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

SPONSOR Papen

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2/01/06

HB

SHORT TITLE Promote Wild Horse Tourism

SB 296

ANALYST Earnest

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

$30.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Tourism Department (TD)

Department of Game and Fish (DGF)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 296 appropriates $30 thousand to the Tourism Department to promote wild-horse

tourism.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $30 thousand contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general

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

general fund.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

The Tourism Department indicates that the national wild horse territories in New Mexico are not

well advertised. A large national equestrian tourism market could be reached by better promo-

tion of endangered Spanish-line wild horses located primarily in New Mexico. NMTD supports

legislation that promotes additional tourism and educates visitors about the state.

Senate Bill 296 – Page 2

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

According to the Department of Game and Fish, depending on the location of the wild horse

herds and the time of year, care should be taken that the tourism activity is not contrary to man-

agement of native wildlife species found in the area. For example, an activity that occurs in late-

spring or early-summer may cause stress to calving or fawning ungulate species. The Depart-

ment of Game and Fish can provide input to Tourism as activities are planned.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

Wild horse tourism might not be promoted by the Tourism Department. However, this does not

interfere with the possibility of wild horse tourism being promoted by local governments or pri-

vate enterprises.

BE/yr