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SPONSOR: |
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DATE TYPED: |
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HB |
387/aHEC |
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SHORT TITLE: |
Statewide Agricultural Education Programs |
SB |
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ANALYST: |
L. Baca |
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APPROPRIATION
Appropriation
Contained |
Estimated
Additional Impact |
Recurring or
Non-Rec |
Fund Affected |
||
FY03 |
FY04 |
FY03 |
FY04 |
|
|
$837.1 |
|
|
|
Recurring |
GF |
(Parenthesis
( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Relates
to the
Responses
Received From
State
Department of Education (SDE)
Commission
on Higher Education (CHE)
SUMMARY
Synopsis
of HEC Amendment
The House Education Committee Amendment adds the
evaluation requirement recommended by the CHE:
A plan for a program
evaluation, including specific program goals and criteria for assessing program
effectiveness, shall be submitted to the Legislative Finance Committee and the
Commission on Higher Education by
Synopsis
of Original Bill
House Bill 387
appropriates $837.1 from the general fund to the Board of Regents of New Mexico
State University (NMSU) for expenditure in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 to support
the continuation of agricultural education programs statewide.
The bill contains an
emergency clause.
Significant
Issues
This
expansion request was not included in NMSU’s budget request to the NMSU Board
of Regents, and thus was not included in the list of priority projects
submitted by NMSU to the CHE for review. Funds for these programs flowed
through SDE in previous years, and this is probably one reason why CHE was not
asked to review the request.
The
appropriation in this bill is intended for use through the New Mexico
Department of Agriculture to support the Future Farmers of America (FFA) and
Vocational Agriculture programs, two programs technically under the SDE but
whose functions have been carried out through the NMDA at NMSU since 1975. These programs have been used to encourage
students to decide on a career in agriculture and/or related fields. The programs have been popular and served to
help students decide on a career.
However, while
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The appropriation of
$837.1 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. Using federal funds, the SDE currently funds
two positions and contracts for a third for these two and related educational
programs at NMSU. This request appears
to be a bid to establish a grassroots FFA office at NMSU.
Since no budget is
available, it is not known whether NMDA intends to add staff or whether outsourcing
is planned.
RELATIONSHIP
HB 387 relates to HB
478, which appropriates $600.0 to provide career and technical education
programs for public school students to assist with technical skills, knowledge
and training needed to succeed in the occupation or careers of their choice.
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):
“A plan for a program evaluation, including specific program goals and
criteria for assessing program effectiveness, shall be submitted to the
Legislative Finance Committee and the Commission on Higher Education by
Finance Committee and the Commission on Higher
Education.”
POSIBLE QUESTIONS
1.
What types of activities will be
conducted with this appropriation?
2.
To date, federal funding has been
used for these activities. Why is an additional $37.1 million needed?
3.
Has this proposal been reviewed
by the NMSU Board of Resents? Why not?
4.
How will this fit in with other,
related career development programs?
5.
This bill requests an $837.1
appropriation and SB 536 asks for $250.0.
Why is the difference so great?