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	2/2/04		HB	122/aHEC
SHORT TITLE		NMSU Arid Urban Turf Grass Program				SB
					ANALYST		Baca

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY04

FY05

FY04

FY05

$244.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Commission on Higher Education (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 122 appropriates $244 thousand from the general fund to the Board of Regents of NMSU to establish an arid urban turf grass education, research and extension program in the Agronomy and Horticulture Department.

Significant Issues

NMSU reports a growing need for turf grass managers attributable to the new golf courses being built by communities and by Indian groups that utilize their casino activities to attract tourists. Because no New Mexico university has a turf grass management program, students wishing to become turf grass managers must go elsewhere. NMSU also states that water conservation is not an area of training for turf grass managers in the eastern section of the country, further supporting the need for NMSU to develop a program that would include water conservation.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $244 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.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

This request was not among the priorities submitted by the Board of Regents to the CHE. Consequently, it was not reviewed by the Commission.

AMENDMENTS

The following language is suggested for all new recurring higher education programs and expansion of current programs (assuming that funding will continue beyond FY05):

LB/yr