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

SPONSOR Lopez

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1/31/06

HB

SHORT TITLE Commitment to Healthy Communities

SB SJM 27

ANALYST Lewis

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates HJM 44.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Health (DOH)

Health Policy Commission (HPC)

New Mexico Environment Department (NMED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Joint Memorial 27 requests that the Department of Health and the Department of Envi-

ronment jointly review their functions, operations and work as well as the constitutional provi-

sions, statutes, regulations and programs that the departments administer to determine, with par-

ticular emphasis on minority and low-income communities:

A.

the extent to which each department serves to promote healthy communities and meaningful

public participation in environmental decision-making;

B.

the changes that would be required for each department to more effectively promote healthy

communities and meaningful public participation; and

C.

the changes that would be required in each department for the two departments to work co-

operatively on issues of environmental degradation, public health and public participation in

environmental decision-making.

The joint memorial further requests that:

the Departments of Health and Environment report on their joint findings and their work to

the appropriate interim legislative committee no later than August 31, 2006; and that

Senate Joint Memorial 27 – Page

2

copies of this memorial be transmitted to the Governor, the Secretary of Health and the Sec-

retary of Environment.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) states that the full extent of additional staff

responsibilities and associated costs cannot be precisely evaluated.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

According to the Department of Health (DOH), New Mexico and the federal government have

underscored the importance of healthy communities and the need for more meaningful public

participation in environmental decision-making with New Mexico Executive Order EO-05-056

and the United States Executive Order 12898 and the creation of the national environmental jus-

tice advisory council.

Environmental degradation poses risks to public health and threatens contamination of scarce

natural resources, especially ground water. These problems tend to concentrate in communities

without political power and resources, especially in minority and low-income communities.

DOH suggests that this joint memorial could help develop sustainable and effective collaboration

between the Departments of Health and Environment to promote healthy communities and public

participation in environmental decision-making for all New Mexicans.

NMED notes that

on October 17, 2005 the Secretaries of the Environment and Health Depart-

ments signed a memorandum of understanding creating a joint task force, the Precautionary

Principal Task Force, to guide activities that prevent harm to the environment and harm to hu-

man health and to advise executive branch agencies and other state entities and higher education

institutions about precautionary principles. The concept of precautionary action is the basis of

many activities designed to protect the health and safety of citizens and focuses on opportunities

to promote environmental and economic justice, including meaningful participation of communi-

ties in decisions affecting the public’s health, to protect the environment and to safeguard the

health of all New Mexicans. The findings and recommendations of the Precautionary Principal

Task Force are to be reported on or before October 1, 2006.

With regard to environmental degradation and health, the Health Policy Commission (HPC)

notes that, according to the World Health Organization, environmental conditions are a major

direct and indirect determinant of human health. Over five million children per year die from ill-

nesses and other conditions caused by the environments in which they live, learn and play.

Around two million children under five die every year from acute respiratory infections, the

largest killer of young children. These infections are aggravated by environmental hazards such

as indoor air pollution.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

NMED notes that the joint memorial will require additional responsibilities of NMED and DOH

staff, who would be diverted from their primary tasks to meet the measure’s requirements.

ML/mt