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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Jennings
DATE TYPED 2/2/05
HB
SHORT TITLE Food & Agriculture Policy Council
SB 429
ANALYST Woods
APPROPRIATION
Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY05
FY06
FY05
FY06
$150.0
Recurring General Fund
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Relates to the appropriation for New Mexico State University in the General Appropriations Act.
Duplicates HB225
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA)
New Mexico Commission on Higher Education (CHE) (HB225)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
Senate Bill 429 – Making an Appropriation to New Mexico Department of Agriculture for the Food
and Agriculture Policy Council – appropriates $150,000 from the general fund to the Board of Re-
gents of New Mexico State University for the New Mexico Department of Agriculture for expendi-
ture in FY06 to fund the activities of the Food and Agriculture Policy Council. Any unexpended or
unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY06 shall revert to the general fund.
Significant Issues
NMDA indicates that the Food and Agriculture Policy Council is comprised of representatives
from the agricultural industry, state, local, and tribal government officials, and the general pub-
lic. The council focuses on key food and agricultural policy issues, addresses top policy issues,
and attempts to strengthen advocacy among agencies, organizations, individuals and communi-
ties for New Mexico food and agriculture. It also serves as an important forum for agricultural
groups and interested parties, including, among others, representatives from the New Mexico
pg_0002
Senate Bill 429 -- Page 2
Department of Agriculture, New Mexico Environment Department, New Mexico Department of
Health, the New Mexico Dairy Association, and the Cooperative Extension Service. The council
has been active in New Mexico for approximately two years and is currently funded by grants
from a variety of sources.
CHE notes that this request was not in the list of priority projects submitted by NMSU to CHE
for review. Accordingly, the request was not included in the commission’s funding recommen-
dation for FY06.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
Even though this appropriation is considered a recurring expense to the general fund both
NMDA and CHE suggest that this is a non-recurring expense to the general fund. Further, any
unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY06 shall revert to the general
fund.
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
This program would be administered by NMDA, with no additional administrative burden pro-
jected. Funds would be disbursed to the Food and Agriculture Policy Council on a “pass through”
basis, as memorialized by memorandum of understanding.
CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP
Relates to the appropriation for New Mexico State University in the General Appropriations Act.
Duplicates HB225
BFW/yr:lg