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	Madalena		DATE TYPED	02-10-04		HB	HJM 59/aHGUAC
SHORT TITLE		Work With Southern Pueblos Council				SB
					ANALYST		Chabot

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY04	FY05	FY04	FY05
		See Narrative

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Health (DOH)

Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of HGUAC Amendment

The House Government and Urban Affairs Committee amendment to House Joint Memorial 59 strikes DOH and assigns responsibility for carrying out the memorial to the new Public Education Department.

Synopsis of Original Bill

House Joint Memorial 59 requests DOH work with the Southern Pueblos Council (comprised of the pueblos of Acoma, Cochiti, Isleta, Jemez, Sandia, San Felipe, Santa Ana, Santo Domingo, and Zia plus the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo in Texas) and the Public Education Department Vocational Rehabilitation Division to help resolve vocational rehabilitation issues.

Significant Issues

The joint memorial states that approximately 27 percent of the population of the members of the Southern Pueblos Council has disabilities leading to high rates of unemployment and there are four DVR offices serving these members resulting in major barriers in consistency and accessibility of service. It request that DOH and DVT study ways to provide a more consistent and streamlined approach to service delivery.

DVR states there are both advantages and disadvantages to have one office handle all nine New Mexico pueblos for DVR services. The agency is already working with the pueblos to improve services and has implemented an analysis of key performance factors and review of service delivery.

DOH states it does not administer any vocational rehabilitation programs or services. The agency suggests the Public Education Department to which DVR is assigned should lead the effort to ensure services are delivered to the members of the Southern Pueblo Council.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

No appropriation is included to fund this effort.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

DOH recommends the following technical changes:

1. Page 1, Line 1, replace “DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH” with “PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT”.
2. Page 2, Line 23, replace “department of health” with “public education department”.
3. Page 3, Line 4, replace “department of health” with “public education department”.
4. Page 3, Line16, replace “department of health” with “public education department”.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

1. Should the Office of Indian Affairs be the agency to coordinate matters between SPC and DVR?

GAC/dm:lg