BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT REPORT	Page 1 of  2

DATE: February 21, 2001	Submitted by: TAXATION AND REVENUE DEPT.       
	T. GLENN ELLINGTON, SECRETARY
BILL NUMBER:  HB-909

SPONSOR:  Representative Taylor

BILL SHORT TITLE:  EMT & FOP Special Registration Plates

CONFLICTS, DUPLICATES, COMPANIONS:  

DESCRIPTION:  This bill proposes a new special design vehicle registration plate available to New Mexico emergency medical technicians, “other emergency personnel” and to New Mexico members of the Fraternal Order of Police.  The special plate would be issued for a one-time fee of $25, of which $10 would be retained by the department to defray expenses, and $15 would be distributed along with other motor vehicle fees under Sections 66-6-23 and 66-6-23.1 NMSA 1978. 

EFFECTIVE DATE:  Not specified – assume 90 days following adjournment (approx. June 15, 2001)

FISCAL IMPACT (Thousands of dollars)   Parenthesis ( ) indicate a revenue loss:

Estimated Impact on Revenues    	Recurring or		
			Nonrecurring	Funds	
	(FY 2001-2002)	(FY 2002-2003)	     Impact     	         Affected         	
	*	*	Recurring	State Road Fund ($9.98 per plate)	
	*	*	Recurring	Counties ($3.01 per plate)	
	*	*	Recurring	Municipalities ($0.80 per plate)	
	*	*	Recurring	Counties & Municipalities ($1.21 per plate)	
	*	*	Recurring	Motor Vehicle Division ($10 per plate)	

*  The timing of revenue under this special plate scheme is unpredictable, but presumably about 3,000 to 4,000 special plates would be requested in the first few years ($30 to $40 thousand for the State Road Fund and $15 to $20 thousand for local governments).  Spread over time, the revenue gains from issuing new plates with an associated one-time fee would not result in any noticeable fiscal impact on the State Road Fund or local governments.

The Emergency Medical Services Section of the Health Department reports 5,269 currently licensed EMTs in New Mexico.  The Fraternal Order of Police report membership of about 2,300 to 2,500 and estimate that 40% to 50% of members would be interested in obtaining the special plate (about 1,000 plates).  The department has no information on the number of “other emergency personnel” in the state.

TECHNICAL ISSUES:

•	Subsection A of Section 1 should be deleted.  This subsection appears to have been copied from the current law statute Section 66-3-422 NMSA 1978 as an aid in drafting the bill. 

•	ADMINISTRATIVE IMPACT:		Additional
						  F.T.E.  
						      1
The single clerk currently charged with handling special vehicle registration plates is unable to take-on additional tasks or responsibilities, so one (1) additional employee would be required.  Otherwise, no significant administrative impact on the Motor Vehicle Division. 

OTHER IMPACTS AND ISSUES:

•	The bill is unclear as to whether it would create one design of plate or three different plate designs.  Proponents of the bill expect at least two distinct plate designs, one for the FOP and one for EMTs.

•	A special plate designed for “other emergency personnel” is a somewhat curious suggestion.  The division will probably be unable to determine “… if he is, in fact, not a … other emergency personnel …”, and the secretary would have no criteria to establish “what constitutes satisfactory proof” of “other emergency personnel” status.  Elimination of the phrase “other emergency personnel” might be considered.