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

SPONSOR Komadina

DATE TYPED 3/8/05

HB

SHORT TITLE Support For Animal Welfare & Rights

SB SM 1

ANALYST Aguilar

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

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (DGF)

New Mexico Livestock Board (NMLB)

Attorney General’s Office (AGO)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Memorial 1 asks the Senate to support use of public funds for public education programs

advocating animal uses and production, and on the other hand, to oppose the use of public funds

for educational programs advocating animal rights and discouraging the use of animals. It also

asks the Senate to support the use of animals in research and to oppose any restrictions on this

use.

Senate Memorial 1 restates many propositions covered under existing statutes of appropriately

involved agencies, including Game and Fish, the Livestock Board, and the Board of Veterinary

Medicine.

Significant Issues

The memorial uses descriptive words like animal, fish, wildlife, wild and domestic animals,

threatened or endangered species, livestock, pets. Some parts of the memorial specifically refer-

ence “animals” while other parts mention domestic animals. When the word animals is read it

Senate Memorial 1 -- Page 2

leads one to believe that the written statement encompasses all animals including fish, wildlife,

threatened or endangered species.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

The Department of Game & Fish notes the appearance of a conflict on page 4, lines 24-25 as it

provides that the senate of New Mexico opposes legislation and regulation that would prohibit or

unduly restrict the use of animals in research or for food, fiber or service or restrict the responsi-

ble breeding and sale of animals as pets or companions or for hobby, lawful sport, display or ex-

hibition. As used above the word animal would lead the reader to believe that all animals should

be used for food, fiber, breeding, sale as pets as companions or for hobby. Endangered species

cannot be possessed expect by permit and this is usually limited to scientific and management

purposes under the allowances of Wildlife Conservation Act and approved activities that do not

negatively impact the species; so this appears to be inconsistent with the intent of SM1. Endan-

gered species are not allowed to be taken for food, fiber, hobbies, sport, etc.

Also, even game and fish have some restricted limits to their take, capture and possession, and

have limited value as pets or companions. Wild animals are at least unpredictable and more of-

ten dangerous.

PA/lg