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





SPONSOR: Sandoval DATE TYPED: 2/12/01 HB 579
SHORT TITLE: UNM Low-Income Community-Based Projects SB
ANALYST: Gilbert


APPROPRIATION



Appropriation Contained
Estimated Additional Impact
 Recurring

or Non-Rec

 Fund

Affected

FY01 FY02 FY01 FY02
$ 100.0 Recurring GF



(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)



Duplicates Senate Bill 393



SOURCES OF INFORMATION



LFC Files

New Mexico Commission for Higher Education (CHE)

CHE Fund Appropriation Matrix FY02



SUMMARY



Synopsis of Bill



House Bill 579 appropriates $100.0 to the University of New Mexico (UNM) for the School of Architecture and Planning to expand and enhance community-based architectural and planning projects for low-income groups & communities and nonprofit organizations.



Significant Issues



The UNM School of Architecture and Planning maintains a Design and Planning Assistance Center (DPAC). The DPAC is a community service organization that provides environmental research, planning and architectural design assistance to nonprofit community organizations in New Mexico and elsewhere in the Southwest. Students obtain studio credit for the work they perform in the DPAC, in addition to valuable work experience. As students receive credit for this experience, the UNM DPAC receives higher education formula funding for this program.



FISCAL IMPLICATIONS



The appropriation of $100.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY02 shall revert to the general fund.



OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES



The following is provided for information only. It is not intended as a commentary on the merits of the program/project:



A request for this appropriation was not included in UNM's budget request to the UNM Board of Regents, it was not approved by the UNM Board of Regents, and it was not submitted by UNM to the Commission on Higher Education (CHE) for review.



The CHE did not recommend funding this program.



LG/njw