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	Varela		DATE TYPED	2/7/04		HB	70/aHGUAC
SHORT TITLE		NM Historic Trails & Byways Recognition				SB
					ANALYST		Johnson

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY04	FY05	FY04	FY05
	$150.0			Non-recurring	General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Transportation (NMDOT)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of HGUAC Amendment

The House Government and Urban Affairs Committee Amendment adds the New Mexico department of transportation and the national park service to the agencies with whom the office of cultural affairs should coordinate.

Synopsis of Original Bill

House Bill 70 appropriates $150,000 from the general fund to the office of cultural affairs for expenditure in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 for the purpose of developing and implementing a plan for activities to promote recognition, understanding and celebration of national historic trails and byways in New Mexico, including el camino real de tierra adentro, the Santa Fe trail, the old Spanish trail and route 66.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $150.0 contained in this bill is a non-recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2006 shall revert to the general fund.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

Four "national historic trails and byways" are listed by name in this bill: El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, the Santa Fe Trail, Route 66, and the Old Spanish Trail. El Camino Real and the Santa Fe Trail are designated by the National Park Service as National Historic Trails. The designation is based on the actual historic alignments followed by early merchants and settlers. El Camino Real (Santa Fe to Texas border, US 85, US 60, US 380, NM 304, NM 47, NM 408, NM 1, NM 51, NM 187, NM 185, and NM 273; 276 miles), the Santa Fe Trail (Santa Fe to Raton and Clayton, NM 410, NM 406, NM 453, NM 21, NM 161, NM 518, NM 63, NM 50, County Road 67-C, US 56, US 64, and US 87; 480 miles) with Route 66 (Arizona border to Texas border, all original alignments) are designated as state and national Scenic Byways. In the case of El Camino Real and the Santa Fe Trail, these are designated based on the closest available modern roads. In the case of Route 66, all of the original alignments of historic roads are designated. The Old Spanish Trail has no legal designation that the NMDOT is aware of.

AMENDMENTS

The Scenic Byways program is administered by NMDOT. According to NMDOT, NMDOT and the National Park Service should be included in Subsection B of the bill which lists the agencies with whom the office of cultural affairs should coordinate.

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