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

SPONSOR:	Cravens		DATE TYPED:	2/13/03		HB
SHORT TITLE:		Education & Services for the Deaf				SB	146/aSEC
					ANALYST:		L. Baca

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY03	FY04	FY03	FY04
	$40.0			Recurring	GF

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to Appropriation for the State Department of Education in the General Appropriation Act

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Responses Received From

State Department of Education (SDE)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of SEC Amendments

The Senate Education Committee amendments add the requirement that SDE provide consultation and technical assistance services for deaf students in public schools, and that the appropriation is intended to further facilitate collaboration between SDE, Department of Health, and the New Mexico School for the Deaf as they implement the goals of the New Mexico Task Force on the Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

Synopsis of Original Bill

Senate Bill 146 appropriates $40.0 from the general fund to the State Department of Education (SDE) to coordinate and provide services for deaf students in public schools throughout the state.

Significant Issues

The SDE monitors the delivery of special education services to approximately 65,000 students in the state’s public schools by using SDE staff and contract personnel. The SDE does not provide direct services to students. SDE reports that students with hearing impairments, who comprise

less than one percent of students receiving special education services, the funds appropriated could be used to provide additional technical assistance and coordination of on behalf of hearing impaired students.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $40.0 contained in this bill is a recurring to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2004 shall revert to the general fund.

LRB/prr