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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 02/21/05 HB 883
SHORT TITLE Tourism Education Project
SB
ANALYST Weber
APPROPRIATION
Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY05
FY06
FY05
FY06
$2,000.0
Recurring
General
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
New Mexico Tourism Department (NMTD)
Indian Affairs Department (DIA)
Economic Development Department (EDD)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
House Bill 883 appropriates $2 million from the general fund to the Department of Indian Af-
fairs for an economic development undertaking centered around a tourism education project.
Significant Issues
The Department of Indian Affairs notes.
As reported by the New Mexico Department of Tourism, one of the top three most important
reasons people visit New Mexico is Indian Culture. A related need exists in tribal communities
to educate and train tribal members about the hospitality industry and marketing tribal enter-
prises such as casinos, hotels, gas stations, gift shops, etc. To this end, the New Mexico Indian
Tourism Association (NMITA) in partnership with the New Mexico Tourism Department has
already developed educational programs relating to tourism in tribal communities that promotes
Indian tourism in a culturally sensitive manner.
pg_0002
House Bill 883 -- Page 2
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The appropriation of $2 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.
TECHNICAL ISSUES
The Indian Affairs Department continues.
Because funds are appropriated to DIA, it can be inferred that tribal governments, tribal commu-
nities and urban Indian organizations are the beneficiaries of the tourism education project.
However, the question as to the specific target population (e.g. tribal youth, tribal leaders, tribal
education or tourism departments, etc.) remains unclear.
The proposed legislation does not indicate whether the DIA will be responsible for providing the
tourism education project as a means to encourage economic development or whether DIA
would need to negotiate a contract for this particular project.
Thirdly, because the appropriation is for a tourism education project, it might better serve the
intent of HB 883 to have the appropriation go to the Tourism Department. The Tourism De-
partment has experience and expertise in providing tourism education programs and the project
appears to fit within this scope of work.
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
Is this a one time project or a continuing effort. This determination will clear up whether these
should be recurring or non-recurring funds.
Is this an economic development project or an educational project. Design of the curriculum
will be dependent on the precise outcome desired.
MW/lg