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.

 

The most recent FIR version (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) is available on the Legislative Website.  The Adobe PDF version includes all attachments, whereas the HTML version does not.  Previously issued FIRs and attachments may be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

 

 

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

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Cisneros

 

DATE TYPED:

03/05/03

 

HB

 

 

SHORT TITLE:

NM Tech Water Efficiency Technology Study

 

SB

452

 

 

ANALYST:

Williams

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

$50.0

 

 

Recurring

General Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

Relates to HB 96, HB 97, HB 233, HB 260, HJM 4, SB 8, SB 66, SB 67, SB 385

 

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

Office of the State Engineer

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

Senate Bill 452 appropriates $50.0 from the General Fund to the Board of Regents at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology for the purpose of studying and reporting on least-cost water efficiency technologies, policies and management of drinking water systems.  NMIMT is required to report findings and recommendations annually to the Legislature by December 1.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $50.0 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. 

 

The Geophysical Research Center (GRC) at NMIMT was established in 1965 to conduct water research, specifically atmospheric, surface and underground water.  The LFC budget recommendation for FY04 for GRC is $802.1, down five percent from the FY03 level.

 

TECHNICAL ISSUES

 

Office of the State Engineer note results of the studies should be provided to water administrators.

 

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

 

CHE notes the GRC submitted an expansion request for $220.8 for FY04, but CHE did not recommend funding for the expansion.  The activities identified in Senate Bill 452 were not included in that request. 

 

In 2000, the GRC was evaluated by the CHE and received a rating of Tier I, exceeding expectations.  The next evaluation will occur in 2004.

 

ALTERNATIVES

 

According to CHE, GRC could use indirect cost revenues from federal contracts and grants for this purpose.  The state’s higher education funding formula allows institutions to retain all of these revenues, in part to provide seed money and matching funds for this type of project.

 

AW/njw