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 Gonzales

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1-30-06

HB 348

SHORT TITLE

TAOS YOUTH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

PROGRAMS

SB

ANALYST Hadwiger

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

Department of Finance and Administration (DFA)

Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD)

Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 348 appropriates $100 thousand from the general fund to the Local Government Divi-

sion (LGD) of the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) to contract with a nonprofit

entity to provide opportunities for Taos county youth to overcome personal and societal prob-

lems by learning entrepreneurial skills, studying worldwide economic development while serv-

ing as ambassadors from New Mexico and participating in design and construction training.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $100 thousand contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general

fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY07 would revert to

the general fund.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

DFA noted that the Taos Da Vinci Project ("Project") was incorporated to provide opportunities

House Bill 348 – Page

2

for Taos County's troubled youth to overcome personal and societal problems through entrepre-

neurial training. The Project assists youth between the ages of 15 and 24 learn business skills

and receive educational credits to meet high school graduation requirements. The Project fo-

cuses on at-risk youth. Youth are referred to the Project primarily through the court system.

Typically, 100 youth participate in the Project through one of the services offered. Entrepreneu-

rial skills are learned through agricultural development. Approximately 30 kids will be respon-

sible for farming a tract of land, ordering the necessary supplies and equipment, and selling the

produce at a Farmer's Market. The kids earn roughly $10/hour and are learning the "ins and

outs" of operating a business and the physical and mental labor that goes along with that. Addi-

tionally, approximately 20 kids travel to a foreign country to meet with community leaders and

share ideas on business development and community service. The funding for the trip is through

private donations and foundation grants. According to DFA, a portion of HB348 funding will go

to pre- and post-trip activities. The 2006 trip will be to El Salvador.

CYFD indicated that Taos County is a rural county with several remote communities with lim-

ited access to services. Historically there has been a lack of services, including juvenile services,

in both the Town of Taos and within the County. CYFD is expanding services through the Juve-

nile Justice Advisory Committee (JJAC) recommended funding of the town as a JJAC contin-

uum site. The town through the ‘continuum’ agreement provides restorative justice and day re-

porting programs across both the town and county. The Taos Juvenile Justice Board is actively

engaged in assessing disproportionate minority contacts in Taos, and is developing a gender spe-

cific program in cooperation with the 8

th

Judicial District Court’s juvenile drug court program.

The board is developing a sustainability plan for juvenile justices programs and services.

PED identified the following benefits from participation in youth entrepreneurship programs

such as that funded in this bill:

•

Life Skills

o

Problem-solving skills

o

Interpersonal communication skills

o

Technology skills

•

Employability and work readiness

•

Employment and earnings

•

Academic achievement

•

Educational attainment

•

Positive interpersonal relationships

•

Civic engagement

•

Health status

•

Reduction in risky behaviors

o

Low rates of youth crime and delinquency activities

o

Fever arrests

•

Low rates of depression, anxiety and other mental disorders

•

High rates of optimism and positive sense of self

•

Positive psychological well-being

House Bill 348 – Page

3

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

CYFD noted that the services funded by this bill could have a positive impact on local rates of

juvenile justice contact and involvement, as well as on the percentage of juveniles successfully

completing formal probation.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The grant will be administered through DFA which indicates it already has the staff and the

knowledge to easily fund and monitor this project.

DH/mt