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

SPONSOR:	Aragon		DATE TYPED:	2/12/03		HB
SHORT TITLE:		Statewide E-Technology				SB	461
					ANALYST:		L. Baca

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY03	FY04	FY03	FY04
	$250.0			Recurring	GF

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SB 461 is identical to HB 462, Statewide E-Commerce Program

Relates to Appropriation for the University of New Mexico in the General Appropriation Act

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Responses Received From

Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 461appropriates $250.0 to the Board of Regents of the University of New Mexico (UNM) for the Division of Continuing Education and Community Services to collaborate with the Barelas Job Opportunity Center to implement the eMercadoNm.com program statewide.

Significant Issues

The CHE reports that the purposes of SB 461 are to:

• extend the eMercadoNm.com program to an estimated 10 New Mexico municipalities outside Albuquerque;
• share technology, experience, economic development opportunities and training with smaller communities; and
• promote purchasing from New Mexico vendors.

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 fiscal year 2004 shall revert to the general fund.

The appropriation is contingent on UNM providing matching funds, including in-kind services, equal to at least 10 percent of the appropriation from sources other than the state.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

A request was not included in UNM’s budget request to the UNM Board of Regents, and thus was not included in the list of priority projects submitted by UNM to the CHE for review (see the attached “Special Funding Requests Submitted in the 2002 Regular Session”).

AMENDMENTS

The CHE suggests the following language for all new recurring higher education programs and expansion of current programs (assuming that funding will continue beyond 2003-2004):

“The institution receiving the appropriation in this bill shall submit a program evaluation to the Legislative Finance Committee and the Commission on Higher Education by June 30, 2005 detailing the benefits to the State of New Mexico from having this program implemented for a three-year period.”

LRB/njw