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:

SJC

 

DATE TYPED:

3/13/03

 

HB

 

 

SHORT TITLE:

Congressional Districts

 

SB

667/SJCS

 

 

ANALYST:

Collard/Chavez

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

 

 

$20.0

Non-Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

Responses Received From

Secretary of State

Attorney General’s Office

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

Senate Bill 667 repeals NMSA 1978, Section 1-15-16, the section of the Election Code that describes the composition of the state’s three congressional districts following the 1990 census and replaces it with the current composition that followed the 2000 census.  Senate Bill 667 also makes technical changes to NMSA 1978, Section 1-15-16.1 regarding the prohibition on precincts being split between congressional districts.

 

     Significant Issues

 

Senate Bill 667 violates the attached court ordered congressional redistricting plan from 2001. 

 

The implications of enacting this piece of legislation is uncertain.  The Attorney General’s Office respectfully declines to offer an opinion regarding the legality of a new congressional reapportionment plan in accordance with their office policy.  The policy provides that when an issue is expected to be litigated in court, the office is to decline the submission of a formal opinion.

 

 

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

There is no appropriation or significant fiscal impact associated with this bill; however, the Secretary of state indicates additional implications of $20.0 for new voter identification cards to post redistricting.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

 

The Secretary of State anticipates moderate administrative implications in adjustments to district information such as voter registration reports and canvassing statewide and in counties.

 

KBC/yr/ls

 

Attachment (1)