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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 1/27/2005 HB 273

SHORT TITLE Volunteer Operation of State Parks

SB

ANALYST Aguilar

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

NFI

Indeterminate Recurring EMNRD Oper-

ating Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to House Bill 118

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 273 authorizes the State Parks Division (SPD) of the Energy, Mineral and Natural

Resources Department (EMNRD) to develop a program to recruit, train and accept the services

of volunteers, sets forth a number of activities to which volunteers may participate and provides

volunteer eligibility for certain reimbursements and protections.

Significant Issues

HB 273 provides that volunteers are not deemed to be state employees and will not be subject to

provisions of the law relating to state employment. This bill further provides that volunteers may

receive reimbursement for per diem and mileage, uniforms, supplies and material not to exceed

the value of services rendered. As authorized by the SPD director.

This bill authorizes volunteers to use state vehicles and computers subject to applicable state

rules and policies governing use by state employees and directs that volunteers using state vehi-

cles will be treated as a state employee for purposes of insurability and tort claim liability.

House Bill 273 -- Page 2

State Parks Division notes volunteers are absolutely vital to the well being of New Mexico State

Parks. They provide the equivalent of 54 full-time employees which adds nearly 20 percent to

SPD’s workforce. Volunteers provide support by staffing visitor centers, campgrounds, leading

education programs, providing maintenance, and other types of labor. Volunteers must play an

even larger role in the future if the state park system is to prosper and improve.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

An increase in volunteer services will positively affect SPD’s ability to meet performance meas-

ures for self-generated revenue and park visitation by increasing the workload within state parks

without a salaried increase.

SPD notes the provisions contained in this bill authorizing SPD to offer reimbursement for per

diem, mileage, materials, supplies and uniforms will assist in recruiting and retaining qualified

individuals in what is now a very competitive market for volunteers who assist public land man-

agers and may result in volunteers returning to state parks year after year.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

Implementing HB 273 will require additional support from the division. Current budgeting lev-

els will be adequate to meet the need in FY06. Additional support may be necessary in the fu-

ture as the impacts of the program are better defined.

The use of state vehicles by volunteers will need to be included in the General Services Depart-

ment insurability and tort coverage.

PA/lg