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 Pinto

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

02/01/08

HB

SHORT TITLE

Tohatchi Youth Development Programs

SB 525

ANALYST Hanika-Ortiz

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

Indian Affairs Department (IAD)

Department of Health (DOH)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 525 appropriates $100 thousand from the General Fund to the Indian Affairs

Department to fund youth development programs, including the youth leadership project, at the

Tohatchi chapter of the Navajo Nation.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

SB 525 appropriates $100 thousand from the General Fund to IAD for expenditure in FY09.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY09 shall revert to the

General Fund.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

SB 525 would provide the financial resources necessary to continue the work of the Navajo

Nation to ensure the positive development of the youth at the Tohatchi Chapter.

IAD reports that The Tohatchi Chapter currently has an Office of Youth Development. Its

mission is “to advocate for our youth through partnerships with community resources; to develop

Senate Bill 525 – Page

2

healthy generations of resilient and educated youth who will support the Sovereignty of the Diné

Nation". The Tohatchi Chapter also has a Boys and Girls Club of Diné Nation with a mission to,

“inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to

realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens".

IAD further reports that according to the 2000 United States Census, of the 2,076 people living at

the Tohatchi Chapter, 862 are youth between the ages of 0-19 years. Approximately 95% of the

population are Native American and members of the Navajo Nation. The Tohatchi Chapter is

located in McKinley County where 36% of students’ ages 5-17 live in poverty.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

According to DOH, The 2005 New Mexico Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey (YRRS) results

show that among Native American students in grades 9-12, a greater number used tobacco,

initiated tobacco use at age 12 or younger, had attempted suicide, used marijuana within the past

30 days, were at risk for being overweight, and were overweight than their peers of all other

ethnicities. In 2003, Native American Youth demonstrated a 10% greater rate of suicide

attempts within the past year than their peers of all other ethnicities.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

SB525 relates to:

HB30, which contains an appropriation to DOH for a Native American youth-led peer-to-

peer suicide prevention program.

HB358, which contains an appropriation to DOH for youth programs focused on substance

abuse and suicide prevention by training youth in government.

HB586, which contains an appropriation to Public Education Department (PED) for funding

youth empowerment and positive youth development programs in Questa, Taos, the Pueblo

of Taos, the Pueblo of Picuris and Penasco.

HM34 and SM9, which requests a study of the possible correlation between antidepressant

use and suicide ideation.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The Navajo Nation is taking several proactive steps to ensure its youth are provided proper

programs to help battle the problems that plague the Nation. Similar to other ethnic groups and

communities throughout the United States, Native American youth are in need of early

intervention, mentoring, leadership skills and self-esteem building programs.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

Additional funding may not be available to fund youth development programs in Tohachi.

AHO/mt