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

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Romero

 

DATE TYPED:

2/25/03

 

HB

 

 

SHORT TITLE:

Promote Indian Tourism

 

SB

834

 

 

ANALYST:

Collard

 

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)

 

Duplicates HB 942 and HB 887

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

Responses Received From

Tourism Department

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

Senate Bill 834 appropriates $300,000 from the general fund to the Tourism Department for the purpose of promoting Indian tourism and tourist-related industries.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $300.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY04 shall revert to the general fund.  The department indicates this represents a significant increase to the program’s existing funding level of approximately $100.0 per year.

 

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

 

The department notes Indian tourism is a major component of the tourism industry in New Mexico.  The department’s 2002 General Print Conversion Study indicates scenic beauty, historic sites and Indian culture are the top three reasons for visiting New Mexico.  New tribal

 

destination resorts are also major draws for the Mexican market and other domestic and international visitors.

 

Additionally, since its establishment, the Indian tourism program’s primary function has been outreach.  This bill will enable the Indian tourism program to engage in promotion, marketing and advertising, greatly expanding its scope and effectiveness.  Tribal governments and non-profits are currently eligible for cooperative advertising funding through the New Mexico Tourism Department; however, these entities only receive a small percentage of cooperative advertising funds and are often deterred by the matching requirement.  This appropriation would provide tribal governments and non-profits with direct access to marketing funds.

 

KBC/njw