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

SPONSOR Steinborn

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2/5/07

HB HJM 26

SHORT TITLE Border Security & Affairs Committee

SB

ANALYST Peery-Galon

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Responses Received From

Department of Public Safety (DPS)

Department of Health (DOH)

New Mexico Environment Department (NMED)

No Response Received From

Border Authority

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Joint Memorial 26 requests that the New Mexico legislature create an interim Border

Security and Border Affairs Committee. The committee is to study border issues, including

security, health and environment concerns, traditional ranching and agricultural border

commerce, and human rights. The committee is to report its findings and make

recommendations to the Legislature by January 1, 2009.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

DOH states immigrants that seek health services usually receive them from the department’s

local health offices, community health centers, or emergency rooms at hospitals financed under

indigent care programs or simply at a loss to those institutions. DOH reports as pressure has

increased to stem the flow of immigrants and round-up undocumented laborers at work sites,

many do not seek health care for fear of apprehension. DOH states if certain conditions go

untreated, such as infectious diseases, it poses a health risk to the entire community.

House Joint Memorial 26 – Page

2

NMED states the interim Border Security and Border Affairs Committee could address the

environmental concern of solid waste matters caused by trash disposal from people who cross the

border illegally. NMED reports a significant amount of solid waste accumulates from people

illegally crossing the border. NMED states the Border Patrol considers trash to be outside its

jurisdiction, leaving state, county, local government agencies and property owners to decide who

funds trash removal, disposal and site remediation if necessary.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

DOH states the proposed legislation relates to House Joint Memorial 22, which requests that a

task force be established to study the nature and extent of human trafficking in New Mexico.

NMED states the proposed legislation relates to House Joint Memorial 6, which calls for the

creation of the Coalition Task Force to Combat Illegal Dumping Statewide and House Bill 180,

which makes an appropriation to NMED to pay for expenses for the Illegal Dumping Task Force.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

DOH states the proposed legislation could be strengthened by specifying the organizations or

groups to be represented in the interim committee, such as the Attorney General, Department of

Health, Department of Environment, Economic Development Department and Border Authority,

to ensure representation by key groups.

RPG/nt