Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance

committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports

if they are used for other purposes.

Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are a vailable on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us).

Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not. Previously issued FIRs and

attachments may be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

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

SPONSOR Cervantes

DATE TYPED 2/26/05

HB HJM 77

SHORT TITLE State Agency Reports to Legislature

SB

ANALYST Hanika-Ortiz

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

NFI

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Bernalillo County Metro Court

Aging and Long-Term Services Department (ALSD)

Developmental Disabilities Planning Council

New Mexico Department of Labor (DOL)

Department of Veteran Services (DVS)

New Mexico Parole Board (PB)

Regulation and Licensing Department (RLD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Joint Memorial 77 calls for reinforcement of current law Section 2-3-14.1 NMSA 1978,

which prohibits a state agency from sending materials longer than five (5) pages to the Legisla-

ture, and requires agencies to file two (2) copies of those reports with the LCS.

HJM 77 also requests state agencies to post the reports on websites when possible, and provide

electronic notices and instruction to legislative members and the LFC when reports are available

online.

Significant Issues

The Memorial addresses the importance of these valuable and useful agency reports for legisla-

tive members, state officials, state employees and the general public.

House Joint Memorial 77-- Page 2

The copy of the Memorial will be given to the Governor’s Office and the Executive for each

state agency.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

Agencies will be required to use electronic notification for submission of reports, and investigate

the most economical method of binding and packaging if hard copies are necessary.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

Sharing information through an electronic format saves in operating costs by reducing paper

waste and staff copying time; and utilizing technology to transmit information allows for easier

access than hard copies.

This bill will not impose any additional fiscal burdens on the agencies that cannot be absorbed

within existing budgetary restrictions.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

The definition of the term “report” may need further clarification. Clarification as to what con-

stitutes “the most economical method of binding and packaging” would also be helpful.

Using a PDF format as much as possible will help to reduce information from being altered or

corrupted.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

Smaller agencies do not always have web sites and are not always notified when information is

needed.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL.

Continued delay in communication between state agencies and the legislature.

AHO/yr