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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Rodriguez
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
2/6/2006
2/7/06 HB
SHORT TITLE Study Political Access for Deaf persons
SB SJM 15/aSRC
ANALYST McOlash
APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)
Appropriation
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY06
FY07
None
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
NM Commission for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing
SUMMARY
Synopsis of the SRC Amendment
The Senate Rules Committee amendment does the following on page 2, lines 20 - 21:
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study determine how to
provide more interpreters communication access at political events
and closed captioning on political television advertisements; and
Synopsis of Original Bill
Senate Joint Memorial 15 requests collaboration between the NM Commission for Deaf and
Hard-of-Hearing and the Secretary of State to conduct a study to establish a mechanism to en-
courage communication access to ensure full participation in the Democratic Process by all deaf
and hard-of-hearing citizens. The memorial requests that the study attempt to determine how to
provide more interpreters at political events and closed captioning on television advertising.
.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
According to the NM Commission for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing, there are no fiscal implications
pg_0002
Senate Joint Memorial 15/aSRC - Page 2
to the State. However, the cost of providing sign language interpreters and closed captioning
will need to be provided by the political candidates.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
Currently deaf and hard of hearing people are not able to attend political rallies or understand
political advertising on television. Deaf and hard of hearing voters are left out of the process.
BMC/yr