NOTE: As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended for use by the standing finance committees of the legislature.  The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used in any other situation.

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates/Conflicts with/Companion to/Relates to

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 78 appropriates $1,000.0 from the general fund to the Vocational Rehabilitation Division of the State Department of Public Education to expand consumer-controlled, community-based independent living services as defined by the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, for people with disabilities. The services shall include peer counseling, information and referral, systems advocacy, life skills training and other related services. The statewide Independent Living Council shall determine the distribution of the services.

Significant Issues

The Independent Living Program provides statewide services, planning, networking, and contracting for independent living services for persons with severe disabilities as defined under Title VII, Chapter 1 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended in 1992. Services include: information and referral, independent living skills training, cross disability peer counseling, individual and systems advocacy, personal assistance training, accessible housing and transportation for targeted counties, community awareness, rehabilitation engineering, residence modification, and assistive technology.

According to DVR, independent living services are frequently unavailable in many New Mexico communities for individuals with disabilities. This bill would provide funding to enhance the current Independent Living program funded in the agency budget and allow expansion into areas where needs have been identified.

This bill provides and additional $1,000.0 appropriation to the existing program in DVR.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

House Bill 78 appropriates $1,000.0 from the general fund to the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation for expenditure in fiscal year 2000. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2000 shall revert to the general fund.

For fiscal year 2000 the independent living program in the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation as contained in the LFC recommendation is funded as requested by the agency at $1,002.5 from the general fund, and $247.2 in federal funds for a total of $1,249.7.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

This bill would have minimal short-term administrative impact since the agency currently supports the independent living program with authorized staff.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

This bill indicates that any unexpended or unencumbered balances remaining at the end of fiscal year 2000 shall revert to the general fund. The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation is a non-reverting agency, thus an amendment is suggested to delete the reversion language.

CTF/njw