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

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Kernan

 

DATE TYPED:

2/18/03

 

HB

 

 

SHORT TITLE:

Special Hospital District Per Diem & Mileage

 

SB

476

 

 

ANALYST:

Dunbar

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

NFI

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

Responses Received From

 

Department of Health (DOH)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

Senate Bill 476 amends Section 4-48A-9 NMSA 1978 to allow the Boards of Trustees of Special Hospital Districts in New Mexico (NM) to fix the mileage reimbursement rate for travel on official business in a privately owned vehicle by employees of said facilities under the Board's control. The mileage reimbursement rate is limited to a maximum of the federal Internal Revenue Service standard mileage rate for use of a privately owned vehicle for business. 

 

     Significant Issues

 

SB 476 would exempt Special Hospital Districts from the current mileage reimbursement provisions of the Per Diem and Mileage Act.   Mileage reimbursement to state employees in privately owned vehicles is currently limited by the State Per Diem and Mileage Act to 25 cents per mile.  The IRS rate currently is 32 cents per mile, which is more adequate reimbursement to operate a private vehicle.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

SB 476 has no direct fiscal implications for the Department of Health.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

 

There are three active special hospital districts in New Mexico, located in Jal, Lea County; Artesia, Eddy County; and Springer, Colfax County. SB 476 would grant power to hospital district boards to fix a different mileage rate, not to exceed the business rate recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The higher IRS reimbursement rate would allow hospital district staff higher reimbursement, more accurately reflecting the cost of private vehicle operations.

 

BD/yr