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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Harrison
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
02/27/07
HB 1200
SHORT TITLE
REPLACE COLUMBUS DAY WITH "INDIGENOUS DAY"
SB
ANALYST Hanika Ortiz
ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL OPERATING BUDGET IMPACT (dollars in thousands)
FY07
FY08
FY09 3 Year
Total Cost
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
Total
NFI
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
House Bill 1200 proposes to amend Section 12-5-2 NMSA 1978 by replacing “Columbus Day"
with “Indigenous Day" in statute. The bill amends 57-12-21 NMSA 1978 with clean-up
language; and, further provides that “Indigenous Day" be considered a “business day" for the
purposes of that section and be observed as a legal bank holiday with the same consideration as
other legal holidays observed in New Mexico.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
There will be a minimal administrative cost for statewide update, distribution and documentation
of any statutory changes.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
Other State designated legal holidays include: New Year ’s Day; Martin Luther King, Jr’s
birthday; President’s day; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Veteran’s Day;
Thanksgiving Day; and, Christmas Day. There is no holiday specifically set aside in New
Mexico to honor a great Native American or Native Americans or “indigenous" peoples.
Columbus' voyages across the Atlantic Ocean began a European effort at exploration and
colonization of the Western Hemisphere. While history places great significance on his first
voyage of 1492, he did not actually reach the mainland until his third voyage in 1498. Likewise,
he was not the earliest European explorer to reach the Americas, as there are accounts of
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House Bill 1200 – Page
2
European transatlantic contact prior to 1492.
PED reports that the significance of early European explorations to the changes made in the
world during the 15
th
Century and our broader and more enlightened understanding of events by
today’s standards call for a broader understanding of the celebration. Doing so might be an
opportunity for New Mexicans to strengthen their knowledge and understanding and correct
misunderstandings about history. It will allow New Mexicans to celebrate a more universal
recognition of accomplishments since the period of exploration that is symbolized by Columbus.
PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS
President Roosevelt set aside Columbus Day
as a day marking Christopher
Columbus' first
voyage to the Americas in 1492. Since 1971, the holiday has been commemorated in the U.S. on
the second Monday in October. However, it is generally only observed today by banks, the Post
Office, and most governments and schools. Most businesses remain open on full schedules.
CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP
Relates to HM 27; providing reasons why New Mexico should replace “Columbus Day" with
“Indigenous Day".
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
Some people oppose Columbus Day, claiming his achievements are not worthy of a holiday. In
recent years, the holiday has been rejected by some people who view it as a celebration of
conquest and genocide by the Spaniards. In its place, Indigenous Peoples Day is sometimes
celebrated. In the U.S. Virgin Islands, "Puerto Rico-Virgin Islands Friendship Day" is celebrated
on the same day as Columbus Day, due to the controversy surrounding the atrocities committed
against the indigenous peoples of the present-day Caribbean during the Spanish colonization of
the New World. In the state of South Dakota, the day is officially a state holiday known as
"Native American Day", not Columbus Day.
Some have argued that the responsibility of contemporary governments and their citizens for
allegedly ongoing acts of genocide against Native Americans are masked by positive Columbus
myths and celebrations. These critics argue that a particular understanding of the legacy of
Columbus has been used to legitimize their actions, and it is this misuse of history that must be
exposed.
ALTERNATIVES
Following South Dakota’s observance and replace “Indigenous Day" with “Native American
Day".
WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL
Columbus Day will continue to be observed as a legal holiday in New Mexico; and, like all other
holidays some will celebrate it and others may not.
AHO/mt