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

SPONSOR Begaye

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1/23/06

HB 12

SHORT TITLE

Shiprock Domestic Violence Shelter

SB

ANALYST Lewis

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

100.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD)

Indian Affairs Department (IAD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 12 appropriates $100,000 from the general fund to the Children, Youth and Families

Department for expenditure in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 to support a shelter for victims of do-

mestic violence in Shiprock, including providing increased staffing. The bill includes an emer-

gency clause.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $100,000 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2007 shall revert

to the general fund.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

According to the Indian Affairs Department (IAD), the prevalence and incidence of violence

against Indian women is high when compared to other races. To reduce violent crimes against

women, some tribes have established domestic violence and victim services programs. There are

also a few Federal programs such as the Violence Against Indian Women Discretionary Grant

Program (STOP VAIW Program) that provide grants to Indian tribal governments to develop and

House Bill 12 – Page

2

implement effective strategies to reduce the rates of domestic violence against women in their

respective tribal communities. However, federal grant funds are usually limited and insufficient

to address the tribal priority of reducing domestic violence; and there is still a great need for cul-

turally sensitive support and services for Indian women and their children.

The Shiprock Home for Women and Children provides safety, shelter, advocacy, education, net-

working, and referrals for domestic violence victims and their children in the Four Corners area

of New Mexico. IAD notes that the shelter:

provides shelter, counseling, legal support, safety, crisis intervention, education, transporta-

tion, living skills, nutritional classes, health classes, traditional education and support, meals,

and advocacy for domestic violence victims;

addresses poverty, economic dislocation, alcohol and drug abuse, the destruction of tradi-

tional teachings, and the breakdown of Navajo Culture, factors that contribute to the problem

of abuse against women and children; and

has served the entire Navajo reservation, (26,000 square miles with an estimated Navajo

population of 310,000) for 29 years.

IAD cites a

1999 study by the United States Bureau of Justice Statistics showing that:

The frequency of battering in Indian Country is believed to be much higher than the national

norm. American Indians, in general, experience per capita rates of violence that are more

than twice those of the resident population.

American Indian women experience the highest rate of violence of any group in the United

States, nearly 50% higher than that reported by black males.

Many American Indian women stand a high risk of losing their children in instances of

physical and sexual abuse.

Three-fourths of American Indian women have experienced some type of sexual assault in

their lives.

Indian victims of intimate and family violence are more likely than others to be injured and

need hospital care.

According to the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD), this appropriation is not

part of the department’s request and is not included in the executive recommendation.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

CYFD notes that this bill would positively affect existing CYFD performance outcome measures

regarding the percentage of adult victims receiving domestic violence services.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

CYFD would absorb the administrative costs associated with this additional funding.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

According to IAD, the need to develop and strengthen the tribal response to violence against In-

dian women, and to improve services to victims of domestic violence, will remain unmet in the

Four Corners area of New Mexico.

ML/yr