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 Rodriguez

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

01/22/07

HB

SHORT TITLE Study Access to Democracy for Deaf Persons

SB SM 2

ANALYST Hanika Ortiz

ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL OPERATING BUDGET IMPACT (dollars in thousands)

FY07

FY08

FY09 3 Year

Total Cost

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

Total

$.01

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Memorial 2 requests the Commission for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons and the Of-

fice of the Secretary of State collaborate on a study to establish communication access to ensure

full participation in the democratic process for all deaf and hard-of-hearing New Mexicans and

determine how to provide more interpreters at political events and closed captioning on televised

political advertisements.

SM 2 requests study recommendations be reported to the appropriate legislative committee be-

fore January 30, 2008.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

There may be costs associated with the Commission and Secretary of State Office, and any in-

terim committee designated, in the dedication of staff time and resources to conduct the study

that are currently directed at or planned for other activities. Any additional financial impact to

private organizations or public agencies will be determined by the recommendations reported to

the appropriate legislative committees.

Senate Memorial 2 – Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

There are approximately one hundred ninety thousand (190,000) deaf and hard-of-hearing per-

sons in New Mexico with the number of people with any degree of hearing loss continuing to

rise. DVR reports that political equality continues to be of significant concern for deaf and hard-

of-hearing persons in New Mexico. These individuals often do not vote or register to vote due to

inadequate communication access resulting in the inability for many to have the information

needed to make an informed choice.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

In addition to sign language interpreting services, there are many new hearing assistive technolo-

gies that can be explored to assist these individuals in gaining greater access resulting in a more

inclusive democratic process for all persons in New Mexico.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

The appropriate legislative committees may not have the information needed to continue to pro-

mote the social, economic and political equality of deaf and hard-of-hearing persons in New

Mexico.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

How many of the one hundred ninety thousand (190,000) persons in New Mexico are of voting

age.

AHO/nt