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

SPONSOR Feldman

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2/22/07

HB

SHORT TITLE Youth Children and Family Continuum Workgroup SB SM 27

ANALYST Lucero

ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL OPERATING BUDGET IMPACT (dollars in thousands)

FY07

FY08

FY09 3 Year

Total Cost

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

Total

Minimal

Minimal Non-

Recurring

General

Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates

HM 03; Relates to SM 03

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Human Services Department (HSD)

Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Memorial 27 directs that a young children and families continuum work group be

appointed to develop recommendations to improve access to services for families, improve the

lives of their children and set a foundation for school and personal success; and

.

That the group be appointed equally by the chair of the Children's Cabinet and the chair and

vice chair of the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee, with the consent of the

speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro tempore of the Senate, and

include a diverse group of no more than 16 persons representing the Early Childhood Action

Network; child health and development, mental health, early care, education and human

services community providers; advocates, businesses and faith communities; the media;

academia; and child development research fields;

.

That the group include family representatives and members representing the cultural, ethnic,

economic and geographic diversity of the state and have knowledge and experience of the

health, mental health, education and social needs of young children birth to age eight and

their families;

Senate Memorial 27 – Page

2

.

That the group make priorities for investment over the next three years to strengthen a

comprehensive statewide early childhood system to address the following areas: family

involvement and family support; physical and mental health; early learning; child safety; and

transition from early childhood to school;

.

That the group make recommendations on a continuum of services to better coordinate and

link components of a comprehensive system; and

That it report its recommendations to the committee by November 2007.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

There are no significant fiscal implications to HSD or CYFD. The Memorial does not

specifically mention participation by HSD. Because HSD administers many programs that are

concerned with the health and well-being of children and families, it is quite possible that

someone from the Department would serve on this work group. If that be the case, there would

be minimal administrative costs.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

PED states that SM 027 is a duplication of an already existing advisory group charged with

making recommendations on the same set of issues regarding young children. SM 027 has no

fiscal impact on PED.

The tasks proposed for the work group would need to coordinate with the current work of the

Early Childhood Action Network (ECAN), a subcommittee of the Children’s Cabinet

Children's Cabinet; and though I am proud of all the work the eleven Cabinet Secretaries.

Many of the programs within HSD: Medicaid, TANF, Food Stamps, Child Support Enforcement,

and others, exist to provide assistance to children and families, especially those most in need.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

None identified at this time

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

There will be a slight administrative cost to each of the state agencies involved in the

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

Duplicates HM 03; Relates to SM 03

TECHNICAL ISSUES

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The Early Childhood Action Network1 (ECAN) is a group of New Mexicans who make

recommendations on how to improve the well-being of young children birth to age five and their

families. The Early Childhood Action Network (ECAN) goals include:

Senate Memorial 27 – Page

3

1)

Improve the well being of all NM's young children and families

2)

Improve the system of early childhood services that touch their lives

Early Childhood is the most critical developmental period in a person's life and sets the stage for

the future health and productivity of adulthood. We know that children who face serious

disadvantage can be supported, prepared and ready to succeed if:

1)

Soon after birth their families receive support and education through home visiting and

family resource programs

2)

Children and their families have access to a high quality medical home or services

3)

Between infancy and pre-school, developmental delays are identified early and addressed

through early intervention

4)

Children of working parents receive high quality early care and learning services

5)

All children have access to voluntary, yet quality pre-school

ALTERNATIVES

Expand ECAN membership to include legislative members.

DL/nt