[1] 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.

 

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

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Stapleton

 

DATE TYPED:

01/17/02

 

HB

101

 

SHORT TITLE:

Interpreters for Deaf Persons

 

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST:

Chabot

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY02

FY03

FY02

FY03

 

 

100.0

 

 

 

Recurring

General Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

LFC Files

Commission for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Persons (CDHH)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

This bill appropriates $100.0 from the general fund to CDHH for the purpose of contracting for expanded statewide outreach efforts, including case management, sign language interpreting, counseling and vocational placement for deaf and hard-of-hearing persons.

 

     Significant Issues

 

During hearings by the interim Legislative Health and Human Services Committee, groups testified about a lack of funding for deaf services in New Mexico.  The Community Outreach Program for the Deaf (COPD), a non-profit group providing services in the Albuquerque area, testified that they were only able to generate about half of the monthly funding needed to sustain their program.  COPD had been advised by their parent organization that without additional funding the program would be ended.  This appropriation would allow CDHH to provide some funding for programs of this type on a statewide basis.  CDHH states that this would have a positive effect on the deaf and hard-of-hearing population of New Mexico particularly in rural areas. 

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $100.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2003 shall revert to the general fund.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

 

GCHH would have to clearly develop specifications on what they wanted to accomplish with the appropriation and develop requests for proposal accordingly.  In addition, performance measures would need to be developed for measuring accomplishments.

 

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

 

1.     What programs does CDHH know about that are available throughout the state that can be expanded to meet the intent of the appropriation?

2.     What services are available in rural areas and will this appropriation make additional services available?

 

GAC/njw

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