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

SPONSOR Moore

DATE TYPED 1/24/05

HB 46

SHORT TITLE Museum Development Program

SB

ANALYST Hadwiger

APPROPRIATION

(in $000s)

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$200.0

Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Cultural Affairs Department

New Mexico Humanities Council

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 46 appropriates $200 thousand from the general fund in FY06 to the Cultural Affairs

Department for programs to expand the programmatic capacity of and training available in

smaller and rural museums and to add a state-specific component to federally funded humanities

programs addressing national and worldwide issues.

Significant Issues

According to the Cultural Affairs Department (DCA), the rural museum program (RMP) began

in 2001 as a joint project of the Museum of New Mexico system and the New Mexico Associa-

tion of Museums. The program is the only one of its kind in the state, promoting the manage-

ment of historical collections regardless of institutional size or geographic location and provides

coordinated access to information, consultation, professional support, training and funding op-

portunities. DCA further indicates that, over the last three years, the program has delivered di-

House Bill 46 -- Page 2

rect services to 13 museums located in San Juan, Eddy, Union, Cibola, Dona Ana, Grant, Otero,

Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Luna, Lea and Quay counties. In addition, staff training has

been provided to more than 90 museums across the state. Services provided thus far have in-

cluded: preservation plans to address collections; facilities improvements; professional develop-

ment for staff and boards; security plans; on-site visits; and professional consultation. While the

Museum Services Division provides office space, supplies and meeting space, there is currently

little programmatic funding.

According to the New Mexico Humanities Council (NMHC), roughly two-thirds of the proposed

funding would be used for grants to assist New Mexico communities to profile their local histo-

ries and present them to public audiences. While funds from the National Endowment for the

Humanities are used to fund humanities programs that address national and international themes,

there has been little funding for New Mexico state specific and local topics. This project is timed

to provide programs in time for the celebration of the New Mexico centennial. Through the cur-

rent NMHC grant review process, applicants would compete for funds which are “New Mexico

specific.” Federal funds would continue to support requests on national and international themes

and the state funds would be used for New Mexico state-specific and local programs.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $200 thousand contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general

fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY06 would revert to

the general fund.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

According to DCA, HB46 will have administrative and staffing implications for the museum

services division, which would request a portion of the funding for administrative costs.

DH/lg