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:

Altamirano

 

DATE TYPED:

2/18/03

 

HB

 

 

SHORT TITLE:

WNMU Athletic Program Needs

 

SB

545

 

 

ANALYST:

L. Baca

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

$275.0

 

 

 

Recurring

GF

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

Relates to: HB 128, NMSU Compliance with NCAA

                 HB 581, Student Athlete Entrance Requirements

     SB 344, ENMU Program Expansion

                       

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

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

Responses Received From

 

Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

 

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

Senate Bill 545 appropriates $275.0 from the general fund to the Board of Regents of Western New Mexico University (WNMU) for the purpose of funding newly created National Collegiate Athletic Association requirements at both school and conference levels and to address gender equity requirements at WNMU.   The bill includes an emergency clause.

 

     Significant Issues

 

WNMU submitted a request to the CHE for $400,000 for fiscal year 2004 to fund this proposal, which was ranked three out of four research and public service (RPSP) expansion items submitted to the Commission by Western New Mexico University (WNMU).  This program was not recommended for funding by the CHE.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $275.0 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.

 

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 October 1, 2004.  An assessment of the program will be completed prior to June 30, 2005, and submitted to the Legislative Finance Committee and the Commission on Higher Education.”

 

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

 

1.               What additional requirements the NCAA has imposed?

2.               Is there a deadline for WNMU to meet the new NCAA requirements?

3.               What, specifically, are the gender equity needs that must be met?

4.               What will happen if WNMU does not meet the new requirements?

 

LRB/njw:sb