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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Campos
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
02/17/07
HB
SHORT TITLE Lupus Research Efforts
SB SJM 21
ANALYST Hanika Ortiz
APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)
Appropriation
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY07
FY08
NFI
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
Department of Health (DOH)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
Senate Joint Memorial 21 proposes that the legislature take into consideration the enactment of
the Lupus Research Enhancement Act (LREA), which will make lupus research grants available
to state academic medical institutions and will also establish an advisory council to review
submitted grant applications and make recommendations for future projects.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
No fiscal impact. However, the memorial resolves that the legislature take into consideration the
enactment of the Lupus Research Enhancement Act and authorize appropriations deemed necessary
to take care of those New Mexicans who suffer from lupus.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
Senate Joint Memorial 21 has the following comments:
•
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of various parts of the body,
especially the skin, joints, blood and kidneys.
pg_0002
Senate Joint Memorial 21 – Page
2
•
The immune system normally protects the body against viruses, bacteria and other foreign
materials.
•
In an autoimmune disease like lupus, the immune system loses its ability to tell the difference
between foreign substances and its own cells and tissues.
•
The immune system then makes antibodies directed against "self".
•
Lupus attacks vital organs, causes disabilities and can be fatal.
•
There are approximately one million five hundred thousand to two million Americans who
suffer from lupus.
•
In New Mexico, with a population of one million eight hundred seventy-four thousand six
hundred fourteen people, there are nine thousand six hundred sixty-nine reported cases of
lupus.
•
Lupus affects women nine times more than men.
•
Lupus is two to three times more common among African Americans, Hispanics, Asian
Americans and Native Americans.
•
About five percent of the children born to individuals with lupus will develop the illness.
•
There are no new cures for lupus.
•
There have been no new drugs approved from the food and drug administration for lupus in
nearly forty years.
•
The Lupus Research Enhancement Act creates a lupus research enhancement program to
make grants to state academic medical institutions that conduct basic, clinical, social,
translational, technological, epidemiological and behavioral research on lupus.
•
The Lupus Research Enhancement Act establishes a lupus research advisory council to
review submitted grant applications and make recommendations to the appropriate state
agencies.
•
The Lupus Research Enhancement Act calls upon the council to consult with the national
institutes of health, the centers for disease control and prevention, the agency for healthcare
research and quality, the institute of medicine and lupus advocacy groups to solicit
information regarding lupus research projects currently being conducted and make
recommendations for future projects.
PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS
The memorial further resolves that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the children's cabinet of
the office of the governor.
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
DOH staff could serve on and aid the LREA advisory council.
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
DOH has the following comments:
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of various parts of the body,
especially the skin, joints, and kidneys.
Lupus is unpredictable, highly individualized, hard to
live with, and sometimes fatal. As many as 10,000 New Mexicans may have lupus, based on the
National Lupus Foundation's estimate that 1 in 182 people have this disease. (Lupus Foundation
of America NM Chapter). To date, there is no known cause or cure. However, early detection
and treatment can usually lessen the progression and severity of the debilitating disease.
pg_0003
Senate Joint Memorial 21 – Page
3
The memorial creates a state level version of work going on at the national level through the
Lupus Research Institute (LRI). Since 2000, LRI
has raised millions and awarded nearly $20
million in grants to 73 scientists at leading institutions nationwide. To date, 65 percent of LRI
investigators who completed their LRI studies have gone on to secure large-scale funding from
the NIH and other government offices. The LRI recently formed a National Coalition of state and
local lupus organizations and committed individuals. They note this has already had an enormous
impact, starting with pivotal work in advocating for a 2004 congressional directive to the NIH to
develop a 5-year trans-institute research plan for lupus.
ALTERNATIVES
DOH suggests that the memorial could also propose to investigate to what extent New Mexico
academic medical institutions are already receiving funding for lupus research; and, to what
extent lupus organizations are networking with, and benefiting from, national efforts such as the
LRI National Coalition.
AMENDMENTS
DOH further suggests on page 3, line 13, after “deemed necessary to" delete “take care of those
New Mexicans who suffer from lupus" and replace with “strengthen the research efforts to
identify the causes of and cure for lupus" which is language from SJM 21’s introduction.
AHO/nt