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

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Duran, Dianna J.

 

DATE TYPED:

3/6/03

 

HB

 

 

SHORT TITLE:

Develop Workplace Literacy Plan

 

SB

SJM-69

 

 

ANALYST:

Segura

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Please  refer to Fiscal Impact Summary

 

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

State Department of Education (SDE)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

Senate Joint Memorial 69 requests the State Department of Education and Labor Department to collaborate in developing a workplace literacy program and a plan to implement the program during fiscal year 2005.

 

     Significant Issues

 

The memorial proposes to involve Adult Basic Education providers, the Human Services Department, business and industry representatives, the Commission on Higher Education, the Economic Development Department, and literacy experts in developing the program, and they are to present the plan to the Legislative Education Study Committee by December 1,2003.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

No appropriation is contained in the memorial. According to SDE the cost of convening a broadly representative group of stakeholders over a six month time period to develop both a statewide program and an implementation plan may be significant.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

 

Both the Department of Labor and Department of Education will provide the staff to complete the plan and provide the results to the LESC.

 

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

 

According to SDE, the need and demand for literacy services have been rising annually. The 2000 US Census indicates 22.3 % of New Mexicans age 18 or older have not graduated from high school compared to 20.3% nationwide. In addition, 11.8 % of the US civilian labor force ages 16 to19 were neither graduated from high school nor enrolled anywhere, compared to 14.7% in New Mexico.

 

While the term “literacy” is generally understood to mean ability to read and write, the term “workplace literacy” has a somewhat broader interpretation, including upgrading worker skills to meet the specific requirements of an employer or industry.

 

RS/njw