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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR	Pinto		DATE TYPED	02/09/04		HB
SHORT TITLE		NM Navajo Community Youth Alcohol Programs				SB	505
					ANALYST		Weber

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY04	FY05	FY04	FY05
	$300.0			Recurring	General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Health

Department of Indian Affairs

Department of Public Education

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 505 appropriates $300.0 thousand from the general fund to the Department of Indian Affairs to provide programming for youth to prevent use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs in the communities of Shiprock, Tohatchi, Pinehill, Alamo, Tohajiilee, Dzilthnadithle and Crownpoint.

Significant Issues

The Department of Health reports:

Alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs take an exceptional toll on youth—particularly in Native American communities. In regards to smoking alone, youth data from 2001 indicated that, with a prevalence rate of 25%, New Mexico high school students were about as likely to have smoked during the previous 30 days as their peers nationwide. According to the 2001 Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey, 7.9% of New Mexico males reported having used smokeless tobacco products on one or more days during the previous 30 days. These data include New Mexico’s Native American youth. Among New Mexico Native American adults, 19.8% smoke, according to the 2002 New Mexico Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey.

Navajo Youth Behavior Risk Survey notes that in terms of substance abuse/use issues the following data demonstrates the high level or usage: 1 or more uses of Alcohol in the last 30 days, 1997: 43.9%, 2000: 42.7%; 5 or more uses of Alcohol in the last 30 days, 1997: 32.3%, 2000: 30.6%; 1 or more uses of Marijuana in the last 30 days, 1997: 37.7%, 2000: 38.5%.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $300 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..

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

Should other communities be included in this effort?

MW/dm:lg