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 Begaye

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

HB 31

SHORT TITLE

Navajo Nation Mobile Internet Training

SB

ANALYST Weber

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

$628.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Indian Affairs Department

Public education Department

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 31 appropriates $628 thousand from the general fund to the Indian Affairs Depart-

ment for expenditure in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 to operate two mobile internet training sites

for Navajo Nation chapters located wholly or partially in New Mexico in order to provide inter-

net services and training to the Navajo people.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $628 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 2009 shall

revert to the general fund.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

The Indian Affairs Department notes.

The initiative funded by this bill addresses the “digital divide" that exists between Indian country

House Bill 31 – Page

2

and the rest of New Mexico. It would complement the internet access currently available to all

Nation citizens at Chapter Houses with relevant training. Simply having access to the internet

does not translate into the ability to use the resource, which this legislation would help address.

Given the far-flung and remote geographic nature of the Navajo Nation, the ability to use the

internet is vital to the well-being of its citizens. The internet can provide citizens with access to

government and other crucial services, such as the Telehealth program. Telehealth’s purpose is

to utilize modern communications like the internet to ensure the distribution of our scarce health-

care services and information to our most remote citizens. Without both internet access and apti-

tude, such programs are unlikely to realize their purposes.

This bill received the endorsement of the 2006 Interim Indian Affairs Committee. It also re-

ceived the endorsement of Zuni Pueblo which would also like to see such programs considered

for other tribes in New Mexico.

The Public Education Department emphasized the educational opportunities more internet train-

ing would open up to the Navajo communities. Educational statistics indicate that 50% of the

Navajo population has no high school diploma and 1.3% have obtained a bachelor’s degree or

higher. The Navajo population has a below-poverty rate of 49.4% and a median annual income

of $12,000. In the Digital Inclusion 2006 Project Report, Dr. Paul C. Godfrey of Brigham

Young University suggests that the Navajo Nation needs assistance via language proficiency and

digital technology to transition into the 21

st

Century. In this report, he stresses that these re-

sources be affordable, attainable and accessible. His report speaks to the enhanced productivity

and income and improved career prospects that come from digital technology.

MW/sb