Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports if they are used for other purposes.

 

Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are available on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us).  Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not.  Previously issued FIRs and attachments may also 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

Nunez

DATE TYPED

2/5/04

HB

52/aHEC

 

SHORT TITLE

NMSU Viticulturist

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST

Baca

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY04

FY05

FY04

FY05

 

$150.0

 

 

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

 

Duplicates SB 72.

 

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

LFC Files

Commission on Higher Education (CHE) Funding Recommendations for FY05

 

Responses Received From

CHE

NMSU, College of Agriculture and Home Economics

 

SUMMARY

 

      Synopsis of HEC Amendment

 

The House Education Committee amendment adds an evaluation requirement which reads as follows:

 

“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 August 2007 detailing the benefits to the State of New Mexico from having implemented this program over a three period.”

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis of Original Bill

 

House Bill 52 appropriates $150 thousand from the general fund to the Board of Regents of NMSU for a position and program in viticulture to support the need of New Mexico grape growers and wine producers for practical information and recommendations for growing and managing their businesses.

 

Significant Issues

 

This proposal responds to the needs associated with the growing wine industry in New Mexico.  NMSU reports that the program would be highly integrated with many entities including, NMSU academic programs, New Mexico Department of Agriculture, Small Business Development Centers, county governments, tribal governments, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, agricultural producer associations, agribusinesses, and state and federal agencies. 

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $150 thousand contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund.  Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY05 shall revert to the general fund.

 

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION

 

In the “CONFLICT” section, NMSU reports that the Cooperative Extension Service maintains access to a wide variety of expertise within both extension and the research faculty working in the Agricultural Experiment Station.  Therefore funding for this initiative would serve as a productive companion considering the existing expertise in agronomic science, agricultural economics, and other disciplines within the College of Agriculture & Home Economics.

 

SB 72 duplicates HB 52.

 

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

 

This program expansion request was not submitted by the NMSU Board of Regents to the CHE.  Consequently, the Commission did not recommend funding for this proposal.

 

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

 

1.                  Was this request submitted to the NMSU Board of Regents for their consideration?

2.                  Why or Why not?

3.                  Is the information needed by grape growers and wine producers available now from NMSU?

 

LB/njw:lg