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 Garcia, M.P.

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1/23/08

HB 329

SHORT TITLE Albuquerque Community Bicycle Program

SB

ANALYST Escudero

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY08

FY09

$25.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 329 requests an appropriation of $25.0 from the general fund to the local government

division of the Department of Finance and Administration to contract with a community

organization that serves the west central metropolitan redevelopment area in the city of

Albuquerque to implement a community bicycle program to restore and repair donated used

bicycles for needy children and families to promote a healthy and active lifestyle.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

Requesting $25.0 to be appropriated from the general fund to the local government division of

the Department of Finance and Administration for fiscal years 2009 and 2010. Any unexpended

or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of the fiscal year 2010 shall revert to the general

fund.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

Bicycle donation, repair, and refurbishment programs are a growing part of the community

involvement sector, and CYFD supports such programs in New Mexico, such as the

Bicycle/Recycle Program in Grant County, which teaches children, under adult supervision, to

assemble, disassemble, repair, adjust, service, and safely ride donated bicycles. During its first

House Bill 329 – Page

2

year, the Grant County program refurbished more than 400 donated bicycles, including 22

almost-new bikes donated by WalMart. Due to rising gasoline prices and a renewed focus on

health and the environment, bicycles are a growth industry, and bicycle repair a highly

employable skill set.

This bill does not indicate how the needy children and families would be identified for the

bicycle donation program. Depending on how the children and families are identified, and how

the restoration and repair process is approached, CYFD clients may benefit from the program.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

This is a worthy project helping needy children. However, is there any risk or liability incurred

by the organization or the city when these bicycles are given to the children. A waiver could be

signed, releasing the risk from the organization or the city of Albuquerque.

PME/mt