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

SPONSOR:	Romero		DATE TYPED:	02/20/01		HB
SHORT TITLE:		Board of Regents Party Affiliation, CA				SB	SJR 20
					ANALYST:		Fernandez

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY01	FY02	FY01	FY02	Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
			see below

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to HJR24

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

Secretary of State

Attorney General's Office

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Joint Resolution 20 proposes to amend Article 12, Section 13 of the constitution to delete the restrictions on the number of board of regents who may be of the same political party and also deletes those provisions that related to the original appointees to the boards that are no longer necessary.

Significant Issues

Currently, the Governor appoints members to the boards of regents and the Senate confirms the appointments.

According to the Attorney General's Office, passage of the amendment would increase the likelihood of more partisan boards of regents and since they are appointed by the governor, would reflect their political views.

According to CHE, passage of the amendment would remove the incentive for potential board members to switch their party affiliation prior to appointment.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

Article 19, Section 1 of the New Mexico Constitution requires the Secretary of State to publish amendments to the constitution in both English and Spanish for four consecutive weeks in one newspaper in each county of the state. In addition, each amendment must be orally translated and radio broadcast into the following Native American languages: Tewa, Tiwa, Towa, Keres, Zuni, Mescalero Apache, Jicarilla Apache, and Navajo. Secretary of State must also publish over 100,000 amendment booklets in English and Spanish and provide for distribution to New Mexico's 33 county clerks.

Secretary of State estimates it will cost $30,000 to comply with the constitutional and statutory requirements.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The administrative impacts to Secretary of State will be minimal.

CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP

HJR proposes to increase the size of each board of regents to seven members and make four of the seven elected. HJR24 also proposes to strike language which limited the number of board members from any particular political party.

CTF/sb