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 Martinez

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

02/16/07

HB 855

SHORT TITLE Native American Student & Leader Conference

SB

ANALYST Weber

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

$35.0

Recurring

General

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Indian Affairs Department (IAD)

Economic Development Department (EDD)

Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 855 appropriates $35 thousand from the general fund to the Indian Affairs

Department to support a statewide conference of Native American students and alumni, tribal

officials and leaders in higher education and economic development to look at options for work

force development for enterprises that would benefit tribal communities economically and

provide ways to bring educated young people back into tribal communities.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $35 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.

House Bill 855 – Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

IAD notes the bill is intended to put the accumulated intellectual capital of Native Americans to

work in tribal communities as an economic development mechanism. It would provide for a

conference which would encourage collaboration between tribes, college educated Native

Americans, and economic development interests and officials in New Mexico. Its objective, in

part, would appear to be to return and retain college educated Native Americans in tribal

communities, thereby providing the expertise and knowledge to facilitate economic

development.

PED reports that there are already some efforts underway. Workforce development and training

programs are in the New Mexico Standards under Career Readiness. New standards are

currently being developed that will encompass the seven prescribed clusters for New Mexico.

Junior Achievement of New Mexico has recently expanded to include efforts in New Mexico

Native American communities. The Junior Achievement Native American Initiative is to build

on business and economics curricula while providing culturally relevant lessons to improve the

quality of life for American Indian/Native American students and their communities. The intent

is to prepare students for graduation, work and to support community development goals. Ten

(10) sites have been targeted to participate. They are: Pueblo of Acoma, Pueblo of Laguna,

Pueblo of Jemez, Pueblo of Santa Clara, Pueblo of Santa Ana, Santa Fe Indian School, Jicarilla

Apache Tribe, Native American Community Academy, Wings of an Eagle Ministry and the

Navajo Nation (Window Rock and Crownpoint).

MW/csd