 2002. The amount is recurring and any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of the fiscal year 2002 shall revert to the general fund.

This bill would continue provision of services already in place; there would be no additional financial impact on state agencies providing the direct services . DFA currently has staff and resources that allow for the required RFP and subsequent monitoring of the program and contract.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

This bill will not affect the administration or FTE of the Developmental Disabilities Planning Council.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The HPC provided the following information:

•There is public concern for the under-served health care needs of all under-privileged children in New Mexico. Native Americans, like all New Mexican children are eligible for Medicaid or other public health insurance programs sponsored by the State of New Mexico; however, Native Americans more familiar with Indian Health Services may have difficulty accessing available programs in urban areas. Native Americans are eligible for assistance and services through the Urban Indian Health program, federally and state funded in Albuquerque in addition to the Santa Fe and Albuquerque HIS hospitals and clinics.

•Southwest Communications Resources provide a variety of specialized health and developmental services for infants, young children and adults with special needs. They serve Native American families who live in the Indian Pueblos of Santo Domingo, Cochiti, San Felipe, Santa Ana, Sandia, Zia and Jemez.

BD/njw