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

SPONSOR Sandoval

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2/4/06

HB 814

SHORT TITLE Bernalillo Disabilities Services

SB

ANALYST Lewis

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

50.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to HB 813 (

Services for Persons with Disabilities)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Health (DOH)

Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC)

Human Services Department (HSD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 814 appropriates $50,000 from the general fund to the Department of Health to con-

tract with

a nonprofit organization that provides services to persons with developmental disabili-

ties, including a Prader-Willi program, for services in Bernalillo County to assist persons with

disabilities to access their communities.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $50,000 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.

House Bill 814 – Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

According the bill’s sponsor, the appropriation is intended to support services provided to per-

sons with disabilities by ARCA,

a private nonprofit organization founded in 1957 by parents de-

siring community-based services for their family members with mental retardation and other de-

velopmental disabilities.

According to ARCA’s web site at

http://www.arc-a.org/index.htm

ARCA

operates more than

100 residences in the community and serves more than 400 individuals each year. The mission of

ARCA’s Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) Project is to identify individuals with PWS or PWS-like

conditions and to assist these individuals and their families in finding services that will promote

their health and allow them to choose and achieve their life goals and fully experience commu-

nity life.

The University of Michigan Health System’s Prader-Willi home page describes Prader-Willi

syndrome as a genetic syndrome that affects one in every 12,000-15,000 people of both sexes

and all races and ethnic groups. It is caused by a disorder of chromosome 15. The major features

of Prader-Willi are obesity, cognitive impairment, behavior problems, poor muscle tone, and less

than normal sex hormones. The major health concerns for people with Prader-Willi are severe

obesity and obesity-related problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, chronic venous insuf-

ficiency (leading to ulcers in legs and feet), cellulites and hypoventilation; strabismus (crossed

eyes); scoliosis; early osteoporosis; sleep disturbances and sleep apnea; bedwetting; and dental

problems, including soft tooth enamel, thick saliva, poor oral hygiene and teeth grinding. There

is no cure for PWS at this time, though there are lots of health problems that need to be treated.

With early diagnosis and a proactive approach, these kids’ health, growth, and development can

thrive. (

http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/yourchild/praders.htm

)

The Department of Health (DOH) notes that DOH is required by the state procurement code to

complete the RFP process for contract funding in the amount of $50,000. HB 813 is not part of

the DOH executive budget request.

The Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC), observing that this bill appears to be

intended to provide funding to a specific organization, questions how many persons would be

served; what services would be provided; and whether the funding will be used to help reduce

the waiting list of over 3,400 people waiting for DD waiver services.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The DOH notes that administrative implication for the department would include staff time to

conduct RFPs, execute a contact and monitor the implementation and completion of the contract.

ALTERNATIVES

The DDPC suggests that,

instead of funding specific developmental disability (DD) providers,

these funds could be used to help offset the list of persons across the state on the Central Registry

who are waiting for DD services.

ML/nt