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

SPONSOR Papen

DATE TYPED 3/11/05

HB

SHORT TITLE “Colonias Day”

SB SJM 34

ANALYST Wilson

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

Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Joint Memorial 34 resolves that February 4, 2005 be recognized as "Colonias Day" in the

legislature.

The memorial requests Governor Richardson and his cabinet to work with the board of directors

of the New Mexico association of counties to assist local efforts to improve the quality of life in

the state and to add improvements for rural communities and colonias to the state's priority ac-

tion list of programs for legislative funding.

Significant Issues

The board of directors of the New Mexico association of counties comprises the elected officials

who are responsible for the health, welfare and safety of the residents of New Mexico's 33 coun-

ties and these board members are asked to represent and address the needs of these residents.

The administration of Governor Richardson is to be commended for targeting statewide im-

provements in education, water issues, infrastructure and economic development, and a natural

extension of those initiatives would be the addition of infrastructure improvements for rural and

colonias communities to the statewide priority action list

Senate Joint Memorial 34 -- Page 2

Rural and colonias communities are sorely lacking in infrastructure, accessibility, opportunities

and sanitation services, and by working together, the state and individual counties could lift these

communities up and provide better futures for the children in the communities who will in turn

raise their own families on family properties, thereby making meaningful progress toward en-

hancing the most basic of human needs in these challenged communities.

Residents of rural and colonias communities statewide face harsh challenges on a daily basis, but

they are proud people who are reluctant to ask for help.

Iindividual counties continue to undertake independent and ambitious infrastructure improve-

ment plans designed to enhance social and economic development opportunities for all residents

of New Mexico.

By initiating a statewide improvement program for rural and colonias communities, the state

could partner with the thirty-three counties to empower these small communities and dramati-

cally improve the quality of life in them, while simultaneously creating new entrepreneurial

zones that will complement existing projects in incorporated municipalities.

DW/yr