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

Campos

DATE TYPED

1/30/04

HB

 

 

SHORT TITLE

Navajo Speaker for Las Vegas Medical Center

SB

193

 

 

ANALYST

Dunbar

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY04

FY05

FY04

FY05

 

$50.0

 

 

Recurring

General Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

 

Responses Received From

 

Department of Health (DOH)

Department of Finance (DFA)

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis of Bill

 

Senate Bill 193 appropriates $50 thousand from the general fund to the Department of Health (DOH) for expenditure in fiscal year 2005 to hire a native Navajo speaking clinical social worker at the Las Vegas Medical Center (LVMC).

 

Significant Issues

 

Best practices require that clients with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) be provided access to communication services and program supports. Currently Navajo interpretation for patients at LVMC is provided by a contracted interpreter.  DOH reports there have been no known difficulties reported by either the Patient Advocate or the Protection and Advocacy System.  Patients at the Las Vegas Medical Center may have other language interpretation needs not addressed by SB193. This bill limits interpretation services to only one language.  The appropriation, DOH says, might be better utilized by contracting with a national company that could provide interpretation services not only for Navajo patients but also for patients with other language needs.  It


should also be noted that sign language for the deaf is also considered by the Las Vegas Medical Center under services required to provide appropriate patient care for those respective patients. 

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $50.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the General Fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY 05 shall revert to the General Fund.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

 

The amount of this appropriation may not be sufficient to cover salary and benefits for a full-time employee for a fiscal year. 

 

TECHNICAL ISSUES

 

SB 193 only addresses Navajo interpretation and not the need for interpretation of other languages that patients may require at the Las Vegas Medical Center.

 

This bill requires "employment", which would prohibit LVMC from contracting for these services.  The bill may be amended to provide for contracting such services.

 

BD/prr