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

Salazar

DATE TYPED

2/03/04

HB

437

 

SHORT TITLE

Senior Citizens Programs

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST

Chabot

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY04

FY05

FY04

FY05

 

$8,158.6

 

 

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

 

Responses Received From

Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD)

Department of Health (DOH)

General Services Department (GSD)

State Agency on Aging (SAOA)

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis of Bill

 

House Bill 437 appropriates $8,158.6 million from the general fund to the State Agency on Aging for the purpose of funding the following senior programs:

 

  1. $577,535 for increased volunteers for the foster grandparent, senior companion and RSVP programs;
  2. $894,571 for senior centers and other supportive services;
  3. $2,831,987 for home and community-based services;
  4. $681,041 for salaries and benefits for employees of senior citizen programs and service providers through the six area agencies on aging;
  5. $136,882 for information, assistance and education services for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, related disorders or chronic illnesses and their families or caregivers;
  6. $643,331 for congregate meals through the area agencies on aging;
  7. $914,111 for home-delivered meals through the area agencies on aging;
  8. $181,750 for transportation services through the area agencies on aging;
  9. $104,228 for statewide senior citizen Olympics activities;
  10. $130,000 for health insurance and benefits assistance corps;
  11. $219,400 for the senior employment program;
  12. $109,675 for the legal assistance program; and,
  13. $734,074 for administrative support for the aging network

 

Significant Issues

 

SAOA states “The ‘aging network’ or the providers of these services have been facing an increased demand for services by a rapidly increasing age 60 plus population.  Budget constraints in other New Mexico State Offices has impacted aging service programs as they refer older individuals and to Aging and Long-Term Services Department (State Agency on Aging) programs.  Those aging network providers then try to meet the needs of older adults and have had virtually no increase in the base budget for the past several years.”  Waiting lists are not being developed due to lack of additional funding.

 

No information is provided on the number of individuals who would receive services as a result of this appropriation.

 

CYFD advises “This bill would provide Adult Protective Services social workers with resources to alleviate abuse, neglect and/or exploitation by providing safe alternatives for services.”

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $8,158.6 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.

 

TECHNICAL ISSUES

 

Financial annotation is usually done in thousands; this bill is written to the exact dollar amount.  This could cause confusion as amounts are entered in the financial system they would have to be rounded-off to thousands.  It is recommended the bill be amended to amounts based upon thousands, for example, lines 22-23 would read:  five hundred seventy-seven thousand five hundred dollars ($577,500)…”  This would be entered as $577.5 in the financial system.

 

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

 

  1. How will these funds be distributed?
  2. How many additional clients can be serviced with this appropriation?
  3. What is the greatest need for additional services?

 

GAC/lg:njw