Master FIR (1988)

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

SPONSOR:	Nava		DATE TYPED:	03/03/01		HB
SHORT TITLE:		Services for Pregnant Teens & Teen Parents				SB	459
					ANALYST:		Gilbert

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY01

FY02

FY01

FY02

$ 625.0

Recurring

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicate to: HB145

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

State Department of Education (SDE)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 459 appropriates $625.0 to the State Department of Education (SDE) to provide a statewide education and support program for pregnant teens and teen parents.

Significant Issues

The appropriation in this bill would be used to provide a statewide education and support programs for pregnant teens and teen parents in order to:

•complete their education;

•provide optimum health and nutrition for themselves and their children; and
•encourage leadership development and career exploration efforts.

This funding would support the Graduation, Reality, and Dual Role Skills (GRADS) program which offers a recovery and retention program that targets teenage parents who have dropped out of school or are at risk of dropping out. The program provides academic intervention and employability skill training to enable teen parents to become self-sufficient adults. An abstinence-based pregnancy prevention component is also included for middle school and high school students enabling them to develop goal-setting, responsible decision-making, and effective strategies for dealing with negative peer pressure. According to the State Department of Education (SDE), 30 public school districts are implementing the GRADS system.

During FY01, the GRADS program is funded at $625.0 from the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) Act. The funds are administered through a Joint Powers Agreement between the Human Services Department, the Department of Education, and Socorro Consolidated Schools. Coordination with the Department of Children, Youth, and Families facilitates the establishment of school-based, licensed child-care facilities. According to the SDE, the $625.0 appropriated in this bill will allow development of GRADS sites in most New Mexico counties.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $625.0 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.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

According to the SDE, this continuation project to assist pregnant teens would be administered by the State Department of Education (SDE). The SDE would continue fiscal accountability and oversight responsibilities. Existing SDE staff would administer the program.

Administrative costs would be absorbed through the SDE's budget.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The Legislative Education Study Committee (LESC) recommends that this program continue to receive support during FY02 at $643.8 from TANF funds.

LG/lrs