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

SPONSOR Salazar

DATE TYPED 1/25/05

HB 167

SHORT TITLE Statewide Senior Citizen Programs

SB

ANALYST Collard

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$7,824.8

Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Aging and Long-Term Services Department (ALTSD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 167 appropriates $7.8 million from the general fund to ALTSD for the following pur-

poses:

.

$6.3 million to the six area agencies on aging for senior services, including adult daycare,

case management, congregate meals, home-delivered meals, in-home services, transportation

and senior center services;

.

$551.9 thousand for volunteer services, including foster grandparent, senior companion and

retired senior volunteer programs;

.

$357.6 thousand for the senior employment program to create job opportunities for senior

citizens within the aging network;

.

$520.8 thousand for provision of information, assistance, education and respite services to

individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or related disorders and their families or caregivers; and

.

$110.3 thousand for statewide legal assistance for senior citizens.

House Bill 167-- Page 2

Significant Issues

ALTSD notes the “aging network” or the providers of these services have been facing an in-

creased demand for services by a rapidly increasing age 60 plus population. Budget constraints

in other New Mexico state programs, such as Medicaid, have impacted aging service programs

as older individuals are referred to the ALTSD programs. Those aging network providers then

try to meet the needs of older adults and have had minor increases in their base budgets in the

past several years.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

ALTSD states the aging network requires funding to meet the growing demands of the current

older adult population. Critical services provided by this network prevent institutionalization

and provide a safety net to other state programs that serve the elderly and are undergoing regula-

tory changes in eligibility. Without an increase in funding the aging network service providers

will continue to develop waiting lists and having to say not available to those older individuals

needing services.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $7.8 million contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY06 shall revert to the gen-

eral fund.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The Aging and Long-Term Services Department has the capacity to implement the funding with

existing staff and systems.

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