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 for other purposes.

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

SPONSOR:	Beam		DATE TYPED:	01/29/03		HB	314
SHORT TITLE:		Sexual Orientation or Gender Discrimination				SB
					ANALYST:		Gilbert

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY03	FY04	FY03	FY04
			$0.1 See Narrative

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates SB 28

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Attorney General’s Office (AGO)

New Mexico Department of Labor (NMDOL)

Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 314 makes it unlawful to discriminate based upon sexual orientation or gender identity. Sexual orientation is defined as heterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality, whether actual or perceived. Gender identity is defined as a person’s self perception, or perception of that person by another, of the person’s identity as a male or female based upon the person’s appearance, behavior, or physical characteristics that are in accord with or opposed to the person’s physical anatomy, chromosomal sex or sex at birth.

A new section is added that prohibits the adoption or implementation of quotas based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

According to the New Mexico Department of Labor (NMDOL), implementation of this bill will require two additional FTEs to conduct investigations.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The NMDOL states implementation of this bill would require expanded investigation activities and additional staff training.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

This bill retains the existing exemptions listed under the NM Human Rights Act, but further exempts religious institutions engaged in religious activities from the new provisions. Religious institutions engaged in non-religious activities would be subjected to the new provisions of HB314.

Neither sexual orientation nor gender identity are protected under current federal law. However, a proposal for similar federal legislation is currently before the U.S. Congress.

RLG/prr