April 8, 1999

The Honorable Raymond G. Sanchez and

Members of the House of Representatives

Executive-Legislative Building

Santa Fe, New Mexico 87503

Honorable Speaker and Members of the House:

I have this day VETOED and am returning HOUSE BILL 647, as amended, enacted by the Forty-Fourth Legislature, First Session, 1999.

The proposed Gift of Life Act establishes a fund and an 11 person advisory council to educate New Mexicans about organ and tissue donation, advise the Department of Health and make recommendations to the Taxation and Revenue Department and recommend how trust fund monies should be spent. Every hospital in the state is required to establish a protocol for identifying donors.

While the intent of the legislation is noble, the advisory council approach is unnecessary and the trust fund based on donations, unrealistic. Also, the increased workload at the Motor Vehicle Division, however small, was not accounted for in this year’s appropriation to the division.

Sincerely,

Gary E. Johnson

Governor