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

SPONSOR:	Lopez		DATE TYPED:	1/31/02		HB
SHORT TITLE:		Repealing Delayed Repeal of Child Health Care Act				SB	272
					ANALYST:		Weber

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY02

FY03

FY02

FY03

NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

New Mexico Health Policy Commission

Attorney General

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

SB-272 repeals Laws 1998, Chapter 52, Section 9. Section 9 repeals what is commonly known as the Child Health Care Act effective July 1, 2002. The purpose of this act is to enable the state to provide child-care health assistance to uninsured low-income children and their families. Low-income children and their families are defined in the act as children who have not reached their 19^th birthday with a family income at or below 235% of the federal poverty level.

Significant Issues

The Human Services Department reports that if the Child Health Care Act is repealed the agency can continue to administer the SCHIP program for children in the Federal poverty level range of 185-235%, but on a regulatory basis rather than statutory. If Section 9 is repealed, the statute will require continuing coverage for children up to 235% of the federal poverty level.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

None

MW/njw