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

SPONSOR Begaye

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1/23/08

HB 30

SHORT TITLE Native American Educational Outreach Program

SB

ANALYST Weber

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

$225.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Indian Affairs Department (IAD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 30 appropriates $225.0 thousand from the general fund to the Indian Affairs Depart-

ment to implement a culturally sensitive educational outreach program for Native Americans

students.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $225.0 thousand contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general

fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of Fiscal Year 2008 shall

revert to the general fund.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

Indian Affairs contributes.

House Bill 30 addresses the growing need to transfer culturally relevant information to today’s

Indian students. The decline in cultural awareness among younger Indians is an area of growing

concern for tribal leaders. It is reflected in a variety of measures, especially in Native language

House Bill 30 – Page

2

penetration. For example, according to statistics compiled by the United States Census Bureau,

the percentage of English-speaking only Navajos between the ages of 5 and 17 has increased

from 11.8% in 1980 to 48.7% in 2000. This staggering increase speaks to the precarious nature

of cultural transfer to today’s younger Indians.

The Bill would provide educational outreach to Native American students on a wide range of

issues, including Native culture, traditions, art forms, governance, health and tribal sovereignty.

It will complement existing efforts on the tribal level with a program to be administered by the

Indian Affairs Department. The bill received the endorsement of the 2006 Interim Indian Affairs

Committee.

The Zuni Tribe has unequivocally endorsed the Bill. Tribal leaders have been frustrated in their

attempts to abate declines in cultural awareness. They believe that the program is essential for

tribes with limited resources.

MW/mt