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

SPONSOR Varela

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2-3-06

2-3-06 HB 592

SHORT TITLE

SANTA FE AIRPORT FIRE PROTECTION

SERVICES

SB

ANALYST Hadwiger

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

$350.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to SB634, HB698, HB657.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Finance and Administration (DFA)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 592 appropriates $350 thousand from the general fund to the Local Government Divi-

sion (LGD) of the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) in FY07 to fund crash and

fire protection services by the Santa Fe fire department for the Santa Fe municipal airport, par-

ticularly to provide salaries and benefits for five career firefighters, federal-aviation-

administration-required training, personal protective firefighting gear, uniforms and associated

operating expenses for the Santa Fe fire department.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $350 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.

House Bill 592 – Page 2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

DFA noted that the principle objective of an airport rescue and fire fighting service is to save

lives in the event of an aircraft crash. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations man-

date almost all aspects of emergency response at all airports, including vehicle response time and

readiness. Non-compliance with FAA regulations regarding fire safety could result in the loss of

the airport’s operating permit. Santa Fe Fire Department staff indicated to DFA that this legisla-

tion is particularly important because the Santa Fe airport is moving to a Class 1 designation with

expanded commercial flights. At this time the City of Santa Fe does not have the necessary

funds to do the necessary start up for this increased airport classification. This is viewed as an

urgent need by the City of Santa Fe. The Santa Fe Fire Department is in the process of getting

some necessary fire emergency equipment. It was also advised that the required FAA training

would have to be done out-of-state which will require some of the requested funding. Santa Fe

plans to assume responsibility for future funding for this fire protection operation. This is a start

up request only.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

DFA indicated it would prepare a memorandum of understanding to disperse these funds, so

there would be little administrative implications to that oversight.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

Relates to SB634, HB698, HB657 which provide appropriations for various costs related to fire-

fighting at the Santa Fe municipal airport.

DH/nt