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	Roberts		DATE TYPED	2//04		HB	499
SHORT TITLE		Weather Modification Program				SB
					ANALYST		Maloy

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY04	FY05	FY04	FY05
	$200.0			Recurring	General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates SB 472.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Office of the State Engineer

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 499 appropriates $200 thousand from the General Fund to the Interstate Stream Commission of the Office of the State Engineer for expenditure in FY05 to fund weather modification programs in Roosevelt and Lea Counties.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

House Bill 499 appropriates $250 thousand in general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY05 shall revert to the General Fund.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The Office of the State Engineer is often to be “stretched thin”. Would this appropriation and the associated responsibilities be more successfully achieved through a local college entity, or a institute like New Mexico Tech.?

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

Weather modification is a broad category. To ensure the intended results, it may be beneficial to amend the bill to expressly define the objectives being funded?

SJM/yr