Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance

committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports

if they are used for other purposes.

Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are a vailable on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us).

Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not. Previously issued FIRs and

attachments may be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

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

SPONSOR Robinson

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2-6-06

HB

SHORT TITLE Community-Based Cancer Patient Support

SB 423

ANALYST Collard

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

$50.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Health (DOH)

Health Policy Commission (HPC)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 423 appropriates $50 thousand from the general fund to DOH for the purpose of pro-

viding comprehensive community-based cancer patient support services, including education,

patient library services, one-to-one matching with cancer veterans, survivorship support groups

and an annual statewide survivorship conference.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $50 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

DOH notes, according to the New Mexico Tumor Registry, each year an average of 6,553 new

cases of cancer are diagnosed in New Mexico (NM Tumor Registry, Annual Report 2002). Ap-

proximately 54,000 people in the state are currently living with a diagnosis of cancer. For every

Senate Bill 423 – Page

2

person living through cancer, an average of three other people, spouses, family members, care-

givers, or significant others of the patient, are also affected by the diagnosis. Therefore as many

as 216,000 persons in New Mexico may need cancer support services. (Personal communication

with Dr. Chuck Wiggins, Director, NM Tumor Registry, Jan. 25, 2006).

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

DOH indicates existing staff and resources of the DOH Comprehensive Cancer Program could

absorb costs associated with implementing the activities in this bill.

KBC/mt