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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR SPAC
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
02/2/07
HB
SHORT TITLE Family, Infant & Toddler Programs
SB 92/SPACS
ANALYST Geisler
APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)
Appropriation
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY07
FY08
$1,800.0
Recurring
General Fund
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
REVENUE (dollars in thousands)
Estimated Revenue
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY07
FY08
FY09
$2,777.1
$2,777.1 Recurring Federal Fund
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
Department of Health (DOH)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
The Senate Public Affairs Committee substitute for Senate Bill 92 would appropriate $1.8
million to the Family Infant Toddler (FIT) Program for Fiscal Year 2007 and subsequent fiscal
years. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall not
revert to the general fund.
pg_0002
Senate Bill 92/SPACS – Page
2
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The $1.8 million proposed in this bill would be in addition to current base funding of
approximately $15.1 million in FY08. The executive budget recommendation for DOH proposes
a $1.25 million increase for the FIT program in FY08; the Legislative Finance Committee budget
recommendation proposes an increase of $1 million for FY08. DOH has been working on
Increasing FIT program revenue by increasing third-party billing for services. However, the
department is concerned that they may end up short in collecting $1.2 million in other revenues.
It is possible that the funding in this bill could cover an FY07 shortfall, or the department may
request budget adjustment request authority to transfer funds internally.
DOH notes that approximately 60% of children eligible for the FIT Program are Medicaid
eligible. The federal match for services provided under Medicaid is approximately 72%.
Therefore if $1,080,000 (i.e., 60% of $1.8 million) is matched with Medicaid, this would
generate an additional $2,777,142. The total amount would fund approximately 1,557 children at
the current cost per child.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
The FIT Program is the lead agency under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA) Part C for the administration of a statewide system of early intervention services for
infants and toddlers (birth to age 3), who have or are at risk for developmental delays or
disabilities. The FIT Program is an entitlement program for children and families who are
eligible in accordance with the Education of the Handicapped Act (28-18 NMSA 1978) and the
Requirements for Family Infant Toddler Early Intervention Services Act (7.30.8 NMAC).
The FIT Program utilizes State General Funds to fund early intervention services on a fee-for-
service basis through a statewide network of private and public provider agencies. The FIT
Program also pays the state match for early intervention services provided to children who are
Medicaid eligible. Additionally, the FIT Program utilizes the annual Federal IDEA Part C grant
and payments made through private insurance under the Senate Bill 589 passed in the 2005
Legislative session.
The FIT Program served 9,602 total infants and toddlers (birth to 3) and their families in Fiscal
Year 2006 and has experienced a growth of 9% in the children served through an Individualized
Family Service Plan (IFSP) compared to the previous year. This growth is a result of ongoing
child find and public awareness efforts made to medical, childcare, home-visiting and social
service providers. Additionally, the FIT Program continues to experience significant growth in
referrals as a result of changes in the Child Abuse Protection and Treatment Act (CAPTA) that
now mandates the referral of children under age 3 from CYFD when abuse or neglect are
substantiated.
It is estimated that an additional 1,557 children could be funded through this appropriation with
the use of Medicaid Match. The average annual cost per child in the FIT Program is
approximately $2,938.
GG/mt:nt