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

SPONSOR Gutierrez

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

HB 110

SHORT TITLE

Workforce Training Programs & Software

SB

ANALYST Weber

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

$800.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 110 appropriates $800 thousand from the general fund to the Human Services De-

partment to fund community action agencies to establish the reweaving community model and

software, which matches resources of low-income clients with other persons, businesses and or-

ganizations in communities to maximize opportunities and well-being

The appropriation of $800 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

A representative for Community Action New Mexico indicates the purpose is to provide each of

the eight local community action groups $100 thousand for this project. Community weaving is

a philosophy concerning the development of the fabric of local communities. The web site offers

the following excerpt.

Community Weaving is a innovative approach to foster a community of responsible citi-

zens who create family support networks where they share their time, gifts, talents and

House Bill 110 – Page

2

resources with others. This community mobilization strategy increases civic engagement

and social capital by tapping grass root resources resulting in the creation of healthy

thriving communities. Family Support Networks meet the needs of families and children

in the old fashioned way, neighbor to neighbor. Through the use of telephones and a web-

based technology families can easily and immediately access a myriad of resources to

help themselves and others in the community.

Community Weaving is a social change methodology that incorporates the use of web-

based technology to weave the human and tangible resources of the grassroots with the

knowledge and skills of formal systems. The approach raises social consciousness and

awakens the human spirit to its purpose by engaging people to take responsibility for

what they care about to create a more caring, just and civil society.

The theories and practices underpinning Community Weaving create village effects, un-

fettered by bureaucracy, politics, religious doctrine, racism, or socioeconomic status, that

transcend cultures. This transformative community building approach weaves a multi-

cultural community tapestry of connections within communities, across organizations and

around the world

It is reported, but not confirmed, that the software mentioned is provided at no cost.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

The wording of the bill is somewhat vague and consideration should be given to better define the

purpose and expected results.

MW/nt