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.

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

SPONSOR Harrison

DATE TYPED 1/28/05

HB 261

SHORT TITLE Increase Bureau of Elections Staff

SB

ANALYST Medina

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$200.0

Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Response Received From

Secretary of State (SOS)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 261 appropriates $200.0 from the general fund to the Office of the Secretary of State

for the purpose of adding at least two permanent FTE within the Bureau of Elections whose pri-

mary duties will be to enforce the Election Code, including the Federal Voting Rights Compli-

ance Act.

Significant Issues

The Bureau of Elections within the Office of the Secretary of State currently employs nine FTE.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $200.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any

unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2006 shall revert to the

general fund.

House Bill 261 -- Page 2

Continuing Appropriations

The LFC FY06 appropriation recommendation is balanced between revenues and expenditures

and any increase in recurring funding must be offset by reductions in other areas of the recom-

mendation. The Legislature must consider all priorities and funding requirements to find reve-

nue to support this legislation.

While the agency states the appropriation is non-recurring, the LFC considers this a recurring

appropriation because once the program is started, the expectation will be that it will continue in

future years. The LFC strongly recommends not funding initiatives with non-recurring revenues

as it will reduce revenues available in future legislative sessions.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL.

The Bureau of Elections will continue to operate at the current staffing level.

DXM/yr