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 Sandoval

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

01/27/06

HB 533

SHORT TITLE Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Services

SB

ANALYST Geisler

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

500.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates: SB 138

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS)

Department of Health (DH)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 533 appropriates $500 thousand from the general fund to the Department of Veterans’

Services in FY07 to expand posttraumatic stress disorder programs and services provided by

qualified and experienced mental health works to address the needs of families.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The $500 thousand would create a new program at the Department of Veteran’s Services, which

currently does not provide these services. The Department notes that it would need to develop a

program that may include hiring mental health workers to assist veterans with counseling and

other services.

House Bill 533 – Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

The Department of Health’s notes that the 2000 State of Health In New Mexico report defines

“Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as being caused by severe trauma, such as combat or

being the victim of violence. The symptoms include re-experiencing the event (flashbacks, etc.),

psychic numbing/avoidance, and hyper-arousal. PTSD is relatively common, affecting 5% per-

cent of men and over 10% of women in their lifetimes.”

Prevalence of combat-related mental health problems:

• WWII: 1 0f 5 casualties was psychiatric

• Vietnam: 1 out of 3 combat veterans have history of PTSD (˝ of these still had

PTSD over a decade later)

• Gulf War: 1 out of 10 combat veterans have a history of PTSD

• Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom still unfolding.

DUPLICATION

HB 533 is a duplicate of SB 138.

G/nt