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 Ortiz y Pino

DATE TYPED 2/02/05

HB

SHORT TITLE Public Assistance Applicant Disclosure

SB 204

ANALYST Weber

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

none

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Conflicts with HB 608

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Human Services Department (HSD)

Department of Health (DOH)

Aging and Long Term Care Services Department (ALTCD)

Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 204 would require applicants for health care benefits under the Public Assistance Act

funded by the state, or requesting uncompensated care in a hospital in the state to identify the

employer of the proposed beneficiary. If the proposed beneficiary is unemployed, that individual

must identify the employer of an adult who is responsible for providing all or some of their fi-

nancial support.

By July 31 of each year, HSD, DOH, ALTSD, CYFD and other health and human services de-

partments and state agencies would be required to provide to the LFC a report identifying all

employers identified through this process who employ twenty-five or more public health pro-

gram beneficiaries. The reporting agencies would be required to include the employer and all of

its subsidiaries at all locations within the state, by name, name of subsidiary, location, total num-

ber of the employer or subsidiary’s employees and dependents enrolled in each state-funded

Senate Bill 204 -- Page 2

health care program and the total cost to the state of providing public health care benefits for the

employees and enrolled dependents of each named employer. This report would also be made

available to the public.

Significant Issues

Human Services reports.

At present, applicants for Medicaid, if employed, are required to name their employer for pur-

poses of determining and verifying income. If an applicant is unemployed, and an adult, there is

currently no requirement that they identify an adult who is responsible for providing all or some

of their financial support, much less that individual’s employer. In most cases involving adult

applicants, it is doubtful that another adult is legally responsible for providing financial support.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The participating agencies indicate some cost should be expected in altering data base applica-

tions and collecting the required data. Human Services reports an estimated cost in excess of

$500 thousand combined state and federal.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

It is uncertain what if any action the Legislative Finance Committee is to do with the informa-

tion.

MW/yr:lg