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

SPONSOR Sanchez, M.

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1/31/07

3/6/07 HB

SHORT TITLE Creating the Hispanic Affairs Department

SB 551/aSFC

ANALYST Propst

ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL OPERATING BUDGET IMPACT (dollars in thousands)

FY07

FY08

FY09 3 Year

Total Cost

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

Total

$700.0 $700.0 $1,400.0 Recurring General

Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of SFC Amendment

The amendment strikes the appropriation contained in the original bill.

Synopsis of Original Bill

Senate Bill 551 creates the Hispanic Affairs Department Act, which establishes a Department of

Hispanic Affairs and the Hispanic Affairs Commission. $700.0 will be appropriated from the

General Fund for this Department to the Department of Finance and Administration to pay

expenses of establishing the Hispanic Affairs Department.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $700.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the General Fund.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY08 shall revert to the

General Fund.

Senate Bill 551/aSFC – Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

The mission of the Department would be to achieve a coordinated and effective system dedicated

to improving educational achievement gaps and health care access and reducing poverty rates

among Hispanics in New Mexico.

SB 551 also creates a Hispanic Affairs Commission consisting of 10 members who are residents

of New Mexico and appointed by the Governor. The Commission will advise the new Secretary

of the Department of Hispanic Affairs, receive and disseminate information on issues that impact

the welfare of Hispanics in New Mexico and provide an opportunity for the presentation and

exchange of ideas with respect to Hispanic affairs by any interested party that result in the

promotion of the welfare of Hispanics in New Mexico.

PED noted that if SB 551 is passed the Department and Commission will, among other positive

outcomes:

o

Act as the clearinghouse for all state programs affecting Hispanics of New

Mexico;

o

Serve as a catalyst to coordinate and invigorate activities that will improve

academic achievement of Hispanic students in the public schools;

o

Involve and empower parents and community members in becoming active

leaders in solving their own problems; and

o

Align state efforts of public and private entities dealing with issues important to

Hispanics.

WEP/nt