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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Luján, A.
DATE TYPED 2/28/05
HB 861
SHORT TITLE New Mexico History Website
SB
ANALYST Medina
APPROPRIATION
Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY05
FY06
FY05
FY06
$200.0
Non-Recurring General Fund
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Duplicates SB 598, and SB 399 and SB 404 in purpose but not in appropriation amount
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
Commission of Public Records
Public Education Department (PED)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
House Bill 861 appropriates $200 thousand from the general fund to the State Commission of
Public Records for the purpose of enhancing the content of the office of the New Mexico State
Historian’s New Mexico history web site.
Significant Issues
The bill would assist the Office of the State Historian staff in content development (research,
writing, editing, etc.). Given the staff’s other responsibilities, the necessary time to devote to
content development on the website is limited. This bill dedicates resources to the promotion of
the intent of the website, which is to provide an easily accessible, reliable and encompassing
source for information about the state’s rich history.
pg_0002
House Bill 861 -- Page 2
The intent of the appropriation for the NM History web site is to contract with a project manager
and content researchers and reviewers as well as a web design firm to provide workload relief to
existing staff.
According to the Public Education Department (PED), the quality and abundance of New Mex-
ico history resources is limited for New Mexicans, especially for teachers. PED states that this
bill would expand upon needed resources for K-12 teachers who are expected to deliver aspects
of New Mexico history throughout the curriculum. In addition, PED states that as the depart-
ment enriches and provides guidance to teachers and students about the rich history and culture
of this state, [the state] will better prepare our students to understand and be better prepared to
make decisions about their communities and state.
Finally, PED states that it is important that resources are available to translate our documents,
articles and other artifacts into usable digital format in order to provide greater access of these
items and information to all New Mexicans.
PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS
This bill would provide workload relief to the State Historian’s staff and would likely result in
improved performance on the output measure, “increase the number of consultations, research
reports and educational activities provided by the State Historian” recommended by the LFC.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The appropriation of $200 thousand contained in this bill is a non-recurring expense to the gen-
eral fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2006
shall revert to the general fund.
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
According to the Commission of Public Records, the breadth and complexity of the research re-
quired to continue to develop historical and cultural content for the existing website are signifi-
cant enough to require an expanded scope of work and the resources to perform it.
CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP
Duplicates Senate Bill 598. Senate Bill 399 and Senate Bill 404 duplicate the purpose of this bill
and include appropriations of $350.0 for the same purpose as this bill.
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
The Commission of Public Records states that the Commission understands that neither SB 404
nor Paragraph (1) of Subsection A of Section 1 of SB 399 will be considered any further.
WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL.
Further development of the New Mexico History Website would continue with current resources
available. The agency states that the breadth of historical material and the work it takes to inte-
pg_0003
House Bill 861 -- Page 3
grate this material into the web site (research, scanning and data entry) require an expanded
scope of work and additional resources.
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
How often is the New Mexico History Website updated or otherwise enhanced.
DXM/yr