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

SPONSOR Komadina

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2-20-07

3-10-07 HB

SHORT TITLE

Promotion of Animal Rights

SM 26/aSRC

ANALYST Woods

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

NFI

NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (DGF)

New Mexico Department of Public Education (PED)

No Response Received From

New Mexico Livestock Board (NMLB)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of SRC Amendment

Senate Rules Committee amendment to Senate Memorial 26 amends the language as follows:

1. On page 1, line 13, strike "RIGHTS" and insert in lieu thereof "WELFARE".,

Synopsis of Original Memorial

Senate Memorial 26 calls for the state to support properly researched and industry-tested

livestock and animal husbandry practices including:

•

Promotion and protection of public safety and health;

•

Compliance and enforcement of wildlife laws;

•

Compliance with accepted animal husbandry standards;

•

Use of safe transportation and handling facilities;

•

Consultation with licensed veterinarians and industry experts; and

Senate Memorial 26/aSRC – Page

2

•

Protection of those that engage in animal enterprises using these practices.

The memorial also calls for the Senate to support:

•

Fact-based education programs about animal production, use, service and

companionship;

•

Research to improve human and animal health, productivity and animal products;

•

Research-based wildlife management practices;

•

Lawful animal practices that increase public awareness of animals and their

importance in modern life; and

•

Efforts to protect domestic animals, wildlife and fish populations.

The memorial also calls for the Senate to oppose:

•

The expenditure of public funds to promote animal rights and the use of education

materials that discourage the use and enjoyment of animals and animal products;

•

Legislation or regulations that restrict the use of animals in research, the use of

animals for food, fiber or service, and the breeding and sale of animals.

Copies of this memorial are to be transmitted to the New Mexico Livestock Board, the New

Mexico Department of Agriculture and the Board of Veterinary Medicine.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

DGF indicates that the department has the Information and Outreach Division (PIO) that

promotes similar goals as supported by this memorial. Since the department is already

promoting these concepts through media materials and education programs, no additional fiscal

impact is expected to occur. DGF adds that the memorial supports and directly relates to

Chapter 17 where it states “this act and the policy of the state of New Mexico to provide an

adequate and flexible system for the protection of the game and fish of New Mexico and for their

use and development for public recreation and food supply, and to provide for their propagation,

planting, protection, regulation and conservation to the extent necessary to provide and maintain

an adequate supply of game and fish [17-1-1 NMSA 1978]."

PED indicates that the New Mexico Science Content Standards, Benchmarks, and Performance

Standards (2003), Strand II, Standard II (Life Science) states: “Understand the properties,

structures, and processes of living things and the interdependence of living things and their

environments." There are grade-level performance standards that identify the science content

related to animals that teachers are expected to teach. The teaching of animal rights and

encouragement or discouragement of the use of animal products is not listed in the performance

standards.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

PED suggests that the state and senate will not have a statement of support for practices,

programs and research related to animal welfare and a statement of opposition to the teaching of

animal rights and the use of materials that discourage the use of animal products and legal

restrictions to the use of animals.

BFW/mt