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

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Lopez

 

DATE TYPED:

02/17/03

 

HB

 

 

SHORT TITLE:

Native American Child Care and Support

 

SB

678

 

 

ANALYST:

Weber

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

$300.0

 

 

Recurring

General Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

Senate Bill 678 appropriates $300,000 from the General Fund to the Office of Indian Affairs to develop a child care and family support program that includes qualified and experienced staff, health and safety measures for children, developmentally appropriate activities and staff background and reference checks for the child care needs of low and moderate income Native American parents enrolled in a New Mexico post secondary educational institution.

 

     Significant Issues

 

While the Office of Indian Affairs would be the most appropriate conduit to help ensure the cultural integrity of the program, most of the tasks seem more suited for Children, Youth and Families (CYFD) that has resources related to child care.  The administrative complexity of developing RFP’s may be an added expense for the Office of Indian Affairs. 

 

CYFD indicates the cost of a child care slot is $3,000 annually, making this appropriation sufficient for 100 positions.  SB 678 does not define low to moderate income.  There are no conditions regarding the potential client’s status at a post secondary institution other than enrolled.  It seems prudent to require a minimum number of hours and a limit on the number of years of eligibility.      

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $300,000 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the General Fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of Fiscal Year 2004 shall revert to the General Fund.

 

MW/njw:prr