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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Lopez, M.
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
1/21/08
2/3/08 HB
SHORT TITLE Statewide Teen Pregnancy Prevention
SB 185/aSPAC
ANALYST Lucero
APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)
Appropriation
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY08
FY09
$500.0
Recurring
General Fund
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Relates to: HB76 “Otero County Teen Pregnancy Prevention"
Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
Department of Health (DOH)
Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD)
Public Education Department (PED)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of SPAC Amendment
The Senate Public Affairs Committee amendment to Senate Bill 185 strikes "children, youth and
families" on page 1, line 17 and inserts "of health" after "department".
The amendment resolves the concerns by CYFD and DOH over which department should be the
lead state agency for managing teen pregnancy prevention programs in NM.
As amended, the bill supports the DOH FY09 Strategic Plan Public Health Program Area,
objective 2, “Reduce Teen Pregnancy".
Synopsis of Bill of Original Bill
Senate Bill 185 appropriates five hundred thousand ($500,000) from the general fund to
Children, Youth and Families Department for expenditure in FY09 to develop and implement a
statewide teen pregnancy prevention program.
pg_0002
Senate Bill 185/aSPAC – Page
2
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The appropriation of five hundred sixty thousand ($500,000) contained in this bill is a recurring
expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of
2009 shall revert to the general fund.
Both the LFC and the executive base budget recommendations contain $100,000 from the
general fund for a teen pregnancy prevention pilot project and $125,000 from the general fund
for a statewide teen pregnancy prevention program (Laws 2007, Chapter 28, Section 4).
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
In New Mexico, the birth rate among adolescent girls continues to be one of the highest rates in
the country. The greatest identified needs identified are: reduce the number of pregnancies
among teens (especially among Hispanic girls, Native American girls and girls living in
disadvantaged situations); increase the number of teens completing high school or GED
certification; enhance and improve parenting skills among all adolescent parents; and reduce the
incidence of child abuse or neglect among teen parents.
While the number of pregnancies among adolescents within the State has decreased slightly, the
birth rate in 2004 among 15 to 19 year-old girls in New Mexico was 59.81 percent, totaling
4,399 births born to teen girls of this age cohort. The negative implications of this outcome to
teens and other residents in the State are substantial, including the serious social and economic
problems that result from teen pregnancy, including increased risk of poverty, increased school
dropout rates, increased risk of welfare dependency, and high monetary and social costs to
individuals, families and communities. Overall, the cost to New Mexico of teenage pregnancy is
approximately $5,900.0 per year.
Collaborative efforts to strengthen the provision of family resources and support for teen parents
involves numerous agencies and organizations working in conjunction with CYFD and the
Department of Health. The teen parent services provided by CYFD work closely with and
complement the teen pregnancy prevention programs provided through DOH. Overall, the
reduction of teen pregnancy and the prevention and reduction of child abuse and child neglect
among teen parents are issues demanding change and continued support within New Mexico.
CYFD programs focus on providing community-based services seeking to reduce the number of
repeat pregnancies for teen mothers, helps clients complete high school or GED education, help
clients acquire job skills and develop life skills necessary to become self-sufficient, and acquire
additional parenting skills aimed at lessening the incidence of child abuse and neglect.
Teen pregnancy prevention is one of the executive’s priorities. New Mexico teen birth rates
decreased by 19.5% from 1998 to 2006, while US teen birth rates decreased by 26.4%. In 2005,
the NM teen birth rate for 15-17 year olds was 35.7 per 1,000 females, a rate 1.6 times higher
than the national teen birth rate of 22 per 1,000 (2005 UNM/Bureau of Business and Economic
Research and National Vital Statistics Report). In 2004, one-fifth (20%) of US teen births (15-
19) were repeat births; New Mexico ranked 8th with 22% repeat teen births (15-19). The states
with the highest percentage of repeat teen births are also the states with the highest rates of teen
childbearing (Child Trends Research Brief, Publication 2007-23).
pg_0003
Senate Bill 185/aSPAC – Page
3
The Department of Health (DOH) funds a number of evidence-based teen pregnancy prevention
education programs focusing on comprehensive sex/sexuality education, service learning, after-
school activities and peer education.
