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	Lopez		DATE TYPED	02/06/04		HB
SHORT TITLE		Fatherhood & Family Strengthening Program				SB	341
					ANALYST		Weber

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY04	FY05	FY04	FY05
	$2000.0			Recurring	Federal TANF Block Grant

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates HB 310

Relates to HB 228

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

The Human Services Department (HSD)

Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 341 appropriates $2 million from the general fund to the Human Services Department for the purpose of contracting with the cooperative extension service for a statewide program to strengthen families and promote father involvement to create stable families.

Significant Issues

HSD reports the bill seeks to continue a statewide program for fatherhood and family strengthening, which would be contracted from the Human Services Department Income Support Division (ISD) with the Cooperative Extension Service at N.M. State University. ISD currently contracts with the Cooperative Extension for a $1 million appropriation from the TANF block grant. An additional $400,000 carry forward funds from FY-03 remain in the contract.

There is no doubt that fatherhood and family strengthening initiatives are tremendously needed in New Mexico. Such initiatives could help to reduce children and families living in poverty and some of New Mexico’s other chronic problems like: rising juvenile delinquency, teen pregnancy, and even prostitution and other forms of crime.

The December 2003 statistics for TANF single parent cases show that there are 15,408 families on assistance that have single heads of households.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $2 million contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of Fiscal Year 2005 shall revert to the federal TANF carry-forward at HSD.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

It is uncertain why other contractors should not be considered through an annual request for proposal process.

MW/dm