NOTE: As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended for use by the standing finance committees of the legislature.  The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used in any other situation.

Only the most recent FIR version, excluding attachments, is available on the Intranet. Previously issued FIRs and attachments may be obtained from the LFC office in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to: House Bill 141, Senate Bill 532, Senate Bill 455, House Bill 526, House Bill 321, House Bill 389, House Capital Request 813 House Capital Request 820, and Senate Capital Outlay Request 392

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Commission on Higher Education FY02 Funding Recommendations report

Commission for Higher Education (CHE) - No response received

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 634 appropriates $2 million from the general fund to the Commission on Higher Education (CHE) to fund the development of courses using technology at the state's public schools and post-secondary educational educations and requiring a report from the CHE on the use of the funds.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

This bill requires the CHE to submit a report by December 1, 2001 to the Legislative Finance Committee and any other appropriate interim committee and to the second session of the forty-fifth legislative on the use of the $2 million appropriated in this bill. The report shall identify the public schools and post-secondary educational institutions that received money, the number of courses developed by each school and institution with those funds and the number of students enrolled in the courses.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $2,000.0 contained in this bill is a non-recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY02 shall not revert to the general fund.

CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP

Senate Bill 532 appropriates $5.0 million from the general fund to the telecommunications infrastructure fund for expenditure in fiscal year 2002 and subsequent fiscal years to implement the provisions of the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund Act for the development of the telecommunications infrastructure for local communities, school districts, educational institutions and health care institutions, including facilities and equipment necessary for high-speed data transmission, is a prerequisite to economic development, distance learning and telemedicine in all areas of the state.

House Capital Request 813 requests that the following related capital outlay projects be funded to the commission on higher education:

• •four million dollars ($4,000,000) to plan, design and construct a communications center at eastern New Mexico university in Portales in Roosevelt county;
• •two million dollars ($2,000,000) for phase 3 construction of the education center at the university of New Mexico Taos campus in Taos county;
• •three million dollars ($3,000,000) to construct the addition of the Ben Alexander learning center at New Mexico junior college in Hobbs in Lea county;
• •one million five hundred ten thousand dollars ($1,510,000) to install equipment at the manufacturing training and technology center cleanroom at the university of New Mexico in Albuquerque in Bernalillo county;
• •four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000) to plan, design and construct a high technology manufacturing and training facility at northern New Mexico state school in Espanola in Rio Arriba county;

House Capital Request 820 appropriates $3.7 million for statewide technology infrastructure projects and needs at institutions of higher learning throughout the state

House Bill 526 appropriates $235.9 from the general fund to the local government division of the department of finance and administration for expenditure in fiscal year 2002 for the purpose of creating ten educational access rooms for use as models throughout New Mexico.

Senate Bill 455, House Bill 321 & Senate Bill 389 appropriate $440.0 from the general fund to the Board of Regents of the University of New Mexico (UNM) for the purpose of funding a manufacturing training and technology center cleanroom.

Senate Capital Outlay Request 392 appropriates $1.51 million to UNM for the second phase construction of a cleanroom facility.

House Bill 141 appropriates $200.0 to New Mexico State University (NMSU) to establish a new Master of Arts degree program in distance education technology.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

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

This project was not identified or approved in the Commission on Higher Education's funding recommendations report for FY02.

LG/ar