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| SPONSOR: | Taylor, TC | DATE TYPED: | 02/09/01 | HB | 295 | ||
| SHORT TITLE: | Sloan Digital Sky Survey | SB | |||||
| ANALYST: | Gilbert | ||||||
| Recurring
or Non-Rec |
Fund
Affected | ||||
| FY01 | FY02 | FY01 | FY02 | ||
| $ 500.0 | Non-Rec | General Fund | |||
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Duplicates Senate Bill 168
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Commission for Higher Education (CHE)
CHE Files - Special Funding Requests Submitted by NMSU
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
House Bill 295 appropriates $500.0 to New Mexico State University (NMSU) to enable NMSU to participate in the Sloan digital sky survey of the astrophysical research consortium.
Significant Issues
NMSU is currently responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Sloan digital telescope. This advanced research facility is located at Apache Point in Otero County. This telescope allows advanced spectroscopic and other analyses of stars.
The purpose of the Sloan digital sky survey is to produce a complete map of the universe using the Sloan digital telescope in conjunction with several other research entities: the University of Chicago, the Fermi Laboratory, the Institute for Advanced Studies, the Japan Participatory Group, John Hopkins University, Princeton University, the U.S. Naval Observatory, and the University of Washington currently participate in this consortium. This funding will allow
NMSU to join these prestigious institutions in this astrophysical research consortium.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The appropriation of $500.0 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 revert to the general fund.
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
NMSU provided a categorical priority list to the CHE which included funding for the Sloan digital sky survey. The NMSU board of Regents also recommended this project as a priority for funding.
The CHE, however, did not recommend expansion funding for this program.
LG/njw:ar