NOTE:  As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended only 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 for other purposes.

 

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

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Rodriguez

 

DATE TYPED:

2/5/03

 

HB

 

 

SHORT TITLE:

NM High School Mock Trial Program

 

SB

344

 

 

ANALYST:

L. Baca

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

$100.0

 

 

Recurring

GF

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

Duplicates HB 413

 

Relates to Appropriation for the University of New Mexico in the General Appropriation Act

  

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

Responses Received From

 

Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

State Department of Education (SDE)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

Senate Bill 344 appropriates $100.0 from the general fund to the Board of Regents of the University New Mexico (UNM) for the mock trial high school program at the UNM School of Law.

 

     Significant Issues

 

Participants in the UNM high school mock trial program prepare and identified cases(s) in conjunction with their teacher and an attorney coach and present their case(s) in regional, state and national competitions.  The purpose of the program is to promote an understanding of the United States legal system.  New Mexico high schools have been competing in this program since 1979.

 

This program request was not submitted by the UNM Board of Regents as part of its legislative request and, thus, was not reviewed by the CHE.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $100.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund.     Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2004 shall revert to the general fund.

 

According to the CHE, “The appropriation would be used to contract with the Center for Civic Values, who has collaborated with the UNM Law School to coordinate the mock trial event for high school students for the past 25 years.  The following budget information has been provided to support this appropriation: 

 

Salaries (1 FTE)

$36,000

Fringe Benefits

12,700

Supplies

14,000

Travel

2,300

Equipment

0

Other: audit, newsletter, dues, subscriptions, duplicating, organization’s insurance, postage, rent, etc.

35,000

 

 

TOTAL

$100,000

 

DUPLICATION

 

SB 344 duplicates HB 413.

 

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

 

The CHE reports that approximately 40 high schools in New Mexico participate in this annual 2-day event.  Teams compete regionally, with winners advancing to the competition, and one team represents New Mexico at the national competition. 

 

AMENDMENTS

 

The CHE suggests adding the following language for all new recurring higher education programs and expansion of current programs (assuming that funding will continue beyond 2003-2004):

“The institution receiving the appropriation in this bill submit a program evaluation to the Legislative Finance Committee and the Commission on higher Education by August 2005 detailing the benefits to the State of New Mexico from having implemented this program over a three period.”

 

LRB/prr