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.

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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

State Department of Education SDE

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 524 appropriates $150.0 to SDE to study the feasibility of establishing a vocational high school for the Silver and Cobre Consolidated School Districts and the Lordsburg Municipal School District.

Significant Issues

Section 22-5-4.8, NMSA 1978 of the Public School Code states, that "a local school board, alone or in cooperation with other boards, may develop a plan for the establishment of an area vocational high school on the campus of a post-secondary educational institution to facilitate sharing of facilities. The plan shall be submitted to the state board of education and the commission on higher education for their approval.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

House Bill 524 appropriates $150.0 from the general fund and is non-recurring.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

Staff at the SDE will administer the study.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

According to SDE, some students from Cobre High School are currently providing instructional services through a concurrent enrollment agreement with Western New Mexico University. This may also be a viable alternative for providing career/technical (vocational) education to students of the Silver Consolidated Schools and Lordsburg Municipal Schools, instead of a new institution.

RS/njw