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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:	1/29/02		HB	127
SHORT TITLE:		Native American Referral Services				SB
					ANALYST:		Dunbar

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY02	FY03	FY02	FY03
	$80.0	Indeterminate		Recurring	General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Responses Received

Office of Indian Affairs (OIA)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 127 appropriates $80.0 from the general fund to the NM Office of Indian Affairs to provide referral services for Native Americans requiring public assistance.

Significant Issues

The bill should clarify “referral service for Native American requiring public assistance”. Is the referral service for public assistance programs administered by the state or for public assistance programs administers by the Tribe or both? Where is the service going to be located? For example, is the service going to be provided by the Office of Indian Affairs through a 1-800 number.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $80.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY 03 shall revert to the general fund.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The Office of Indian Affairs reports that the proposed bill is not clear in what “provide referral service” or “public assistance” mean. Therefore, the office cannot determine the administrative impact.

Case management referral type service requires much time and effort and therefore the Office of Indian Affairs may experience a significant administrative impact.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

See significant issues above

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

1. Will the Office of Indian Affairs be able to contract for the referral service?

2. How are individual going to access this service?

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

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Responses Received

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

BD/njw:ar