[1] 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.

 

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

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Moore

 

DATE TYPED:

1/22/02

 

HB

21

 

SHORT TITLE:

Manage Non-native Vegetation

 

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST:

L. Baca

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY02

FY03

FY02

FY03

 

 

 

$100.0

 

 

Recurring

General Fund

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA)

Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (ENRD)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

House Bill 21 appropriates $100.0 to the Board of Regents at New Mexico State University for expenditure in fiscal year 2003 to support the soil and water conservation districts in Northeast New Mexico in water conservation projects to manage noxious, non-native vegetation such as salt cedar

 

     Significant Issues

 

The NMDA analysis states “Saltcedar (sic) and other non-native vegetation have impacted native biodiversity, degraded endangered species habitat, and increased fire frequency in riparian areas.  Additionally, saltcedar’s (sic) high water consumption rates are affecting New Mexico’s ability to meet water compact obligations.”  Also, the Department states that the large number of acres impacted requires a recurring appropriation that could be matched with federal grants designed to prevent or limit reinfestation of noxious, non-native vegetation. 

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The $100.0 appropriation is a recurring expense to the general fund for expenditure during fiscal year 2003.  Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY2003 shall revert to the general fund.

 

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

 

The following information is for information only.  It is not intended as a commentary on the merits of the bill:

 

This request for funding was reviewed and approved by the NMSU Board of Regents.  However, the Commission on Higher Education did not recommend it.

 

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL?          

 

According to the NMDA analysis, “An individual saltcedar (sic) plant can produce more than 100,000,000 seeds per reproductive period.  Every year control is delayed raises the eventual control costs exponentially.  There are many drainages in northeastern New Mexico that are not yet infested or are only partially infested, making control and prevention much more feasible than in other, more heavily infested areas of the state.  However, the rate of spread is great enough that this window of opportunity for protecting uninfested and lightly infested areas will diminish each year.”

 

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

 

The Department of Agriculture will administer the program.

 

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

 

  1. Is this appropriation request the only viable source of funding to deal with this issue?
  2. What other sources of funding might be “tapped”?
  3. Have efforts been made to obtain funding from sources other than the state legislature?

 

LB/njw

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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