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 MJ Garcia

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2/12/07

HB

SHORT TITLE Commission on the Welfare of Animals Act

SB 559

ANALYST Wilson

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

$80.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

Relates to SB 458 and HB 453

ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL OPERATING BUDGET IMPACT (dollars in thousands)

FY07

FY08

FY09 3 Year

Total Cost

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

Total

$0.1

$0.1

$0.1 Recurring General

Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Regulation and Licensing Department (RLD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 559 appropriates $80,000 from the general fund to the RLD for expenditure in fiscal

year 2008 to administer the Commission on the Welfare of Animals Act and to fund per diem

and mileage for members of the commission on the welfare of animals.

The purpose of the Commission on the Welfare of Animals Act is to promote safe, healthy and

clean living conditions for animals housed in animal shelters and to promote methods that reduce

the number of unwanted, abandoned, stray, feral or otherwise homeless domestic animals in the

state.

Senate Bill 559 – Page

2

The bill creates the Commission on the Welfare of Animals that will operate under, and be

administratively attached to, the RLD. In addition, the legislation grants the commission

authority to enter into contracts for the operation of federal programs related to the welfare of

animals

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $80,000 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.

RLD believes the bill appropriation is a minimum amount to cover the expense of staffing,

implementation of commission duties and per diem and mileage for nine commission members

to attend at least six commission meetings a year. In order to carry out the recommendations and

mandates of the legislation, RLD claims the appropriation needs to be a minimum of $100,000.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

Animal issues are human issues. By studying and improving the lives of animals, we also learn

how to protect and improve the lives of the weakest members of our human society.

The commission shall:

(1) stimulate and encourage throughout the state the study and review of the

welfare of animals in New Mexico and develop and implement programs aimed at

improving animal welfare;

(2) recommend methods of improving conditions at both public and private

animal shelters and sanctuaries in the state and develop programs to enable

shelters and sanctuaries to provide the highest level of animal welfare;

(3) promote methods of limiting the number of unwanted, abandoned, stray, feral

or otherwise homeless domestic animals in the state;

(4) cooperate with and assist public and private entities dealing with the welfare

of animals; and

(5) conduct periodic conferences throughout the state to promote the welfare of

animals and to acquire information about the needs and challenges of animals.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

RLD should be able to handle their administrative duties as part of their ongoing responsibilities.

RELATIONSHIP

SB 458 and HB 453 create another board, the Animal Sheltering Services Board. Its mission will

be to provide oversight and assistance for city- and county-operated or contracted animal shelters

that are currently unregulated.

DW/mt