NOTE:  As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended only 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 for other purposes.

 

The most recent FIR version (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) is available on the Legislative Website.  The Adobe PDF version includes all attachments, whereas the HTML version does not.  Previously issued FIRs and attachments may be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

 

 

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

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Nunez

 

DATE TYPED:

1-27-03

 

HB

124

 

SHORT TITLE:

Phraetophyte Eradication and Control

 

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST:

L. Baca

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

$5,000.0

 

 

Recurring

GF

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

Relates to HB 95

 

 

Relates to Appropriation for New Mexico State University in the General Appropriation Act.

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

LFC files

 

Responses Received From

 

New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA)

Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

House Bill 124 appropriates $5,000.0 from the general fund to the Board of Regents of New Mexico State University for expenditure in fiscal years 2003 through 2005 for a non-native phreatohphyte eradication and control program on the Pecos River and the Rio Grande basin.  Funding is to be divided equally between the two river basins.

 

The bill carries an emergency clause.

 

     Significant Issues

 

The Laws of 2002, Chapter 4, of the First Extraordinary Session include an appropriation of $2.5 million for each of the two river basins.  The $5.0 million total appropriation will be passed through NMSU to soil and water conservation districts with $2.5 million earmarked for each of the river basin areas.  The NMDA, which will continue to administer and oversee the activities, reports that great progress has been made in the Pecos River Basin where more than 9.1 thousand acres of salt cedar have been treated.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $5,000.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2005shall revert to the general fund.

 

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

 

House Bill 124 is similar to HB 95.  HB 95 appropriates $5,000.0 to NMSU to support soil and water conservation districts efforts to manage salt cedar and other phraetophytes in the Pecos River Basin.

 

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

 

This request was not submitted to the Commission on Higher Education for funding.

 

AMENDMENTS

 

The CHE suggests the following language for all new recurring higher education programs and expansion of current programs (assuming that funding will continue beyond 2002-2003):

 

“The institution receiving the appropriation in this bill submit a program evaluation to the Legislative Finance Committee and the Commission on higher Education by August 2005 detailing the benefits to the State of New Mexico from having implemented this program over a three period.”

 

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

 

  1. How have personnel from soil and water conservation districts been involved in planning, developing and impementing the control and eradication ?
  2. How long will it take to completely eradicate these non-native plants?
  3. Does NMDA have a statewide strategic plan for these programs ?

 

LRB/njw