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

SPONSOR Pinto

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1/31/06

HB

SHORT TITLE

TOHATCHI YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

PROGRAMS

SB 374

ANALYST Weber

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

$250.0

Recurring

General

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Indian Affairs Department (IAD)

SUMMARY

Senate Bill 374 appropriates $250 thousand from the general fund to the Indian Affairs

Department to fund youth development programs, including the youth leadership project, at the

Tohatchi chapter of the Navajo Nation

.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $250 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 Indian Affairs Department has a special project with Tohatchi Fighting Back, Inc.for youth

development services which includes the areas of Tohatchi, Naschitti, Mexican Springs, Twin

Lakes and Coyote Canyon. All of these communities are in McKinley County except Naschitti

which is just north of the McKinley County boundary in San Juan County. In the past few years,

a growing concern about crime, gang activity, and delinquency in Indian country has emerged.

This phenomenon is attributed to many risk and protective factors. For example, a recent study

of risk factors for substance abuse found that Native youths were more likely than other youths

to perceive moderate to no risk associated with substance use, to perceive their parents as not

Senate Bill 374 – Page 2

strongly disapproving of their substance use, and to believe that all or most of the students in

their school get drunk at least once a week. Further, Native youths were less likely than other

youths to participate in youth activities or regularly attend religious services.

The bill addresses the need for positive activities, prevention and intervention programs, and

leadership development for Indian youths so they do not engage in negative activities. A youth

development and leadership program may help Indian youths by providing a positive alternative

while helping to build competencies such as critical thinking skills, respect for self, families, and

tribal communities.

Outcomes directly generated through Tohatchi Fighting Back, Inc. include the development of

the Navajo Police Athletic League, Tohatchi Youth and Boys and Girls Club, Tohatchi Little

League District, girls and boys community baseball teams; peacemaker court, safe kids program

and youth participation in the Tony Dorsett football league.

MW/mt