Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance

committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports

if they are used for other purposes.

Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are a vailable on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us).

Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not. Previously issued FIRs and

attachments may be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

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

SPONSOR Komadina

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

02/13/07

HB

SHORT TITLE

UNM Institute of Public Health Costs

SB 45

ANALYST Hanika Ortiz

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

$500.1

Recurring

General fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

University of New Mexico (UNM)

Higher Education Department (HED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 45 appropriates $500,060 from the general fund to UNM’s Institute of Public Health

for expenditure in FY08 as follows:

(1) $387,783 for personnel costs; and

(2) $112,277 for equipment upgrades.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $500,060 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY08 shall revert to the gen-

eral fund. These funds will augment funding received by UNM through the General Appropria-

tion Act for the operation of the Institute of Public Health.

This appropriation will help fund a regional MPH extension program similar to the highly suc-

cessful MPH demonstration program located in Shiprock. Like the Shiprock students, those in

the extension program will be in the workforce while attending MPH courses.

Senate Bill 45 – Page

2

This proposal and an appropriation request for $500,060 thousand were submitted to the HED by

UNM Health Sciences Center and were not included in the Departments funding recommenda-

tion for FY08.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

This requested appropriation will create a regional extension of the Master’s in Public Health

Program for people in the public health system; make available continuing education and support

for people working in the system; explore the feasibility of a doctoral level program in public

health jointly at UNM and NMSU; and, enhance and strengthen the UNM MPH Program in the

area of environmental health.

The regional extension MPH efficiently develops a skilled workforce. Students hold jobs and are

able to apply what they learn as they learn it. Gallup is chosen for the next cycle because of the

likelihood of concurrent financial support from the Indian Health Service and Navajo Nation and

an active interest at the Gallup Branch. The program will move on from Gallup after one or two

cycles of students to a new extension site identified on the basis of need and feasibility

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

NM is not unique in having a public health workforce that lacks professional training. Only a

small minority of professionals in the Department of Health have specific training in public

health. This is a problem for NM as the State struggles to grapple to improve the health status of

its population and reduce disparities. It is also a problem that will become more critical as de-

partments of public health move toward a system of national accreditation.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

Services of the Institute of Public Health may be limited.

AHO/nt