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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to SB206

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Veterans Service Commission and Office of Indian Affairs

SUMMARY

Synopsis of SIAC Amendment

The Senate Indian and Cultural Affairs Committee amendment is a technical amendment correcting the name of a fund to the "Navajo Nation Housing Trust Fund" rather than a veterans housing fund.

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 203 appropriates $3,000.0 from the general fund to the Office of Indian Affairs for the purpose of housing indigent Navajo Nation veterans through the Navajo Nation veterans housing trust fund.

Significant Issues

There is a great demand for housing on the Navajo Nation. A 1990 survey indicates a waiting list of 13,350 families in need of housing in New Mexico and Arizona. According to the Office of Indian Affairs, private home ownership opportunities are less than five percent in reservation communities. However, it is unknown how many of these families qualify as indigent veterans.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

There would be no fiscal impact to the Office of Indian Affairs since the project would be handled by a Joint Powers Agreement.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

According to the Veterans Service Commission, it may be necessary to devote personnel and time to assisting veterans in sorting out possible overlapping or conflicting jurisdictions between various housing programs. The agency maintains a service officer in both Gallup and Farmington, as well as a Native American Program that handles Native American veteran advocacy issues. The Veteran Service Agency is presently working on veteran homelessness issues and is compiling data that will be submitted to the executive and legislative branches at a later date.

CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP

Senate Bill 206 proposes a similar program.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

· Have program criteria, goals, staffing needs, operational structure or identification of a facility for housing indigent Navajo Nation veterans been developed?

· Would jurisdiction and control be under the state or the Navajo Nation?

· What consideration will be given to the need of unique services required by veterans needing medical, psychiatric or social services?

· What expertise or provider of service would be utilized for a project of such magnitude?

· What service does the New Mexico Veterans Service Commission provide to indigent veterans of the Navajo Nation?

LMK/gm