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

SPONSOR Robinson

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2-4-06

HB

SHORT TITLE Tools for Schools Program

SB 456

ANALYST Hadwiger

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

$50.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Health (DOH)

New Mexico Department of Environment (NMED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 456 appropriates $50 thousand from the general fund to the New Mexico Department

of Environment (NMED) in FY07 to conduct environmental assessments of public schools pur-

suant to the tools for schools program.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $50 thousand contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general

fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY07 would revert to

the general fund.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

NMED indicated that the US Environmental Protection Agency has ranked indoor air pollution

among the top-five environmental risks to public health. Good indoor air quality (IAQ) is an es-

sential component of a healthy indoor environment, and is proven to help schools reach their

primary goal of educating children. Failure to prevent or respond promptly to IAQ problems can

Senate Bill 456 – Page 2

increase long- and short-term health problems of students and staff and aggravate asthma and

other respiratory illnesses.

DOH added that this bill will improve indoor air quality in New Mexico public schools through

an assessment process conducted by school teams. These teams would be comprised of person-

nel, administrative staff, teachers, nurses, or students. The teams would assess and make rec-

ommendations of needed actions (e.g., roof leaks or poor air and heating/ ventilation) to the

NMED and monitor the department’s follow-through. Poor air quality is one of the most serious

environmental threats to public health. Indoor air quality is a growing concern in the United

States, especially in schools. It is known that specific health issues such as asthma can be directly

linked to poor indoor air.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

There is a current Tools for Schools Program operated by NMED through a Memorandum of

Understanding with the Children, Youth and Families Department, the Department of Health,

Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department and the Public School Facility Authority.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

NMED pointed out that every type of building has the potential for poor IAQ, including schools.

This makes environmental assessments vital in order to determine IAQ in schools. While some

schools have minor problems, others may have significant ones, increasing the potential for long-

and short- term health problems. Possible impacts are elevated rates of absenteeism among stu-

dents and staff, and accelerated deterioration and reduced efficiency of heating and cooling

equipment and systems.

DH/nt