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

SPONSOR Nava

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2/10/07

HB

SHORT TITLE Youth Alliance

SB 251

ANALYST Lucero

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

$200.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD)

Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 251 appropriates two hundred thousand ($200,000) from the general fund to

Children, Youth and Families for expenditure in FY08 for expenses of the youth alliance.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of two hundred thousand ($200,000) 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.

The appropriation in this bill is not part of the Children, Youth and Families Department’s

request and is not included in the Executive recommendation for Children, Youth and Families

Department.

Senate Bill 251 – Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

The Youth Alliance is a Lieutenant Governor Children’s Cabinet initiative. The proposed

funding would continue the existing initiative through FY08.

The New Mexico Youth Alliance was established in 2003 and is a statewide advisory group of

youth ages 14 – 24 that meet regionally four times a year to discuss ideas, issues, concerns, and

policies that impact youth throughout the state of New Mexico. The Youth Alliance was created

as a unique public-private partnership between the State Government and the New Mexico

Forum for Youth in Community: a nonpartisan, non-profit intermediary organization that

supports youth serving organizations capacity building, leveraging resources, identification and

dissemination of best practice models, and advocating for informed policy. The Alliance has

organized young people from around the state to make positive impacts within their communities

and speak as a unified voice to state government and other adult decision makers.

The Alliance encourages positive youth development within a framework that recognizes a

reduction in risky behaviors and activities. The following are activities and opportunities the

New Mexico Youth Alliance Project provided:

•

Expand their knowledge on the legislative process

•

Civic engagement

•

Public service

•

Leadership

The Youth Alliance has contributed youth voice to issues concerning the PED, Department of

Health, the Human Services Department and the Department of Public Safety. The goals of the

New Mexico Children’s Cabinet are supported by all members of the New Mexico Youth

Alliance. These goals for youth in New Mexico are as follows:

•

To be safe with families and communities

•

To be physically and mentally healthy

•

To be well educated and provided with opportunities to reach full potential

•

To become productive, self-sufficient and employable

•

To be a valued contributor in their respective community, to understand civic

responsibility as well as being culturally sensitive.

The Youth Alliance is also a tool for ensuring that youth have a meaningful voice in the state's

political process. New Mexico is the only state to have a legislated youth advisory body.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

None which directly affect CYFD, however, the Alliance’s input is helpful in developing policy

for youth in New Mexico.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The administrative impact is not known. The bill does not clearly define what types of

expenditures are being funded.

Senate Bill 251 – Page

3

TECHNICAL ISSUES

The bill specifies that the appropriation of $200,000 is for expenses of the youth alliance. The

bill doesn’t define the type of expenses to be funded. It is unclear if the sponsor wants the

expenditure category to be so broad.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

From the 2004 The Youth Alliance annual report:

The Youth Alliance needs additional resources to respond to increasing demand

for their participation from policy makers. During the first year, Youth Alliance

members provided input into the Children’s Code Revision Task Force, the Department

of Health Comprehensive Strategic Health Plan, town halls meetings on Student Health

Clinics, and the New Mexico First Education Reform Town Hall. They will also be

represented at the Children, Youth and Families Department’s Juvenile Justice Seminar

and the Children’s Law Institute, both occurring in January 2005. These are examples

of the upswing in demand for their time as policy makers see the concrete value of their

work.

But managing these increasing responsibilities requires clearer ties to policy making

structures such as the Children’s Cabinet and legislative hearings, increased training,

and additional flexible travel and staffing funds.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

Status Quo.

DL/csd