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

SPONSOR Campos

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1-28-2008

HB

SHORT TITLE Las Vegas Veterans Services

SB 375

ANALYST Dearing

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY08

FY09

$50.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Veterans’ Services Department (VSD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 375 appropriates $50 thousand from the general fund for expenditure in FY09 to

Veterans’ Services department to contract for the provision of veterans’ services in Las Vegas

and the surrounding communities.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $50 thousand contained in Senate Bill 375 is a recurring expense to the

General Fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY09 shall

revert to the General Fund.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

The Veterans’ Services department has a Veteran Service Officer in Las Vegas that provides

outreach services to Las Vegas and San Miguel counties.

The department’s Field Services division includes 18 offices statewide. Veteran Service Officers

are tasked with registering New Mexico veterans and dependents for state benefits and assisting

with claims for federal VA compensation, pension, education, medical care and death benefits.

Senate Bill 375 - Page

2

According the Federal Veterans Administration’s 2005 estimates, there were 3146 veterans in

San Miguel and Mora counties.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

No performance implications reported by the agency. However, the appropriation that Senate

Bill 375 provides would have the potential to positively impact several of the department’s

performance measures.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

No administrative implications reported by the agency. The department would be the fiscal

agent for the appropriation provided in Senate Bill 375.

None noted by the department.

PD/mt