Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports if they are used for other purposes.

Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are available on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us). Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not. Previously issued FIRs and attachments may also 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	Vaughn		DATE TYPED	1/28/04		HB	152
SHORT TITLE		License Plates for Girl Scouts of America				SB
					ANALYST		Reynolds-Forte

REVENUE

Estimated Revenue		Subsequent Years Impact	Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY04	FY05
	$10.0		Recurring	Motor Vehicle Division $10 per plate
	$15.0		Recurring	Girl Scouts of USA

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

Relates to HB28, HB151

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Transportation

Taxation and Revenue Department

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

HB 152 proposes a new special vehicle registration plate for the Girl Scouts of the USA. For an annual fee of $25, in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee, any person could be issued a Girl Scouts plate. The additional $25 fee would be required annually in order to retain the plate in subsequent years. Fifteen dollars ($15) from the fee would be appropriated to the Girl Scouts of the USA Council in New Mexico, and $10 of the fee would go to the Department of Taxation and Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division to defer manufacturing and transaction costs.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

It is difficult to forecast with any reasonable accuracy the number of initial fees that will be paid as people purchase these plates or the percentage of plates for which renewal fees will be paid. The Girl Scouts of Chaparral Council in Albuquerque estimates that in New Mexico there are roughly 10 thousand Girl Scouts and another 5 thousand adult volunteers. In the event that 1000 plates were sold and renewed annually, MVD would receive $10 thousand and the Girl Scouts Councils in New Mexico would receive $15 thousand each year.

The cost to the Department to produce a license plate is approximately $3.20 or $3,200 for each 1000 plates produced.

RELATIONSHIP

HB 152 relates to HB151(license plates for Boy Scouts of America) and HB 28(special plates or scenic byways).

TECHNICAL ISSUES

Should the bill have a July 1, 2004 effective date?

The Department of Transportation recommends that the bill contain a reference to distribution of the funds. Section 66-6-23 NMSA 1978 is the distribution section.

Both the Taxation and Revenue Department and the Department of Transportation bring up the issue that distribution of funds to the Girl Scouts of the USA Councils of New Mexico may violate the anti-donation clause of the New Mexico Constitution. The Girl Scouts does not constitute a public entity; therefore, under Article IX, Section 14 of the NM Constitution (anti-donation clause), it is probably inappropriate to distribute state-collected fees to that organization.

PRF/yr