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

SPONSOR Stell

DATE TYPED 2/2/05

HB 225

SHORT TITLE Food & Agriculture Policy Council

SB

ANALYST Woods

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$150.0

Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

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

Duplicates SB429

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA)

New Mexico Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 225 – Making an Appropriation to New Mexico Department of Agriculture for the Food

and Agriculture Policy Council – appropriates $150,000 from the general fund to the Board of Re-

gents of New Mexico State University for the New Mexico Department of Agriculture for expendi-

ture in FY06 to fund the activities of the Food and Agriculture Policy Council. Any unexpended or

unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY06 shall revert to the general fund.

Significant Issues

NMDA indicates that the Food and Agriculture Policy Council is comprised of representatives

from the agricultural industry, state, local, and tribal government officials, and the general pub-

lic. The council focuses on key food and agricultural policy issues, addresses top policy issues,

and attempts to strengthen advocacy among agencies, organizations, individuals and communi-

ties for New Mexico food and agriculture. It also serves as an important forum for agricultural

groups and interested parties, including, among others, representatives from the New Mexico

House Bill 225 -- Page 2

Department of Agriculture, New Mexico Environment Department, New Mexico Department of

Health, the New Mexico Dairy Association, and the Cooperative Extension Service. The council

has been active in New Mexico for approximately two years and is currently funded by grants

from a variety of sources.

CHE notes that this request was not in the list of priority projects submitted by NMSU to CHE

for review. Accordingly, the request was not included in the commission’s funding recommen-

dation for FY06.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

Even Though this appropriation is considered a recurring expense to the general fund both

NMDA and CHE suggest that this is a non-recurring expense to the general fund. Further, any

unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY06 shall revert to the general

fund.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

This program would be administered by NMDA, with no additional administrative burden pro-

jected. Funds would be disbursed to the Food and Agriculture Policy Council on a “pass through”

basis, as memorialized by memorandum of understanding.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

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

Duplicates SB429

BFW/yr