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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to House Bill 42 Duplicates HB 41

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Office of Indian Affairs

Human Services Department, Income Support Division

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 383 appropriates $1,000,000 from the general fund to the New Mexico Office of Indian Affairs to coordinate with the Property Control Division of the General Services Department the planning, designing and constructing or leasing of five Human Services Department, Income Support Division offices on the Navajo Reservation, located in New Mexico.

Significant Issues

Senate Bill 383 provides an appropriation for the planning, designing, constructing or leasing of offices for the Income Support Division of the Human Services Department in the following New Mexico locations:

Shiprock - San Juan County $200,000

Crownpoint - McKinley County $200,000

Gallup - McKinley County $200,000

Two Grey Hills - San Juan County $200,000

Alamo - Socorro County. $200,000

The appropriation is contingent upon the following three stipulations:

• The United State Department of Health and Human Services approve a Navajo Family Assistance Plan;



• The local community chapters must donate the land for each income support division office; and



• The space shall co-locate the employees of the Human Services Department, Labor Department, and Children, Youth and Families Department.




OTHER SIGNIFICANT ISSUES





The ISD offices would be located on Navajo land and would not be subject to the jurisdiction of the state courts. According to HSD, McKinley County has 1,309 Navajo heads-of-household. ISD is currently leasing space in Gallup. In San Juan County, there are 105 Navajo heads-of-household and 106 in Socorro County.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS





The fiscal impact to the Office of Indian Affairs would be minimal and no additional FTE are required. However, the full fiscal impact to the Income Support Division of the Human Services Department is unknown at this time. It may be expected that an increase in caseload and applicants for assistance may occur when the offices and services become more accessible to Native Americans. There may be an additional fiscal impact if additional employees, moving or relocation costs, furnishing and supplying of the new offices, etc., are considered.





ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS





The full administrative impact to the Human Services Department is unknown at this time. HSD staff would need to be assigned to monitor the TANF contract and provide suitable training and support services. According to the LFC analyst for HSD, capital outlay expenditures do not meet the federal and state requirements for maintenance of effort.





RELATIONSHIP





House Bill 42 would appropriate $3,000,000 to HSD to contract with the Navajo Nation to provide cash assistance to individuals qualified to receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).





TECHNICAL ISSUES





The following technical amendment should be made to the bill: On page 1, line 12 of the bill, the word "four" should be changed to "five."





POSSIBLE QUESTIONS




• •Would constructing or leasing space in counties where ISD offices currently exist duplicate costs?



• •Does the number of caseload for TANF funds justify offices in five locations?



• •Due to administrative limits on New Mexico TANF funds, does the construction of office space qualify for Maintenance of Effort (MOE)?




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