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:

Miera

 

DATE TYPED:

03/20/03

 

HB

468

 

SHORT TITLE:

Expand Adult Literacy Services

 

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST:

Gonzales

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

$250.0

 

 

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

Duplicates SB352

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

LFC Files

 

Responses Received From

State Library, Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA)

State Department of Education (SDE)

Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

House Bill 468 appropriates $250.0 from the general fund to the library division of the Office of Cultural Affairs for the purpose of contracting with a statewide nonprofit adult literacy organization to provide basic literacy services in areas of the state that are underserved by existing adult basic education and literacy programs.

 

     Significant Issues

 

The bill states the organization shall provide (1) program management and operating support services for community-based literacy programs that use volunteer tutors to deliver expanded adult literacy services; and (2) technical support services that include training on evaluation standards and techniques, best practices in the delivery of literacy services, community literacy boards development and training, volunteer recruitment and support, financial and program management and quantifiable documentation of outcomes.

 

The appropriation is designated to use existing services whenever possible to expand service delivery in the areas of the state that are currently underserved, which are the far eastern and far western parts of New Mexico, to avoid duplication.

 

The State Library oversees the contract with the New Coalition for Literacy (NMCL), who in turn funds the adult basic literacy programs, states that the NMCL is only able to fund existing program grantees collectively at approximately one-third less than their stated need and request for funds.

 

According to the State Library, with the existing funds appropriated to the State Library for this purpose, last year NMCL funded adult basic literacy programs that utilized 79,000 volunteer hours for the neediest New Mexicans whose education is below the fourth grade level and need one-on-one instruction because they cannot, for one reason or another, fit into an institutional, classroom setting.  The adult basic literacy programs funded by the NMCL differ from adult literacy programs of the State Department of Education.

 

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

 

The New Mexico Coalition for Literacy provided the following statistics regarding the existing appropriated funds for adult literacy services.


 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $250.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY04 shall revert to the general fund.

 


ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

 

The State Library acts as a pass through for funds appropriated for adult literacy to the New Coalition for Literacy.  The State Library does not take out administrative costs for administering the appropriation; therefore, additional funds for the purpose proposed by this bill would not create additional burden to the State Library.

 

DUPLICATION

 

This bill duplicates Senate Bill 352.

 

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

 

The State Department of Education states numeracy, language arts and the arts are integral parts of literacy. The State Board of Education Content Standards, Benchmarks and Performance Standards in the areas of Language Arts, Mathematics and the Arts could assist in the development of evaluation standards for HB 468.

 

The Commission on Higher Education notes that for many years New Mexico’s approach to literacy services has included complimentary efforts of the State Department of Education (SDE), Department of Human Services and the Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA).  The SDE has focused on K-12 literacy initiatives in the public schools and Adult Basic Education (ABE)/GED preparation largely delivered through the state’s community college system; Department of Human Services has focused on services for TANF eligible clients; and OCA has focused on volunteer tutor programs for individuals with the lowest literacy levels and least likely to access institution-based services.  All three efforts are complimentary parts of a state literacy system.

 

According to information from the 2000 Census, ABE program directors, the SDE, and the NM Coalition for Literacy, need and demand for literacy services have been rising annually while budgets for adult basic education have remained static or been reduced.  The additional funds would be used to provide services primarily in underserved communities around the eastern, northern and western periphery of the state.

 

JMG/prr:njw