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
|
SPONSOR |
King |
DATE TYPED |
|
HB |
401 |
||
|
SHORT
TITLE |
Census Project |
SB |
|
||||
|
|
ANALYST |
Baca |
|||||
APPROPRIATION
|
Appropriation
Contained |
Estimated
Additional Impact |
Recurring or
Non-Rec |
Fund Affected |
||
|
FY04 |
FY05 |
FY04 |
FY05 |
||
|
|
$200.0 |
|
|
Recurring |
General
Fund |
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)
Relates
to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act
LFC Files
Commission on Higher Education Funding
Recommendations for FY05 (CHE)
Responses
Received From
Department
of Health (DOH)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
House Bill 401 appropriates
$200 thousand from the general fund to the Board of Regents of the University of New Mexico for
the Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER) to conduct an intercensal population estimates program and
demographic analysis project,
Significant Issues
Many programs within the DOH are required to
provide accurate census data to various federal agencies from which flow
dollars for DOH programs and activities.
Funding levels for these programs rely on census information, and
current, accurate data on the state’s population is vital if programs in DOH
are to maximize the acquisition of federal revenue for which the state is eligible. The DOH reports that BBER census data has
proven more accurate than data developed by the U.S. Census Bureau. The DOH reports, the state may find that with
more accurate rates the $200.0 may be recouped with
increased federal funding.
Currently, the DOH reports, several agencies, the
Health Policy Commission (HPC) and DOH contract with the BBER for census
information, and other state agencies obtain census information from the DOH. This bill would result in a more efficient process
for funding this necessary work, according to the DOH.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The appropriation of $200
thousand contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any
unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY05 shall revert to
the general fund.
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
The appropriation to
UNM for the BBER to develop a program to provide accurate intercensal data
without each state agency having to enter into a contract with the BBER should
prove a more efficient and economical process.
In addition, the funding provided should allow the BBER to breakdown all
data by county, an activity which cannot currently be done because of
insufficient funding. Funding in this
bill should allow more and more diverse statistical manipulations of the data.
This centralization
should allow those employees currently involved in the contracting process to
devote their time to other, useful activities and to redirect funds currently
being spent to contract with the BBER.
TECHNICAL ISSUES
The bill appropriates
funds for the program but does indicate whether the BBER will provide the census
data upon request and in the manner required by the agency or whether
contracting with the BBER will still be required. While such language may not
be appropriate in the bill, this issue might be clarified during committee
hearings.
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
According
to its analysis, the DOH relies on population numbers to calculate
health-related rates of all population-based events – such as birth, death,
disease and injury statistics. Accurate
and timely population estimates are essential for producing statistical
rates. These statistical rates are then
used by various agencies to meet the information requirements of federal and
other state agencies.
LB/yr