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:

Carraro

 

DATE TYPED:

01/27/03

 

HB

 

 

SHORT TITLE:

Community College High Skills Training

 

SB

14

 

 

ANALYST:

Williams

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

1,000.0

 

 

Recurring

General Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

Relates to

HB 160:  Work Force Skills Development Fund

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

Economic Development Department

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

Senate Bill 14 appropriates $1,000.0 from the general fund to the Commission on Higher Education for the purpose of broad-based, entry-level high skills training program at the state’s community colleges.  Funding would be available for instructors, curriculum implementation, laboratory development and equipment operating and maintenance support.  Community colleges would provide an equal funding match from non-state sources. 

 

     Significant Issues

 

CHE notes the New Mexico Association of Community Colleges presented a statewide request to CHE to support the community college high skill training start-up fund in 2002, and this proposal was one of two research and public service expansion items submitted to CHE.  While recognizing the value of the proposal, the CHE did not recommend this project due to funding limitations.  

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $1,000.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund.  Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY 04 shall revert to the general fund. 

 

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

 

According to CHE, this funding would support an incentive program directly linking education, training and economic development for rural and urban areas along with regional and statewide needs.  In addition, this program would complement the state’s in-plant training program as well as the federal Workforce Investment Act’s voucher system. 

 

Under the provisions of the Accountability in Government Act, two-year institutions report performance associated with an outcome measure addressing percent of graduates who were placed in jobs in New Mexico based on unemployment insurance wage data.  In addition to performance measures required by AGA, two-year institutions provide data relevant to five major areas of a community college mission, including responding to the ongoing training needs of the state’s workforce. 

 

AW/njw