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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Stapleton
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
2/11/07
HB 356
SHORT TITLE Disabled Person Driver's Rehab Program
SB
ANALYST Weber
APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)
Appropriation
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY07
FY08
$179.2
Recurring
General Fund
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
Governor’s Commission on Disability
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
House Bill 356 appropriates $179 thousand from the general fund to the Governor’s Commission
on Disability for the purpose of providing a driver’s rehabilitation program for disabled persons.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The appropriation of $179 thousand contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general
fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of Fiscal Year 2008 shall
revert to the general fund.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
The governor’s Commission on Disability estimates the following as start-up costs related to a
rehabilitation driver’s program.
Training Vehicle 32,700
Equipment 6,000
Staff (2.5 FTE) 31,600
pg_0002
House Bill 356 – Page
2
Continuing Edu. 2,200
Licensure 400
Insurance 1,700
Vehicle Gas/Maintenance 4,600
However, this only totals $78 thousand and it is not explained how the other $100 thousand
would be used.
The Governor’s Commission notes that for most people, driving a motor vehicle in New Mexico
is essential to the tasks of everyday living - commuting to work, running errands, or taking
children to school. Driving is synonymous with freedom, independence, and self-sufficiency.
This is also true for a person with a disability. After rehabilitative assessment and evaluation, the
driving needs of people with disabilities can be accommodated through the use of adaptive
vehicle equipment, safe driver training, or both.
When persons with disabilities want to drive or need re-training to drive, due to a recent
disability, there are not driving training facilities available in New Mexico. Due to the unique
driving techniques needed for these drivers, driving schools do not wish to train them and do not
have the proper staff. Organizations in the past have had instruction for such drivers; however,
insurance costs have prevented them from continuing. This is an effort to provide a source for
individuals with disabilities to learn to properly drive a vehicle with adaptive devices.
The Governor’s Commission continues that it would be necessary to send out to Request for
Proposals (RFP) or the agency would need to find a governmental or other non-profit
organization to provide services. The agency would coordinate and administer the funding for
this appropriation.
The Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists refers two companies in New Mexico
offering such services.
MW/csd