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

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Nunez

 

DATE TYPED:

01/29/02

 

HB

96

 

SHORT TITLE:

Collegiate Curricula Adjustments

 

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST:

Baca

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY02

FY03

FY02

FY03

 

 

 

$500.0

 

 

Recurring

General Fund

 

(Parenthesis) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

Relates to SB 69, SB 74, HB 27 and HB 48

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

State Department of Education (SDE)

Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

LFC Files

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

House Bill 96 appropriates $500.0 from the general fund to the Board of Regents of New Mexico State University  (NMSU) to foster achievement in math and science in border region public school students through collegiate curricula adjustments and systematic change in math science education in the public schools.

 

     Significant Issues

 

According to the SDE analysis, the bill addresses the need to examine collegiate curricula to foster student achievement, specifically in math and science, and makes adjustments to ensure that instruction effectively engages students living in the border region.  The need for this bill is evidenced by the low student performance on the National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP) Tests.

 

According to the CHE, NMSU submitted a proposal to the Commission in the amount of $400,000, which would establish the New Mexico Border Initiative (NMBI) at NMSU.  The proposal indicated that the NMBI would utilize expertise at the university level in order to foster

 

achievement through collegiate curriculum adjustments, and through faculty and student participation in support of systemic change in math/science education within the public school systems.  University students will serve as mentors, tutors, and will also provide technical assistance.  NMSU faculty would be encouraged to devise hands-on experiences in science and engineering for use by the schools in the border area.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $500.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund.  Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY2003 shall revert to the general fund.

 

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

 

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

 

This proposal was ranked 2nd out of 7 research and public service new or expansion items, submitted to the CHE by NMSU University. However, the Commission did not recommend this program for expansion. 

 

RELATIONSHIP

 

House Bill 96 relates to:

 

House Bill 48, Border Region Science and Math Education

House Bill 27, Education Reforms

Senate Bill 69, Gadsden Year-round and Intersession Education

Senate Bill 74, Border Region Math and Science Education

 

LB/ar

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