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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Wirth
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
1-28-06
HB HM 5
SHORT TITLE Develop Mercury Reduction Action Plan
SB
ANALYST Collard
APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)
Appropriation
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY06
FY07
NFI
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
Department of Health (DOH)
SUMMARY
House Memorial 5 requests the Department of Health and the Department of Environment to
convene a task force to develop a comprehensive mercury reduction action plan to reduce harm
from exposure to mercury. The memorial calls for the action plan to be reported to the legislative
health and human services committee and to the interim legislative committee that studies water
and natural resources issues at their October 2006 meetings.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
DOH notes there are no fiscal implications associated with this memorial.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
DOH notes mercury exposures are a potential health concern for New Mexicans. Mercury is a
potent neurotoxin manifesting in a variety of neurological conditions including tremors, muscle
coordination, loss of memory, personality changes, deafness and loss of vision among other con-
ditions.