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

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Gonzales

 

DATE TYPED:

2/22/03

 

HB

HJM 8/aHCPAC

 

SHORT TITLE:

Create Interim LANL Oversight Committee

 

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST:

Maloy

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

 

 

See Narrative

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

Responses Received From

Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis of HCPAC Amendment

 

The House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee made the following amendments:

 

1.                  Expanded the scope of the review to be conducted and recommendations to be made to include “other workforce issues” within the laboratory and “environmental concerns”.

 

2.                  Clarified that a review of minority employment and promotional opportunities is to relate to current employees, as well as those terminated during the 1995 reduction in force. 

 

Synopsis of Original Bill

 

House Joint Memorial 8 requests the Legislative Council Service to re-create and continue to the work of the Los Alamos National Laboratory Oversight Committee.  This committee was originally established during the 2002 Legislative Interim.  The purpose of the committee is to receive


testimony regarding the composition of the workforce at the lab, as well as to determine needed skill sets for employment with the lab.  The committee is instructed to meet, as necessary, with a comparable California committee.

 

Significant Issues

 

During the 2002 Legislative Interim, the oversight committee named members to a public citizen advisory group to assist in examination of educational needs to prepare New Mexico students for employment with the lab, and to focus on long-term solutions to increase minority employment and promotional opportunities at the lab.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

There may be some fiscal implications for the Legislative Council Services.  There may be costs associated with meetings and travel. 

 

ALTERNATIVES

 

An alternative could be to expand the purview of the Interim Hazardous and Radioactive Materials Committee to include the responsibilities set forth in this Memorial.  The new or expanded committee could also be directed to address the issues of economic development and technology transfer opportunities relating to the lab.  

 

SJM/njw:prr