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	Aragon		DATE TYPED	2/9/04		HB
SHORT TITLE		Young Citizen Voter Registration Project				SB	541
					ANALYST		Collard

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY04	FY05	FY04	FY05
	$60.0			Recurring	General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Secretary of State

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 541 appropriates $60 thousand from the general fund to the Secretary of State for the purpose of creating a voter registration project to assist young citizens in higher education institutions to vote.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $60 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 Secretary of State anticipates moderate implications. The Secretary of State will design and prepare a plan to effectively reach college and university students for registration activities.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The Secretary of State indicates this bill relates to a federal law, the Higher Education Act, which was amended several years ago to require that colleges and universities offer voter registration prior to federal general elections. At the current time, the Office of the Secretary of State coordinates with New Mexico’s colleges and universities and provides nearly 60,000 voter registration applications to registrars as part of a program to offer voter registration concurrently with registration of students for classes. This bill can assist the agency in augmentation of that program, which was an unfunded federal mandate. Young people between the ages of 18 and 24 have the lowest rate of turnout for elections, and registration is an important part of the process of civic engagement.

KBC/njw