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

SPONSOR Lujan

DATE TYPED 02/05/05 HB HJM 23

SHORT TITLE Continue Task Force to End Hunger Efforts

SB

ANALYST Weber

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Human Services Department

Department of Health

Public Education Department

Aging and Long Term Care Services Department

Children, Youth and Families Department

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Joint Memorial 23 continues the work begun by the Task Force to End Hunger in New

Mexico. Subsequently, the statewide Hunger Summit in 2003 resulted and HJM 84 in 2004.

These efforts defined the challenges, problems, strategies, and solutions to end hunger in New

Mexico. The Task Force is required to report its progress, including development and imple-

mentation of tangible steps to alleviate and eventually eliminate hunger, to the Legislature by

November 1, 2005 similar to the report issued in 2004 entitled, Together We Can: Ending Hun-

ger in New Mexico. The involved departments are asked to commit reasonable resources, in-

cluding designating staff, to the implementation of the recommendations of the task force and

enter into memorandum of understanding to facilitate cooperation among the departments in

working with the task force.

House Joint Memorial 23 -- Page 2

Significant Issues

The Department of Health reports.

A Governor’s Hunger Summit was held in 2003 for the sole purpose of determining the state of

hunger and food insecurity in New Mexico. From this Summit the Task Force to End Hunger

emerged and has met regularly over the last year analyzing the challenges and problems identi-

fied by the Summit participants. In October 2004 the steering committee of the Task Force to

End Hunger produced the report “Together We Can: Ending Hunger in New Mexico” which

proposes tangible steps to reach the following goals to end hunger and improve the system for all

New Mexicans.

•

Develop and support a sustainable statewide food system through community based solu-

tions with statewide coordination

•

Increase the number of students participating in school-based nutrition programs.

•

Maximize participation in existing food programs.

•

Improve the nutrition environment in New Mexico

•

Ensure that New Mexicans have the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to choose

and consume a healthy diet.

•

Increase the capacity of the New Mexico Association of Food Banks Statewide network.

New Mexico ranks third in the country for a high rate of hunger. NM ranks first in the ranking

for food insecurity. 24.4% of NM children live in poverty, which is the highest ranking in the

country. ( Source: Task Force to End Hunger Steering Committee Report, “Together We Can:

Ending Hunger in New Mexico”, October 2004)

From the Hunger Summit held in 2003 the following initiatives to end hunger and food insecu-

rity were brought forth in 2004:

•

A simplified Food Stamp application, specifically for use by the elderly, has been im-

plemented statewide.

•

Changing the way The Emergency Food Assistance Program is administered has enabled

the NM Association of food banks to more than double the number of households served

annually to 250,000 and increase the frequency of distribution form bi-monthly to nearly

daily.

•

The DOH obesity program.

•

The summer food program and the increased publicity about it and statewide locations.

•

The Public Education Department’s universal school breakfast proposal:

•

Implementation of direct certification for children enrolled in public school:

•

NM association of Food Banks was awarded one of only six Food Stamp Participation

Grants in the United States, to increase food stamp participation through a variety of in-

novative strategies.

(Source: Task Force to End Hunger Steering Committee Report, “Together We Can: Ending

Hunger in New Mexico”, October 2004)

MW/rs