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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Lovejoy
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
02/21/07
HB
SHORT TITLE Veteran Database To Count Navajo Veterans
SB 1087
ANALYST Weber
APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)
Appropriation
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY07
FY08
$92.0
Recurring
General
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Related to SB 1022
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
Indian Affairs Department (IAD)
Veterans Services Department (VSD)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
Senate Bill 1087 appropriates $92,020 thousand from the general fund to the Indian Affairs
Department to employ a qualified person to be located in Crownpoint to develop a database of
veterans' profiles and statistics in order to provide an accurate count of Navajo veterans.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The appropriation of $92,020 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.
pg_0002
Senate Bill 1087 – Page
2
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
Indian Affairs Department notes that current Navajo Nation veterans’ data reveals conflicting
numbers as regard the actual number of Navajo veterans. According to the Navajo Veterans
Affairs Department there are roughly 18,000 Navajo Veterans in the State of New Mexico. On
the other hand, the United States Census states there are only 7,689 veterans in the entire Navajo
Nation. The conflicting Navajo veterans’ data creates significant challenges for the Navajo
Nation to advocate for federal or state veterans services and funding.
Navajo Nation discussions with the federal Veterans Affairs Administration, the Veterans Health
Administration (“VHA"), and the NM Department of Veterans’ Services revealed an imperative
need for an accurate and reliable Navajo veterans’ census. Such data is necessary to identify the
types of veterans’ services and programs needed to assist Navajo veterans.
In discussion with Navajo veterans in the two New Mexico Navajo Agencies (Shiprock and
Eastern), the most significant services identified are: 1) housing/housing improvement
assistance; 2) training and employment; and 3) health care.
Without an accurate Navajo veterans’ census, there will be significant challenges for the Navajo
Nation, the State of New Mexico, and federal agencies to address the housing, employment, and
health care needs of Navajo veterans.
CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP
SB1087 replicates SB1022 except SB1022 locates the qualified person in Shiprock.
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
Is this a continuing requirement or a one time project making the funding non-recurring.
MW/csd