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

SPONSOR Pinto

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

HB

SHORT TITLE Veteran Database To Count Navajo Veterans

SB 1022

ANALYST Weber

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

$92.0

Recurring

General

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Indian Affairs Department (IAD)

Veterans Services Department (VSD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 1022 appropriates $92,020 thousand from the general fund to the Indian Affairs

Department to employ a qualified person in Shiprock to develop a database of veterans' profiles

and statistics in order to provide an accurate count of Navajo veterans.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $92,020 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.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

Indian Affairs Department notes that current Navajo Nation veterans’ data reveals conflicting

numbers as regard the actual number of Navajo veterans. According to the Navajo Veterans

Affairs Department there are roughly 18,000 Navajo Veterans in the State of New Mexico. On

the other hand, the United States Census states there are only 7,689 veterans in the entire Navajo

Senate Bill 1022 – Page

2

Nation. The conflicting Navajo veterans’ data creates significant challenges for the Navajo

Nation to advocate for federal or state veterans services and funding.

Navajo Nation discussions with the federal Veterans Affairs Administration, the Veterans Health

Administration (“VHA"), and the NM Department of Veterans’ Services revealed an imperative

need for an accurate and reliable Navajo veterans’ census. Such data is necessary to identify the

types of veterans’ services and programs needed to assist Navajo veterans.

In discussion with Navajo veterans in the two New Mexico Navajo Agencies (Shiprock and

Eastern), the most significant services identified are: 1) housing/housing improvement

assistance; 2) training and employment; and 3) health care.

Without an accurate Navajo veterans’ census, there will be significant challenges for the Navajo

Nation, the State of New Mexico, and federal agencies to address the housing, employment, and

health care needs of Navajo veterans.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

Is this a continuing requirement or a one time project making the funding non-recurring.

MW/mt