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 Carraro

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

01/30/08

HB

SHORT TITLE Self-Directed Family Support Program

SB 454

ANALYST Geisler

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY08

FY09

$750.0

Recurring

General

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Health (DOH)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 454 would appropriate $750,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Health

(DOH) in fiscal year 2009 (FY09) to increase the number of persons and families participating in

the self-directed family support program, which assists families to meet the needs of their

children with disabilities and assists persons with disabilities to live successfully at home. Any

unexpended balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2009 shall revert to the General Fund.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation in SB 454 is not a part of DOH’s executive budget request for FY09. The

current budget for the Self Directed Family Support Program is just over $630,000. SB 454

would increase the State General Fund available for this program to approximately $1,380,000.

With this additional funding in FY09 the program could serve approximately 370 individuals and

their families.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

SB 454 would expand the Self Directed Family Support Program to serve approximately 200

additional individuals currently on the Developmental Disabilities Central Registry. Funding for

Senate Bill 454 – Page

2

this program is offered for services to individuals who are in the Central Registry based upon

date of registration (first come first served). Individuals participating in the program have been

waiting the longest for developmental disabilities services and generally participate in the

program the year before they are allocated to Developmental Disabilities Waiver services. This

program not only meets some of the temporary support needs of the individual but also offers

them and their families an opportunity to experience self directed services with a small budget.

Many of the individuals and families have expressed it was helpful to them in making decisions

regarding a choice between traditional Developmental Disabilities Waiver and Mi Via Waiver

Services.

Self Directed Family Support Services began as the result of a federal grant from the

Administration on Developmental Disabilities in three New Mexico communities in 2001. Since

its inception, the program has expanded to include communities throughout the State. This

program is funded entirely through State General Funds. This cost effective program allows for

individual choice in goods and services purchased through stipends. This program assists

families in meeting the temporary needs of children and adults with developmental disabilities.

In FY 2007 this program provided funding to 168 individuals with an average cost of $2430 per

individual as reported by the Fiscal Agent.

GG/mt