Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance

committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports

if they are used for other purposes.

Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are a vailable on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us).

Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not. Previously issued FIRs and

attachments may be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

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

SPONSOR Campos

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2-14-2007

HB

SHORT TITLE Veteran Transitional Homeless Shelter

SB 1037

ANALYST Dearing

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

$50.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Senate Bill 1037 relates to appropriations in the General Appropriations Act

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

No agency responses received as of 2-14-2007

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 1037 appropriates $50 thousand from the general fund for expenditure in FY08 to

Veterans’ Services department for the administration and oversight of construction of a veterans’

homeless shelter in Las Vegas and for subsequent operation of an outreach program at that

shelter.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $50 thousand contained in Senate Bill 1037 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.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

The New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services (VSD) received an appropriation of $400

thousand to be used by the Veterans’ Homeless Program available for expenditure over a two-

Senate Bill 1037 – Page

2

year period beginning in FY06 though Laws, 2006, Chapter 109, section 5 item #85. The

appropriation was non-recurring, however both the LFC and executive budget recommendations

for this department include $200 thousand in recurring funding for a homeless veterans’ outreach

program. The following table includes figures for New Mexico veterans, as well as participation

in the Albuquerque program.

The following are current statistics for the Veterans’ Homeless Program:

Homeless Veterans in New Mexico:

~6,000

Homeless Veterans in Albuquerque:

~3,000

Homeless veterans served since opening in 8/2004:

300+

Number of beds available to homeless veterans:

60

Number of meals served to homeless veterans:

5,000/mo.

Average length of residencey:

263 days

Number of health care providers to homeless veterans:

1

Number of case management/social workers provided to homeless veterans:

2

Table 1. Source: Veterans' Service Department; ~ approximation.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

Senate Bill 1037 would require the department to provide oversight of a construction project in

Las Vegas. The department’s abilities in construction management and oversight are not

apparent.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The department will be the fiscal agent for the appropriation. As written, the appropriation in

Senate Bill cannot be used for construction costs, only for management/oversight.

RELATIONSHIP

Senate Bill 1037 relates to appropriations in the General Appropriation Act. The executive

recommendation for the Veterans’ Services department FY08 budget as adopted by the House

Appropriations and Finance Committee includes $200 thousand for homeless veterans’ outreach

programs in Albuquerque.

PD/mt