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

SPONSOR Taylor

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2/28/2007

HB

SHORT TITLE Study Dangers of Firefighting

SJM 52

ANALYST Schuss

ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL OPERATING BUDGET IMPACT (dollars in thousands)

FY07

FY08

FY09 3 Year

Total Cost

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

Total

Minimal Minimal Minimal

Non-

Recurring General

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Did not Respond

Workers’ Compensation Administration (WCA)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Joint Memorial 52 requests a study of the dangers of firefighting and how to mitigate and

compensate those damages.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

There will be an unknown impact to the general fund to conduct this study.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

Senate Joint Memorial 52 states that firefighting is an inherently dangerous occupation, and

firefighters, including emergency medical services personnel, are very often exposed to smoke

and fumes, poisonous, toxic and chemical substances and dangerous contagious or infectious

diseases. Firefighters are also prone to stress-related diseases and disorders and current and

former firefighters have high rates of cardiovascular disease, cancers, autoimmune diseases and

other conditions arising from their public service employment.

The legislature of the State of New Mexico requests that the Workers' Compensation

Administration study the dangers of firefighting and the adequacy and suitability of disability

and death benefits under the New Mexico Occupational Disease Disablement Law or other

Senate Joint Memorial 52 – Page

2

statutory or common law provisions and that the State Fire Marshal, the Department of Health

and the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center be requested to participate in the

study to provide medical, epidemiological and other technical assistance to the Workers'

Compensation Administration.

SJM 52 also requests that the study consider the need for additional equipment and training to

protect firefighters and the need for and elements of a medical monitoring program for

firefighters and that the Workers' Compensation Administration keep the interim Legislative

Health and Human Services Committee apprised of the study's progress and its final findings and

recommendations.

BS/mt