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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 1/26/2005 HB 118

SHORT TITLE Parks Division & Parks Group Agreements

SB

ANALYST Aguilar

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Energy Mineral and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 118 directs the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) to

adopt rules for cooperative agreements with state park support groups.

Significant Issues

EMNRD notes park support groups are a vital part of State Park Division (SPD) operations.

Park support groups provide volunteers and generate resources for state parks that supplement

SPD’s budget. Volunteer hours contribute the equivalent to 54 full time employees each year to

support the division’s programs. Park support groups operate various concessions pursuant to

concession contracts and conduct other activities that assist state parks and provide services to

the visiting public.

State Parks indicates a need to develop more park support groups and to develop new mecha-

nisms to work with such groups and notes the agency currently has the authority to enter into

such agreements and has developed a standard template for parks support groups that is in use.

HB 118 directs the adoption of rules for cooperative agreements and specifies three explicit

House Bill 118 -- Page 2

items be included:

•

Applicability of the concession contract process;

•

The handling of money raised from donations and retails sales; and

•

The use of state park resources by and nonmonetary compensation for volunteers.

Although SPD references Sections 16-2-18 and 6-5A-1 NMSA 1978 as its authority to enter into

such agreements, the language is not clear as to this authority.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

Facilitating more activity by park support groups will positively affect SPD’s ability to meet per-

formance measures for self-generated revenue and park visitation

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

Costs associated with adopting rules as directed by HB 118 can be absorbed by current agency

budget.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

SPD would be required to draft rules and conduct public hearing on the rules before adopting the rules.

PA/lg