Master FIR (1988)

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

SPONSOR:	Aragon		DATE TYPED:	03/13/01		HB
SHORT TITLE:		Interim Committee to Examine PRC				SB	SJM 41/aHGUAC
					ANALYST:		Burch

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY01

FY02

FY01

FY02

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

** Please see Fiscal Implications Section of this Report

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

SUMMARY

Synopsis of House Government and Urban Affairs Amendment

The amendment adds two issues regarding cellular services:

•cellular services are extremely competitive without regulatory oversight and as a result rates continue to decline while new services proliferate; but, the Public Regulation Commission is increasingly regulating cellular services without a careful consideration of costs; and

•the Public Regulation Commission should strive to avoid unnecessary cellular regulations sine cell phones are technologically, economically and operationally different from wireline phones.

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Joint Memorial 41 requests the Legislative Council to designate an appropriate legislative interim committee to examine the Public Regulation Commission (PRC), including its organization, financing and performance. A final report of the findings of the interim committee is due to the Legislature during the 2003 regular session.

Significant Issues

The joint memorial recognizes that the PRC is responsible for the oversight and regulation of the insurance, transportation and utility industries and that New Mexico residents are increasingly relying on those industries.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

Costs of the interim committee (per diem and mileage, supplies, etc.) would likely be funded from the appropriation contained in Subsection B of Section 3 of House Bill 1 (Feed Bill) for legislative interim expenses already approved by the governor.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The Legislative Council Service would likely provide staff to support the work of the interim committee.

DKB/ar