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 Cisneros
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
1-18-2008
HB
SHORT TITLE Flagpoles for Veteran’s Services Department
SB 54
ANALYST Dearing
APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)
Appropriation
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY08
FY09
$100.0
Recurring
General Fund
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
Veterans’ Services Department (VSD)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
Senate Bill 54 appropriates $100 thousand from the general fund to the Veterans’ Services
department for the purpose of purchasing flagpoles for the department’s state funeral honors and
burial program and state veterans’ cemeteries, monuments and museums.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The appropriation of $100 thousand contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the General
Fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY09 shall revert to
the General Fund.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
Many cemeteries around the state do not have flagpoles installed. Not all families of deceased
New Mexico veterans’ have chosen the National Cemetery in Santa Fe as a final resting place.
The appropriation contained within Senate Bill 54 would provide funding to enhance the grounds
of cemeteries statewide with flagpoles, as well as provide for this equipment for the honors and
burial program.
pg_0002
Senate Bill 54 – Page
2
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
The department raises the question that the passage of this act could possibility violate the anti-
donation clause of the New Mexico Constitution, Article IV., Section 31, Appropriations for
Charitable, Educational, etc. purposes in those cases where cemeteries are privately owned.
PD/mt