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.

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

SPONSOR:	Gonzales		DATE TYPED:	3/13/03		HB	872/aHJC
SHORT TITLE:		Prohibit Splitting Voting Precincts				SB
					ANALYST:		Collard

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY03	FY04	FY03	FY04
	NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to SB 667

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Responses Received From

Secretary of State

Attorney General’s Office

SUMMARY

Synopsis of HJC Amendment

The House Judiciary Committee amendment to House Bill 872 makes technical adjustments to the wording in the bill.

Synopsis of Original Bill

House Bill 872 enacts a new section of the Election Code’s Precinct Boundary Adjustment Act, NMSA 1978, Sections 1-3-10 through 1-3-14, to prohibit a voting district from which a public officer is elected from crossing the boundaries of a precinct.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

There is no appropriation or significant fiscal impact associated with this bill.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The Secretary of State indicates a substantial positive impact if county clerks are not required to split precincts in elections.

RELATIONSHIP

House Bill 872 relates to Senate Bill 667, which prohibits precincts to be divided between two or more congressional districts.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The Attorney General’s Office notes House Bill 872 relates to

• NMSA 1978, § 1-3-12, which addresses the adjusting of precinct boundaries;
• Provisions in the Municipal Election Code and the School Election Law which seem to now permit precincts to be split so as to encompass only those areas within the boundaries of a municipality or a school district; and
• NMSA 1978, § 1-15-16.1(B) which prohibits precincts to be divided between two or more congressional districts.

KBC/yr