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

SPONSOR:	Taylor, JP		DATE TYPED:	03/15/03		HB	HJM 109
SHORT TITLE:		Museum of NM Policy & Preservation Plan				SB
					ANALYST:		Gonzales

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY03	FY04	FY03	FY04
	None		Significant Staff Time

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to HJM108

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Joint Memorial 109 requests the Office of Cultural Affairs and the Museum of New Mexico to establish cultural policies and preservation plans for each of the components of the Museum of New Mexico.

Significant Issues

It is imperative the collections within the Museum of New Mexico are preserved and cared for; yet, the Office of Cultural Affairs does not have a cultural policy and preservation plan to ensure that the state’s enormous historical and cultural heritage will endure for future generations.

As noted by the Office of Cultural Affairs, the cultural sector plays a significant role in the economic vitality, education, and quality of life in New Mexico communities. A statewide cultural policy and preservation plan, which is expansive and takes into consideration the entire cultural sector of New Mexico (rather than just Museum of New Mexico components [as provided in this memorial]), would provide focus and direction for a coordinated effort to expand the role of cultural activities in communities throughout the state. The development of a cultural policy and preservation plan – with input from diverse stakeholders from throughout New Mexico – would provide a framework for the best possible development and care of the state’s cultural assets . . . museums, arts and artifact collections, historic buildings, archaeological sites, and other resources. OCA further indicates a cultural policy and preservation plan would represent a recognition by state policymakers of the importance of investing time and attention to arts and cultural activities, and it would help all New Mexico citizens understand the role of arts and culture in their daily lives.

Since the Office of Cultural Affairs is being considered to become a Governor’s cabinet-level department, the department states it is ready for a new level of engagement in state policy work and recognizes this is an appropriate time to develop a cultural policy and preservation plan for the department and its cultural resource responsibilities. Such a plan would allow the department to take stock of its cultural assets, re-assess and re-organize them in order to benefit all New Mexico residents.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

There is no appropriation associated with this memorial. OCA indicates there would be considerable staff time devoted to participating in the development of the plan. Based on the experience of other states that have enacted such cultural policy plans, they have proven to be effective mechanisms for directly or indirectly increasing revenues for the cultural sector. The potential benefit to Office of Cultural Affairs museums and programs may be significant

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

Agency staff time would be necessary to establish cultural policies and preservation plans. The Office of Cultural Affairs would devote staff members for participation in the development of such a plan. OCA indicates staff would include representatives from department administration, as well as individuals having expertise from the Museum of New Mexico, as well as the department’s other museum, library, arts and historic preservation divisions. The department would encourage a broad range of stakeholders be involved in creation of the plan, including advocates from both the public and private sectors. It should be noted that administratively, the department is now capable of cross-division, cross-agency dialogue to encourage and sustain public investment in cultural activities.

RELATIONSHIP

This memorial relates to House Joint Memorial 108, requesting a reorganization study for the Office of Cultural Affairs.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

The Office of Cultural Affairs suggests that the memorial be more expansive, that the plan include all statewide cultural resources. (See “Other Substantive Issues” for OCA suggested changes.)

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The way the memorial is currently written, the Cultural Policy and Preservation Plan is to be developed by the Office of Cultural Affairs, applying only to the Museum of New Mexico. To maximize the benefit of such a policy plan for all the citizens of the state, it should be expansive to include all facilities and programs of OCA, as well as the entire cultural sector of the state—individual artists, craftspeople, performing artists, non-profit arts and humanities organizations, other state agencies, arts-related businesses, and contributors to not-for-profit arts and humanities organizations – be they individuals, corporations, or foundations.

The plan should address the full range of issues including tax incentives and other mechanisms for providing public funding for cultural facilities and activities, arts education in the schools, and expanding access to the arts. Similarly, the architectural, artifactual, and archival heritage of New Mexico belongs to private citizens, public agencies, and non-profit organizations in communities throughout the state, not solely to the Museum of New Mexico. To maximize the benefit of the Cultural Policy and Preservation Plan, the Office of Cultural Affairs should insure that it includes the entire historic legacy of the state, and not solely the Museum of New Mexico.

The Office of Cultural Affairs suggests the following language changes in the memorial to read as follows:

· Change “Museum of New Mexico” to “State of New Mexico.”

· Change the WHEREAS clauses as follows:

WHEREAS, New Mexico is fortunate to have a large and diverse cultural sector, encompassing the arts, folklife, historic preservation, and the humanities; and

WHEREAS, New Mexico’s cultural sector is poised to advance to new levels of collaboration and innovation that will benefit the economic vitality, quality of life, and education of the citizens of the state; and

WHEREAS, collaboration among state agencies, federal cultural partners, national cultural organizations, and private organizations has demonstrated effectiveness in providing political credibility, raising public visibility, and increasing revenue for the cultural sector; and

WHEREAS, Cultural Policies and Preservation Plans have a proven track record in other states for developing these collaborations; and

WHEREAS, the Office of Cultural Affairs is the appropriate Executive Branch agency of the State of New Mexico to convene the public process to develop a statewide Cultural Policy and Preservation Plan;

· Change the Resolution clauses as follows:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the Office of Cultural Affairs develop a comprehensive statewide Cultural Policy and Preservation Plan for the State of New Mexico.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the Office of Cultural Affairs.

JMG/njw