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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Ruiz
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
1/31/06
2/12/06 HB HJM 44/aHFl#1
SHORT TITLE Commitment to Healthy Communities
SB
ANALYST Lewis
APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)
Appropriation
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY06
FY07
NFI
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Duplicates SJM 27.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
Department of Health (DOH)
Health Policy Commission (HPC)
New Mexico Environment Department (NMED)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of HFl#1 Amendment
House Floor Amendment 1 removes the phrase “especially groundwater” from the “whereas”
paragraph noting that communities are particularly at risk from environmental degradation due to
the existing and threatened contamination of scarce resources.
Synopsis of Original Bill
House Joint Memorial 44 requests that the Department of Health and the Department of Envi-
ronment jointly review their functions, operations and work as well as the constitutional provi-
sions, statutes, regulations and programs that the departments administer to determine, with par-
ticular emphasis on minority and low-income communities:
A.
the extent to which each department serves to promote healthy communities and meaningful
public participation in environmental decision-making;
B.
the changes that would be required for each department to more effectively promote healthy
communities and meaningful public participation; and
C.
the changes that would be required in each department for the two departments to work co-
pg_0002
House Joint Memorial 44/aHFl#1 – Page
2
operatively on issues of environmental degradation, public health and public participation in
environmental decision-making.
The joint memorial further requests that:
the Departments of Health and Environment report on their joint findings and their work to
the appropriate interim legislative committee no later than August 31, 2006; and that
copies of this memorial be transmitted to the Governor, the Secretary of Health and the Sec-
retary of Environment.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) states that the full extent of additional staff
responsibilities and associated costs cannot be precisely evaluated.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
According to the Department of Health (DOH), New Mexico and the federal government have
underscored the importance of healthy communities and the need for more meaningful public
participation in environmental decision-making with New Mexico Executive Order EO-05-056
and the United States Executive Order 12898 and the creation of the national environmental jus-
tice advisory council.
Environmental degradation poses risks to public health and threatens contamination of scarce
natural resources, especially ground water. These problems tend to concentrate in communities
without political power and resources, especially in minority and low-income communities.
DOH suggests that this joint memorial could help develop sustainable and effective collaboration
between the Departments of Health and Environment to promote healthy communities and public
participation in environmental decision-making for all New Mexicans.
NMED notes that
on October 17, 2005 the Secretaries of the Environment and Health Depart-
ments signed a memorandum of understanding creating a joint task force, the Precautionary
Principal Task Force, to guide activities that prevent harm to the environment and harm to hu-
man health and to advise executive branch agencies and other state entities and higher education
institutions about precautionary principles. The concept of precautionary action is the basis of
many activities designed to protect the health and safety of citizens and focuses on opportunities
to promote environmental and economic justice, including meaningful participation of communi-
ties in decisions affecting the public’s health, to protect the environment and to safeguard the
health of all New Mexicans. The findings and recommendations of the Precautionary Principal
Task Force are to be reported on or before October 1, 2006.
With regard to environmental degradation and health, the Health Policy Commission (HPC)
notes that, according to the World Health Organization, environmental conditions are a major
direct and indirect determinant of human health. Over five million children per year die from ill-
nesses and other conditions caused by the environments in which they live, learn and play.
Around two million children under five die every year from acute respiratory infections, the
largest killer of young children. These infections are aggravated by environmental hazards such
as indoor air pollution.
pg_0003
House Joint Memorial 44/aHFl#1 – Page
3
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
NMED notes that the joint memorial will require additional responsibilities of NMED and DOH
staff, who would be diverted from their primary tasks to meet the measure’s requirements.
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