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 Bills 20, 21, 82, 269, 398, 428, and Senate Bills 4, 31, 38, 54, 307, 312, 336, 46, and 543

Duplicates appropriation in Senate Bill 647

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

State Department of Education (SDE)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 604 appropriates $250.0 to the State Department of Education (SDE) to continue the Rio Grande Educational Collaborative program (RGEC), in cooperation with the University of New Mexico, to provide Albuquerque public school students with mentorship and leadership programs.

Significant Issues

The RGEC is a not-for-profit organization created to address educational needs of low-income students in Albuquerque's South Valley.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

According to the SDE, an evaluation plan is underway and includes two phases: evaluation of the postsecondary student component and evaluation of the ongoing progress of the RGEC. A doctoral student from the UNM College of Education was hired to document and evaluate the RGEC project.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $250.0 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.

CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP

Senate Bill 647 contains a duplicate $250.0 appropriation for this program.

The following bills relate to SB604:

Senate Bill 307 and House Bill 82 - section 7A of these bills appropriates $4.1 million from the general fund to pay teachers to teach intensive summer education programs for students in need of assistance.

Senate Bill 312 and House Bill 398 require the SDE to establish a "dropout prevention pilot program" at ten public high schools with the highest dropout rates.

Senate Bill 543 $250.0 appropriation to implement a leadership and motivational training program for New Mexican Latino youth, particularly for students from rural and disadvantaged environments.

Senate Bill 461 appropriation to support Hispanic leadership program.

House Bill 20 and Senate Bill 38 appropriates $500.0 to NMSU to develop math & science skills for border region students.

Senate Bill 336 appropriates $230.0 to the Commission on Higher Education to help high school students develop math, science and engineering expertise.

House Bill 21 appropriates $100.0 to New Mexico State University to increase participation in the programs of two organizations New Mexico Alliance for Minority Participation (NMAMP) and the Regional Alliance for Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology for Students with Disabilities (RASEM). These programs are committed to improving student preparation for successful post-secondary math, science, engineering, and technology study.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The RGEC was funded at $125.0 in FY01 and reported the following accomplishments:

• •Summer 2000 Internship Studio to design an innovative learning facility; participants included seven University of New Mexico (UNM) students and 10 incoming 9^th grade students to Rio Grande High School.

• •Fall 2000 Seminar to study an array of systems (i.e., building, drainage and grading, traffic, parking and transportation, environmental issues and landscaping); participants included seven UNM students.

• •Spring 2001 Seminar (three credit class) to continue to develop from preliminary design development phase to create decision-making guidelines for the construction document phase; participants include 12 undergraduate architecture students and four School of Engineering students from UNM.

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

The Commission on Higher Education did not recommend funding this program.

LG/ar