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

SPONSOR Stapleton

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2/11/07

HB 356

SHORT TITLE Disabled Person Driver's Rehab Program

SB

ANALYST Weber

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

$179.2

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Governor’s Commission on Disability

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 356 appropriates $179 thousand from the general fund to the Governor’s Commission

on Disability for the purpose of providing a driver’s rehabilitation program for disabled persons.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $179 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

The governor’s Commission on Disability estimates the following as start-up costs related to a

rehabilitation driver’s program.

Training Vehicle 32,700

Equipment 6,000

Staff (2.5 FTE) 31,600

House Bill 356 – Page

2

Continuing Edu. 2,200

Licensure 400

Insurance 1,700

Vehicle Gas/Maintenance 4,600

However, this only totals $78 thousand and it is not explained how the other $100 thousand

would be used.

The Governor’s Commission notes that for most people, driving a motor vehicle in New Mexico

is essential to the tasks of everyday living - commuting to work, running errands, or taking

children to school. Driving is synonymous with freedom, independence, and self-sufficiency.

This is also true for a person with a disability. After rehabilitative assessment and evaluation, the

driving needs of people with disabilities can be accommodated through the use of adaptive

vehicle equipment, safe driver training, or both.

When persons with disabilities want to drive or need re-training to drive, due to a recent

disability, there are not driving training facilities available in New Mexico. Due to the unique

driving techniques needed for these drivers, driving schools do not wish to train them and do not

have the proper staff. Organizations in the past have had instruction for such drivers; however,

insurance costs have prevented them from continuing. This is an effort to provide a source for

individuals with disabilities to learn to properly drive a vehicle with adaptive devices.

The Governor’s Commission continues that it would be necessary to send out to Request for

Proposals (RFP) or the agency would need to find a governmental or other non-profit

organization to provide services. The agency would coordinate and administer the funding for

this appropriation.

The Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists refers two companies in New Mexico

offering such services.

MW/csd