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

SPONSOR Lopez

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

01/31/08

HB

SHORT TITLE Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Program

SB 479

ANALYST Geisler

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY08

FY09

$20.0

Recurring

General

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates: Senate Bill 165

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Health (DOH)

Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 479 would appropriate $20,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Health

(DOH) to support the Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Program for expenditure in fiscal

year 2009). Any unexpended funds would revert to the General Fund.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The funding in SB 479 is not included in DOH’s executive budget request.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

In New Mexico, about 325,000 students spend their days in our elementary and secondary

schools. In New Mexico, 11.3% of children 17 years of age and younger (56,900) have ever had

asthma and 7.5% of New Mexican children (37,800) currently have asthma (DOH Burden of

Senate Bill 479 – Page

2

Asthma in New Mexico 2006 Surveillance Report). Asthma is the leading cause of school

absence.

Poor air quality caused by unsatisfactory ventilation systems and other structural problems are

significant contributors to respiratory illnesses such as asthma. Poor ventilation and indoor

allergens such as mold can play a significant role in triggering asthma attacks. Because students

generally spend about 90% of their days indoors, poor air quality can trigger asthma symptoms

The DOH Asthma Program often responds to calls from the public and schools who are

concerned that air quality in school classrooms are triggering respiratory illnesses such as

asthma.

The Tools for Schools Program has proven effective in conducting environmental assessments

and improving the air quality in school buildings in hundreds of schools nationwide. This

Program has also been used effectively in several school systems in New Mexico – Albuquerque,

Gadsden, Bernalillo, Carrizozo, Deming, Rio Rancho, Roswell and Maxwell.

PED notes that the tools for schools program was originally initiated for New Mexico Schools

through a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In 2006, $330.0 was

appropriated from the PSCOC fund for this program. The Public School Facilities Authority has

contracted with the Board of Regents of the University of New Mexico to provided assessments

at selected elementary schools for indoor air quality issues.

Good indoor air quality is an essential component of a healthier environment and may have a

direct impact in assisting schools in educating children. The funds form this bill will be used to

improve indoor air quality in New Mexico schools through an assessment process. Certain

schools will be selected for participation. After a thorough assessment has been done a detailed

summary will be written containing the findings and recommendations to the school districts’

superintendents. Recommendations may include repairs of roof leaks, HVAC systems, etc.

DUPLICATION

Senate Bill 165 contains $33,200 to conduct environmental assessments of public schools

pursuant to the indoor air quality tools for schools program

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

DOH notes that it has been reported that children living in poverty have higher asthma rates. K-5

students in public school districts where less than 58.3% of students received free or reduced

lunches had a lower prevalence of asthma (6.5%) than students in school districts where more

than 58.3% of students received free or reduced lunches (8.0%). In addition, public elementary

school students in Large Town Areas had the highest asthma prevalence (9.2%). Also, asthma

hospitalization rates are higher for boys than girls until the teenage years at which point rates

become higher for girls than boys.

GG/nt