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

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Martinez

 

DATE TYPED:

02/20/03

 

HB

746

 

SHORT TITLE:

Navajo Community Emergency Management

 

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST:

Weber

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

$300.0

 

 

Recurring

General Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

Similar to SB 481

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

Responses Received From

Office of Indian Affairs

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

House Bill 746 appropriates $300,000 from the General Fund to the Office of Indian Affairs for emergency management services in New Mexico Navajo communities.

 

     Significant Issues

 

The Office of Indian Affairs reports the funds would be used to contract with the Department of Emergency Services, Navajo Nation, to coordinate and mobilize emergency services for Navajo Nation Chapters in New Mexico.

 

The funds would be used to administer police, fire, and ambulance services. The department is composed of six employees.  Funding would also assist disaster victims with emergency shelter, food, clothing and water, and referrals to Human Services, and to other organizations that provide relief. 

 

While the first priority of the Department of Emergency Management Services of the Navajo Nation is human disaster victims, assistance may also be offered to livestock. The Department delivered feed and water for livestock impacted by the recent drought. 

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $300.0 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 shall revert to the General Fund.

 

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

 

Emergency services usually fall under the purview of agencies such as the Department of Public Safety, the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, or the Department of Military Affairs. Emergency funds, authorized by an executive order that declares a state of emergency, are used by these agencies when necessary. While the Office of Indian Affairs indicated the use of the funds, the bill itself is unclear as to the exact intended purpose or definition of an emergency.

 

MW/sb:prr