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	HENRC		DATE TYPED	2/10/2004		HB	414/HENRCS
SHORT TITLE		Mosquito Abatement Program				SB
					ANALYST		Aguilar

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY04	FY05	FY04	FY05
$180.0				Recurring	General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Game and Fish (DGF)

New Mexico Environment Department (NMED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

The House Energy and Natural Resources Committee Substitute for House Bill 414 appropriates $180 thousand from the general fund to the Department of Environment for expenditure in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 for the purpose of enhancing the research, collection, propagation and distribution of indigenous mosquito eating-fish in an abatement and control program.

The fish involved in the project are to be non-game fish and not a protected species.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2005 will revert to the general fund.

The committee substitute declares an emergency.

Significant Issues

NMED reports that indigenous mosquito-eating fish are very effective in mosquito abatement control because they feed on mosquito larvae, effectively reducing the potential population of mosquitoes prior to hatching. Upon complaints from the public, NMED field operations staff investigates and identifies collections of water that may serve as mosquito breeding sites.

With the recent proliferation of West Nile Virus cases nationwide and in New Mexico, mosquito abatement and control is especially important. The bill will provide funding for a traditionally unfunded program, thus encouraging additional abatement methods to be implemented where none currently exist.

Although not a part of the appropriation, DGF notes that it is crucial the department is involved to ensure that inappropriate fish species are not introduced into waters harboring protected or game fish. Current statute prohibits the stocking of fish in public waters without prior written permission of DGF.

DGF notes that no facilities currently exist to propagate mosquito eating fish if species currently bred in state are unable to meet the intent of the statute. Lacking this capability, NMED may have to purchase these fish from private breeders.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $180 thousand 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 general fund.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

NMED notes mosquito abatement is currently conducted on an as-time-allows basis by NMED field staff, as the program has not been funded for over 15 years. Any administrative impact due to 414/HENRCS would be absorbed by existing staff in the pertinent program.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

The legislature may wish to consider the following changes:

Page 1, Line 20 – strike “in its field operations division 1, 2, 3 and 4”

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