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

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

SPONSOR HHGAC

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1-20-2007

2/9/07 HB 210/HHGACS

SHORT TITLE Free Access to Parks and Museums for Veterans

SB

ANALYST Dearing

REVENUE (dollars in thousands)

Estimated Revenue

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

FY09

*$0.1

*$0.1 Recurring

*Other

*Please see narrative *Please see narrative

Figure 1. *Admissions revenue for Cultural Affairs facilities is deposited into a special revenue fund.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Cultural Affairs (CAD)

Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department (505)

Veterans’ Services Department (VSD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

The House Health and Government Affairs Committee Substitute significantly amends Sections

16-2-7 1 and 28-13A-1 NMSA 1978. The substitution will provide annual free day-pass access

to state parks and state recreation areas one and one, three-day camping pass to veterans with a

50 percent or more disability rating. Additionally, the substitute extends free use of state parks

and state recreation areas to the all veterans and adds their spouse the formerly included

dependent children, on Veterans’ Day only. The bill strikes subsection 28-13A-1 (a) 2. NMSA

1978 previously allowing free admittance for veterans to Cultural Affairs department facilities on

Veterans’ day and adds language to allow free access to museums and monuments for veterans

with a 50 percent or more disability rating year round.

House Bill 210/HHGACS amends section 28-13A-1 (c) NMSA 1978. House Bill 210/HHGACS

carries no appropriation from the general fund. If enacted, New Mexico veterans would be

extended access to the museum and monument facilities at no charge for the entire year. House

Bill 210/HHGACS repeals section 16-2-7.1 NMSA 1978. House Bill 210/HHGACS makes

House Bill 210 /HHGACS – Page

2

minor linguistic changes to bring this section up to date with current references to terms and

facility names mentioned within this section of statute.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The fiscal impact from enactment of House Bill 210/HHGACS would reduce admissions

revenue that the Cultural Affairs department currently collects. Under section 16-2-7.1 NMSA

1978, veterans’ rated with at a 100 percent disability rating are eligible to obtain a day pass to

New Mexico’s state park facilities at no charge, valid for the entire year.

*The legislation would extend this benefit to those veterans with a minimum 50 percent

disability.

Additionally, the legislation would amend statute to extend free entrance to state parks and

museum and monument facilities to spouses of military veterans on the legal federal holiday of

Veterans’ Day. Currently, dependent children are extended this exemption for state parks, but

not monument museums and monuments. Under the legislation, the Veterans’ Day exemption

would be extended to dependent children at museum and monument facilities as well as state

parks. Because the department does not collect any detailed level of demographic data, it is

difficult to estimate the revenue lost from this one-day admissions fee exemption. However, the

following paragraph explains that a majority of:

*of the departments Museums and Monuments currently allow free entrance by children under

16, and many extend this to children under 12. The proposed law states that children must be

“dependent children" of veterans in order to receive free admission on Veterans’ day. The

waiver of admissions would thereby include only those children aged 16-18 in some museums

and 12-18 in still fewer others. Spouses could attend free as well. In looking at the effects on

revenue, a smaller revenue reduction would occur under the HHGAC substitute than the

estimated $170 thousand calculated with the original bill. Free access would apply only one day

of the year.

The proposed legislation creates a recurring appropriation of other state revenues. The LFC has

concerns with including continuing appropriation language in the statutory provisions as

earmarking reduces the ability of the legislature to establish spending priorities.

Attendance revenue in FY06 at all museums and monuments statewide was $1.95 million.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, New Mexico’s

total population was 1.93 million, with a subsequent veteran population of 180,200. Although

the Cultural Affairs department does not keep detailed demographic data on visitors, an

assumption can be made that the visitors to facilities are similar in demographic make-up.

1

Having no in-depth attendance survey, it is difficult to estimate the number of veterans that could

be expected to take advantage of this benefit, such that lost revenue is unknown.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

Although the Cultural Affairs department does not currently collect demographic data, the

1

United States Census Bureau & U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs population data, July 1, 2005 & 2004, respectively. Total New Mexico

Population = 1,928,384; Total New Mexico veteran classified population = 180,200. Cultural Affairs department admissions revenue for in

FY05 and FY06 was $1,920,858 and $1,946,900 respectively, averaging $1,933,878.

House Bill 210 /HHGACS – Page

3

enactment of House Bill 210/HHGACS would simplify data collection for Veteran attendance.

Suggestions for performance measures regarding this legislation include an attendance related

measure.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

House Bill 210/HHGACS makes minor linguistic changes to bring terms and references up to

date with current references and facility names mentioned within 28-13A-1 NMSA 1978.

There is some question as to what type of proof of enlistment would be required. All veterans

are issued a discharge certificate upon the end of their enlistment. Additionally, disabled

veterans receiving treatment at the Veterans Administration Medical Center are issued an ID

card, while retiring veterans are issued a retiree-status card.

PD/mt