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

SPONSOR

Komadina

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1/26/07

1/30/07 HB

SHORT TITLE Prohibit Cockfighting

SB 70

ANALYST Ellie Ortiz

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates SB10

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Administrative Office of the District Attorneys (AODA)

Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC)

Corrections Department

Public Defender Department (PDD)

Attorney General’s Office (AGO)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 70 amends NMSA 1978, § 30-18-1 (Cruelty/Extreme Cruelty to Animals) to

eliminate Paragraph K, which presently removes cockfighting from the provisions of the statute.

Also updates language about federal law regarding research facilities in Paragraph I (6).

The bill proposes to make cockfighting for monetary gain or entertainment a fourth degree

felony. Being present at a cockfight, owning or equipping a participating cock, or training one to

participate in a fight would be penalized as a fourth degree felony.

Senate Bill 70 – Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

Although, there are some countries where cockfighting exists, there are only two states in the

U.S. that do not ban cockfighting, New Mexico and Louisiana. Local ordinances in 13 counties

and 28 municipalities in New Mexico have passed ordinances outlawing cockfighting.

Cockfighting remains an unregulated industry but supporters of cockfighting suggest that it

generates an economic benefit of $50 million per year to the state and that the conduct of

cockfighting is a private activity.

Opponents to cockfighting argue that it perpetuates violence in our communities and that there is

a link between cruelty to animals and violence toward humans.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

Duplicates SB10

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

Is cockfighting a licensed industry.

If cockfighting is considered a sport, should it be regulated.

Does cockfighting generate revenue for the state, e.g., gross receipts taxes.

What benefit does cockfighting provide to the state.

EO/mt