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

SPONSOR:	Jennings		DATE TYPED:	2/25/03		HB
SHORT TITLE:		Oral Education for Certain Deaf Students				SB	710
					ANALYST:		Dunbar

APPROPRIATION

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

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Responses Received From

Department of Health (DOH)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 710 appropriates $250,000 from the general fund to the Department of Health (DOH) in FY ’04 to contract with a medical-educational institution that provides intensive specialized auditory oral education and follow-up treatment to deaf students who have been treated surgically with multi-channel cochlear implants.

Significant Issues

According to the Presbyterian Ear Institute data, the annual cost of educating a hearing impaired child with a cochlear implant at Presbyterian Ear Institute Oral School is approximately $37,000. Presbyterian Ear Institute educates 15 students annually. Once the family has made the decision to surgically implant a cochlear device, it is necessary for the child to receive intensive specialized auditory oral education for the best outcome.

The New Mexico School for the Deaf (NMSD) also serves families of children statewide who are deaf or hard of hearing and have received a cochlear implants. For children birth to three, the Department of Health Family Infant Toddler Program has a Joint Powers Agreement with the NMSD in order to provide these early intervention services in line with state and federal laws.

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 FY 04 shall revert to the general fund.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

SB 710 provides funding for education of deaf students with surgically implanted cochlear devices. A Request for Proposals process, contract oversight and guideline development would be required

TECHNICAL ISSUES

Since the provisions in SB 710 address education of deaf students, it may be more appropriate to place this appropriation within the State Department of Education or the School for the Deaf.

SB 710 is unclear regarding the age of students funded under this appropriation. The DOH LTSD has no authority to provide educationally related services for children over the age of three

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

Once the family has made the decision to surgically implant a cochlear device, it is necessary for the child to receive intensive specialized auditory oral education for the best outcome. The medical follow up treatment should be provided by or in close collaboration with the physician team performing the surgery.

The Department of Health Family Infant Toddler Program currently has a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) with the New Mexico School for the Deaf to serve families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. NMSD utilizes a total communication approach and currently works with a number of families of children who have cochlear implants in place. The NMSD Step*HI program is available statewide and has trained personnel who integrate learning in the child’s home environment.

BD/sb