The Public Education Department provided the following data:
1.
Teen Pregnancy prevention is one of the Governor’s priorities
2.
PED has responsibilities around teen pregnancy prevention.
3.
The National Teen Pregnancy Organization recognizes successful programs by
recommending the following (National Teen Pregnancy Organization, 2001):
•
Focus on specific behavioral goals;
•
Based on theoretical approaches;
•
Deliver clear messages about sexual activity and/or contraceptive use;
•
Provide basic information about risks associated with teen sexual activity and
methods to avoid pregnancy or STDs;
•
Address social pressures toward having sex;
•
Provide activities to practice communication and refusal skills;
•
Incorporate multiple teaching methods and personalize information to individual
needs;
•
Are tailored to participants’ age-level, culture, and level of sexual experience;
•
Are long enough to cover all information and activities; and
•
Provide appropriate training for teachers or peer leaders who are committed to the
program.
4.
NM Department of Health (DOH) elected not to re-apply for federal abstinence monies in
FY2007-2008.
5.
Comprehensive sex education is one of the evidence-based strategies recommended by
DOH for teen pregnancy prevention. Comprehensive sex education teaches about
abstinence as the best method for avoiding sexually transmitted diseases and unintended
pregnancy, but also teaches about condoms and contraception. It teaches interpersonal
and communication skills and helps young people explore their own values, goals, and
options, to make responsible decisions about their sexuality and reproductive health.
6.
NM teen birth rates decreased by 16% from 1998 to 2004 while the U.S. teen birth rates
decreased by 26% from 1998 to 2004. (New Mexico Department of Health, 2005).
7.
In 2005, the NM teen birth rate for 15-17 year olds was 35.7 per 1,000 females, a rate 1.7
times higher than the national teen birth rate of 21 per 1,000 (New Mexico Department of
Health, 2005).
8.
Reported from the NM Youth Risk Residency Survey, 2005:
•
In 2005, 46% reported that they had sexual intercourse (similar to the 48% in
2003).
•
In New Mexico, 32.8% of the students were currently sexually active (had sex
within three months of the survey).
•
The prevalence of Hispanics (39.5%) was higher than the prevalence among white
non-Hispanics (23.3%).
•
As grade level increased, so did the prevalence of current sexual activity.
Reference:
Advocates for Youth. (1998). Linking pregnancy prevention to Youth Development.
The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. (2001). Emerging
Answers: Research Findings on Programs to Reduce Teen Pregnancy.
pg_0004
Senate Bill 185/aSPAC – Page
4
The New Mexico Department of Health, Family Planning Program, (2005). New Mexico
Health Statistics Annual Report.
NM Public Education Department, NM Department of Health and University of NM, 2005.
NM Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey (YRRS) 2005 Report of State’s Results.
PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS
If passed, SB185, depending on the content of the statewide teen pregnancy prevention program,
may positively impact schools’ ability to comply with PED-required Health Education Content
Standards with Benchmarks and Performance Measures.
CYFD does not have any performance measures relating to teenage pregnancy prevention.
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
CYFD does not currently administer teen pregnancy prevention programs or services.
CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP
Relates to: HB76 “Otero County Teen Pregnancy Prevention"
Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act
TECHNICAL ISSUES
DOH is the lead state agency for managing teen pregnancy prevention programs in NM. It is
unclear if the sponsor of the bill intended to develop a new teen pregnancy prevention program at
CYFD aimed at at-risk youth.
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
Hispanic females compose 46% of the female population aged 15-17, but nearly 71% of the
births to females ages 15-17 in NM are to Hispanic females. While birth rates for White teens in
NM decreased by 28.2% from 2000 to 2004, there was little change in birth rates for Hispanic
and American Indian teens (NM DOH/Family Planning Program Teen Pregnancy Fact Sheet
2007). The birth rate among Hispanic females has declined less than the rate for all races both in
New Mexico and in the United States.
Teen pregnancy prevention is an important public health issue affecting Hispanic, Native
American and African American communities. Expanding outreach to provide access to a greater
number of youths in these ethno-cultural communities would contribute to reducing the high
rates of teen pregnancy.
ALTERNATIVES
Replace Children, Youth and Families Department with the Department of Health.
DL/mt:nt