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



SPONSOR: HFl DATE TYPED: 05/11/99 HB 14/HFlCS
SHORT TITLE: Substance Abuse Treatment Pilot Project SB
ANALYST: Esquibel


APPROPRIATION



Appropriation Contained
Estimated Additional Impact
Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY99 FY2000 FY99 FY2000
$ 500.0 Recurring GF



(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)



SUMMARY



Synopsis of House Floor Substitute for House Bill 14



The House Floor substitute for House Bill 14 appropriates $500.0 in general fund in FY2000 to the Department of Health to establish a northern New Mexico substance abuse treatment pilot project that would provide substance abuse treatment in Rio Arriba and Santa Fe counties. The bill specifies that currently accepted treatment practices shall be used in the pilot program. The bill requires the Department of Health to coordinate with the Human Services Department to determine if any patient in the project is eligible to receive TANF funding under the New Mexico Works Act. The Department of Health would be required to report to the Legislature by December 1st of each year regarding the project's progress.



Significant Issues



The addition of publically funded treatment beds for substance abuse in northern New Mexico is needed. With the potential closing of the Southern New Mexico Rehabilitation Center in Roswell and the lack of treatment beds at Turquoise Lodge in Albuquerque, there is a serious need that is not being addressed at the present time. Patients in northern New Mexico have no real alternatives if they have a substance abuse problem and do not have an accompanying mental illness issue which could be treated at the Las Vegas Medical Center.



FISCAL IMPLICATIONS



The House Floor substitute for HB14 requests the Department of Health seek additional federal funding for the substance abuse pilot project.



Currently, HB9 provides $500.0 in general fund FY99 special appropriations for the purposes of this bill.



ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS



The administration of this program is within the budgeted resources of the Department of Health.



RAE/njw