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.

The LFC is only preparing FIRs on bills referred to the Senate Finance Committee, the Senate Ways and Means Committee, the House Appropriations and Finance Committee and the House Taxation and Revenue Committee. The chief clerks are responsible for preparing and issuing all other bill analyses.

Only the most recent FIR version, excluding attachments, is available on the Intranet. Previously issued FIRs and attachments may be obtained from the LFC office in Room 416 of the State Capitol Building.

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Sunrise/Sunset Subcommittee Report

SUMMARY

Synopsis of SFl#1 Amendment

This Senate Floor amendment strikes the Senate Finance Committee amendment. The effect of this amendment is to revert back to the original bill, in which all boards and commissions will remain.

Synopsis of SFC Amendment

The Senate Finance Committee amendment removed the Public Labor Relations Board and the State Racing Commission from the bill.

Synopsis of Bill

This bill extends the termination date for the following boards or commissions to July 1, 2006: Athletic Trainers Practice Board, New Mexico State Board of Public Accountancy, Board of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, New Mexico Real Estate Commission, Board of Massage Therapy, Interior Design Board, Board of Thanatopractice, New Mexico Athletic Commission, Counseling and Therapy Practice Board, Real Estate Appraisers Board, Board of Examiners for Architects, State Board of Professional Engineers & Land Surveyors, Water Quality Control Commission, State Racing Commission, Public Employee Labor Relations Board, Labor and Industrial Commission, Human Rights Commission, New Mexico Livestock Board, and Coal Surface Mining Commission.

Significant Issues

In accordance with the Sunset Act (Chapter 12, Article 9 NMSA 1978), the Legislative Finance Committee is responsible for holding a public hearing prior to the termination of any agency subject to the Sunset Act and is required to submit legislation for continuation of the agency as an amendment to the delayed repeal section covering creation of the agency and its related statutes. The sunset process is an integral element to legislative oversight that ensures accountability of self-regulating professions such as dentistry or accountancy. During the 1998 sunset review process, the LFC sunrise/sunset subcommittee reviewed the performance of nineteen boards or commissions in serving the public. In each case, the subcommittee discovered that each board or commission was performing a valuable public service and addressing the needs of the constituency it serves directly.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

If the above-listed boards or commissions are not extended, they will terminate operations on July 1, 2000, and their practice acts will automatically be repealed on July 1, 2000.

MV/gm