[1] NOTE:  As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended only 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:

Varela

 

DATE TYPED:

01/25/02

 

HB

154

 

SHORT TITLE:

NMIMT Homeland Security Center

 

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST:

Baca

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY02

FY03

FY02

FY03

 

 

 

$500.0

 

 

Non-Recurring

General Fund

 

(Parenthesis) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

Duplicates SB 115

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology  (NMIMT)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

House Bill 154 appropriates $500.0 from the general fund to the Board of Regents of NMIMT to establish a Homeland Security Center to expand existing programs to work with national laboratories and military personnel and to cooperate with the University of New Mexico Medical School and New Mexico State University to counter terrorism and its impact on the country.

 

     Significant Issues

 

The terrorist acts of September 11, 2001 created a new awareness of the need for the development and implementation of homeland security measures.  The federal government appropriated $40 billion in FY2002 to counter terrorism and support homeland security.  An additional supplemental appropriation is planned for March of this year.  These FY2002 actions will be continued in following years, and a significant portion of this funding will come to state and local governments.  The FY2002 defense authorization bill calls for 4 Homeland Security Centers to be established across the country.  New Mexico stands to gain a significant amount of this funding if it positions its resources to take advantage of the federal actions.

 

 

 

NMIMT staff indicates that this appropriation is a one-time request and will be used as program start-up costs.  Other sources of funding will be sought for continuation of the project.

 

According to information from NMIMT, this bill proposes to expand and improve existing capabilities by New Mexico research institutions, national labs and military installations to respond to and counter acts of terrorism.  The NMIMT information stresses  the role played by the University of New Mexico Hospital (health), New Mexico State University (food supply) and NMIMT (water).

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $500.0 is this bill is a one-time expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY2003 revert to the general fund.

 

DUPLICATION

 

House Bill 154 is identical to Senate Bill 115.

 

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

 

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

 

The NMIMT Board of Regents approved this program.  However, the Commission on Higher Education did not review it.

 

LB/njw:ar

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