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.
The most recent FIR
version (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) is available on the Legislative
Website. The Adobe PDF version includes
all attachments, whereas the HTML version does not. Previously issued FIRs and attachments may be obtained from the
LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.
SPONSOR: |
Lujan, A |
DATE TYPED: |
2/27/03 |
HB |
692 |
||
SHORT TITLE: |
Commodity Supplemental Food Program Software |
SB |
|
||||
|
ANALYST: |
Dunbar |
|||||
APPROPRIATION
Appropriation
Contained |
Estimated
Additional Impact |
Recurring or
Non-Rec |
Fund Affected |
||
FY03 |
FY04 |
FY03 |
FY04 |
|
|
|
$122.0 |
|
|
Non-Recurring |
GF |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Parenthesis
( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Duplicates: SB 794
Responses
Received From
Department
of Health (DOH)
SUMMARY
Synopsis
of Bill
House Bill 692 appropriates $122,000 from the
general fund to the Department of Health (DOH) for expenditure in FY2004 for
computer software development and implementation for the Commodity Supplemental
Food Program (CSFP).
Significant
Issues
According to a
recent Brandeis University survey, New
Mexico is number one in the nation for food not having appropriate security,
and third in the nation for hunger.
The DOH CSFP
program serves commodity foods to 17,285 seniors and 4,395 pregnant, breastfeeding,
and post partum women. It also serves
infants, and children under the age of 6, at 54 sites every month in New
Mexico. It operates out of 4 warehouses
and 50 tailgating sites co-located with shelters, community facilities and
facilities for seniors. The computer
program used for tracking inventory and distribution now operates by using a
DOS based computer system that is very outdated and obsolete. It has degraded to the point of being
practically unusable. Additionally,
there are gaps in reporting capabilities in the inventory system. There is not a state level reporting
capability or roll up capability.
The proposed
funds would allow for development and implementation of a new Windows-based
software that has additional enhancements for food warehousing services. The proposed funding is a small amount for a
computer system. The last system was pieced
together using one contractor over a 10-year period and resulted in a total
cost of $100,000.
HB 692 is in
response to an effort made by local communities to support the CSFP
program.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The appropriation of
$122.0 contained in this bill is a non-recurring expense to the general fund.
Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY 04 shall
revert to the general fund.
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
Staff
time would be required to participate in development of this new system.
TECHNICAL ISSUES
Although
this system uses personal information, it is not health related. This program is purely a food assistance
program and not a health services program; therefore, it would not be subject
to HIPAA regulations.
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
There are no
initiatives in DOH to address the CSFP system and computer system funding. This program is virtually non-existent
through the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The CSFP program has used $10,000 per year of scarce administrative
funding to piece together the current system that now is inadequate to serve
the needs of this vulnerable population of elderly, women, infants, and
children. These are our most vulnerable
citizens, meeting income criteria of 185% poverty for families and 130% poverty
for elderly.
The
food provided by the CSFP is only supplemental and does not cover needs for an
entire month. It is essential to
provide these services efficiently and account for every can of food to assure
continued funding by USDA. The 50
tailgates reach across New Mexico to rural areas. These tailgates require a
system to inventory the foods being distributed and need a system to record
data and criteria checks for participation.
QUESTION
Is the level of
funding adequate for designing and implementing a food inventory system?
BD/njw