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	Cordova, K.		DATE TYPED	2/2/04		HB	264
SHORT TITLE		Statewide Study on Effects of Gambling				SB
					ANALYST		Baca

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY04	FY05	FY04	FY05
	$100.0			Non-Recurring	General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

New Mexico Lottery Authority (NMLA)

Department of Health (DOH)

New Mexico Gaming Control Board (NMGCB)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 264 appropriates $100 thousand from the general fund to the Board of Regents of the University of New Mexico (UNM) for the Center of Alcoholism, Substance Abuse and Addictions (CASSA) to:

· evaluate the effects of gambling on the general population in New Mexico,

· evaluate the effectiveness of tribal and gaming control boards to address gambling

· develop a public service campaign to increase awareness of the effects of gambling.

Significant Issues

Studying the effects of gambling on the general population could become a large study requiring more than the proposed appropriation. In addition, defining the term “effect” must be defined at the outset of the study, and this activity could prove to be a difficult task. The analysis submitted by the NMGCB points out that no reference is made to compulsive race track gambling.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $100 contained in this bill is a non-recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY05 shall revert to the general fund.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The NMGCB analysis reports funding that is provided by the tribes for compulsive gambling treatment and prevention is considered confidential under the 2001 tribal-sate It is not known whether this will negatively impact the conduct of the study.

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