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 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	Herrera		DATE TYPED	2/6/04		HB	473
SHORT TITLE		Community Health Council Program				SB
					ANALYST		Johnson

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY04	FY05	FY04	FY05
	$75.0			Recurring	General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Health (DOH)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 473 appropriates $75,000 from the general fund to the department of finance and administration for the purpose of supporting baseline assessment, planning and coordination of DWI, child care and health care coverage and access efforts in Grant county.

Significant Issues

The department of health provided the following:

The bill would support ongoing community health improvement efforts in Grant County. Funding would sustain and enhance existing activities to avoid duplication and assess gaps in community wellness. The proposed appropriation would help offset projected deficits in funding for similar activities in Grant County to conduct planning, assessment and coordination of locally identified health priorities.

The involvement of communities in the design and delivery of prevention programs and, ultimately, in the ownership of these programs results in improved health. Utilizing a common model of community health improvement consisting of community building, community assessment, coordination, planning, evaluation, and community action increases community capacity to improve health and has increased consistency and accountability of health improvement work across the state.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation amount of $75.0 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.

The bill relates to an appropriation in the general appropriation act as there is some funding in the department of health base budget in the contractual services category that supports similar community health planning efforts, including Grant County.

RELATIONSHIP

The department of health provided the following:

The bill relates to Senate Bill 342 which would appropriate $500,000 from the general fund to the department of health for expenditure in fiscal year 2005 for the purpose of providing maternal and child health services statewide pursuant to the provisions of the County Maternal and Child Health Plan Act (CMCH). The CMCH Act provides for funding local health councils to conduct assessment, planning coordination and evaluation

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The department of health provided the following:

The Grant County Community Health Council has been in operation for more than a decade. It is currently supported through funding from the DOH, through the County Maternal and Child Health Plan Act and the Improving Health Initiative. This support is provided for the purpose of conducting planning, assessment, coordination and evaluation of locally identified health priorities. There are many community health challenges that the bill would address in
Grant County, including those mentioned specifically in the bill. For example, local DWI Councils and their programs receive less funding each year. Last fiscal year (2003), DFA required that earned local distributions over original budget be returned to DFA, leaving programs overspent and short on funds.

The Department of Health has existing relationships with health councils throughout the state, including Grant County. Consideration should be given to making this appropriation to the Department of Health to ensure coordination and alignment with the Community Health Improvement Initiatives currently underway.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

Would the appropriation be more effective if allocated to the department of health?

CJJ/dm