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

SPONSOR M Sanchez

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1/22/08

1/25/08 HB

SHORT TITLE

Hispanic Affairs Dept. Act

SB 260

ANALYST Wilson

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY08

FY09

$700.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Health (DOH)

Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 260 appropriates $700,000 from the general fund too the Department of Finance and

Administration (DFA) for expenditure in fiscal year 2009 to pay expenses of establishing the

Hispanic Affairs Department (HAD) The bill also sets out the duties and responsibilities of the

HAD as well as creating an advisory commission.

The purpose of the Hispanic Affairs Department Act is to create a single, unified department to

administer laws and exercise functions that will enable the executive branch to achieve a

coordinated and effective system dedicated to improving educational achievement gaps and

health care access and reducing poverty rates among Hispanics in New Mexico.

The bill also creates a Hispanic Affairs Commission (HAC) consisting of 10 members who are

residents of New Mexico and appointed by the Governor as follows:

•

two members who are members of the Hispano round table of New Mexico;

•

two members who are members of the league of united Latin American citizens;

•

two members who are members of the Hispanic chamber of commerce;

•

one member who is a member of the Mexican- American legal defense and education

Senate Bill 260 – Page

2

foundation;

•

one member who is a member of the national Hispanic cultural center foundation;

•

one member who is a member of the American civil liberties union; and

•

one member who is non-Hispanic.

Members who represent organizations shall be appointed by the governor from lists of three

names submitted by each of the organizations represented.

Members shall serve four-year terms. A vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the governor

in the same manner as the original appointment for the unexpired term of the vacating member.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $700,000 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2009 shall revert

to the general fund.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

The mission of the HAD will be to achieve a coordinated and effective system dedicated

to improving educational achievement gaps and health care access and reducing poverty rates

among Hispanics in New Mexico.

The HAC will advise the new HAD Secretary, receive and disseminate information on issues

that impact the welfare of Hispanics in New Mexico and provide an opportunity for the

presentation and exchange of ideas with respect to Hispanic affairs by any interested party that

result in the promotion of the welfare of Hispanics in New Mexico.

The HAD and the advisory commission will:

•

Act as the clearinghouse for all state programs affecting Hispanics of New Mexico;

•

Serve as a catalyst to coordinate and invigorate activities that will improve academic

achievement of Hispanic students in the public schools;

•

Involve and empower parents and community members in becoming active leaders in

solving their own problems; and

•

Align state efforts of public and private entities dealing with issues important to

Hispanics.

DOH provided the following:

In New Mexico, Hispanics comprise 42% of the population. According to the “Racial and

Ethnic Health Disparities Report Card" published by the DOH in August 2007, Hispanics

are negatively impacted by several health status disparities. The mission proposed by

SB260 for the Hispanic Affairs Department would be to coordinate and effective system

for improving educational achievement gaps and health care access and reduce poverty

rates among Hispanics in New Mexico.

Senate Bill 260 – Page

3

Hispanics have the highest rate teen births 55.3 per 1000 which is 60% higher that the

national rate; the highest rate for Chlamydia at 3,828 per 100,000 population; highest

numbers of HIV/AIDS 9.4 per 100,000 population; and the highest rates of drug induced

deaths at 22.2 per 100,000 population.

PED notes there is currently no one agency at the state level that provides the services contained

in this act. They believe that the creation of the HAD will:

•

Serve as a catalyst to coordinate and invigorate activities that will improve academic

achievement of Hispanic students in the public schools;

•

Contribute to the development of relevant instructional materials for New Mexico

students in Bilingual programs and other content areas;

•

Support and create opportunities for Hispanic students to attend programs of higher

education;

•

Share information about accomplishments and contributions of state leaders, which will

serve as role models for new Hispanic generations; and

•

Involve and empower parents and community members in becoming active leaders in

solving their own problems.

•

Align state efforts of public and private entities dealing with issues important to

Hispanics.

W/mt