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

SPONSOR:	Beam		DATE TYPED:	2/11/03		HB	370
SHORT TITLE:		Early Childhood Dental Caries Program				SB
					ANALYST:		L. Baca

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY03	FY04	FY03	FY04
	$25.0			Recurring	GF

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to Appropriation for the University of New Mexico in the General Appropriation Act

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Responses Received From

Department of Health (DOH)

Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 370 appropriates $25.0 from the general fund to the Board of Regents of the University of New Mexico for the Health Sciences Center Division to create a facilitated task force to coordinate efforts to develop a comprehensive early childhood caries (ECC) program.

Significant Issues

The DOH reports New Mexico has a higher rate of children experiencing dental decay (64.6%) and higher rates of children with untreated decay (37%). An ECC program treats children 3 years old and under for prevention of baby bottle decay. Early intervention reduces future demand for dental services.

Socioeconomic conditions in New Mexico argue for this type of program. According to the DOH, New Mexico ranks 49^th in the country in oral health access. Currently 29 of the state’s

thirty-three counties are designated as Heath Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAS), and twenty-five of the thirty-three counties are designated as HPSAs for dental care.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $25.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2004 reverts to the general fund.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

This request was not included in UNM’ Health Science Center budget request to the UNM Board of Regents, and was thus not included in the projects submitted to the CHE by UNM for review.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

1. How large is the budget for the Health Sciences Center?

2. Could this $25.0 be found within that budget to fund this task force activity?

3. Shouldn’t the Health Sciences Center be doing this type of activity anyway?

LRB/yr:prr