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

SPONSOR Madalena

DATE TYPED 03/04/05 HB 814/aHCPAC

SHORT TITLE Indian Pueblo Cultural Center Visitors Center

SB

ANALYST Weber

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$250.0

Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Indian Affairs (DIA)

New Mexico Tourism Department (NMED)

Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee Amendment

On page on lines 18 and 19 strike “newly designated official New Mexico” that referred to a

visitors’ center.

On page 1, line 20, after Albuquerque insert “to promote the state of New Mexico and Indian

cultural tourism”.

Significant Issues of Amendment

By removing the words “official New Mexico” the implication is the visitors center takes on a

character different than current centers. This may also mean the center will fall under a different

set of operational criteria than current centers. It may be valuable to define what entity should

assume responsibility of the center operation, the Indian Affairs Department, the Pueblo Cultural

Center or possibly the Tourism Department that manages “official centers”.

House Bill 814/aHCPAC-- Page 2

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 814 appropriates $250 thousand from the general fund to the Indian Affairs

Department for the purpose of operating a new official New Mexico visitors center at the Indian

Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque.

Significant Issues

The Department of Cultural Affairs notes.

The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is a well-attended cultural attraction located on 12

th

Street,

NW, in Albuquerque. The center is directed by New Mexico’s 19 Pueblo governors, houses a

performing space, museum, gift shop and restaurant. The center hosts events ranging from

Indian ceremonies and dances to arts and crafts fairs.

The Tourism Department continues.

The state’s Tourism Department operates nine official Visitor Information Centers located at key

entry points around the state. The nine Visitor Information Centers are responsible for

promoting tourism to the over 900,000 people who pass through the doors each year.

The state does not operate an official Native American Visitor Information Center. The

department has in the past worked with Jemez Pueblo’s Walatowa Visitor Center in the form of a

MOU.

The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center attracts several thousand visitors annually and would be a

good location for a tribal visitor center. The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center functions as a

gateway to the pueblos and gives out information to the pueblos’ potential visitors regarding

rules and etiquette while on tribal land. It serves as a central location for visitors who are

interested in visiting tribal land and could possibly be a natural outlet for the promotion of other

tourist attractions or events in our state.

The Indian Affairs Department adds.

The Center is a state chartered not-for-profit corporation that is owned by the 19 Pueblo

Tribes of New Mexico.

•

The Center houses a museum, the Pueblo House interactive children’s museum,

the Institute of Pueblo Indian Studies, a gallery, and archives and storage.

•

The Center is the only museum in the country that exhibits artifacts from all the

19 Pueblos of New Mexico.

•

The Center receives more than 300,000 visitors annually, many of whom are from

out of state and contribute to New Mexico’s tourism economy.

•

Visitors are especially attracted to the Center’s weekly Pueblo dance

performances and arts and crafts demonstrations.

•

The Indian Pueblos Marketing, Inc. (IPM), a sister corporation, supports the

Center’s café, gift and smoke shops, and conference and office spaces.

•

Together, the Center and IPM employ 62 full-time and 12 part-time employees.

House Bill 814/aHCPAC-- Page 3

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $250 thousand 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 general fund.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

DIA makes the observation.

HB 814 directs that the appropriation to the Indian Affairs Department. The Tourism

Department may be better equipped to administer, monitor, provide training and technical

assistance and to establish and oversee appropriate policies and procedures for official State

tourism centers. Appropriating the funds to the Tourism Department will better serve the intent

of HB 814.

MW/lg