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 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	Irwin		DATE TYPED	02/09/04		HB	341/aHEC
SHORT TITLE		WNMU Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program				SB
					ANALYST		Williams

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY04	FY05	FY04	FY05
	$638.2			Recurring	General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to HB 91/SB 25, HB 359

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act : HAFC-substitute for House Bill 2 includes $141.9 recurring general fund for nursing expansion along with $1.3 million non-recurring general fund for nursing and teacher education programs.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Public Education Department (PED)

Health Policy Commission

Department of Health

Commission on Higher Education

SUMMARY

Synopsis of HEC Amendment

The House Education Committee amendment requires a program evaluation to be submitted to the legislative finance committee and the commission on higher education by August 2007.

Synopsis of Original Bill

House Bill 341 appropriates $638.2 thousand from the general fund to the board of regents at Western New Mexico University for the Bachelor of Science in nursing program.

Significant Issues

The funding request submitted to the CHE notes these funds would be used to expand the current ADN and BSN programs by adding 3 faculty members and support staff. Funds will also be used to expand the collaboration with the University of New Mexico in RN to BSN education to revise the current curriculum.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $638.2 thousand contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY06 would revert to the general fund.

Health Policy Commission raises concerns regarding inclusion of “recurring” in the bill.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The proposal would support recurring expense for additional faculty positions at current market salary levels for an increase in the number of students from 24 to 32 and add a clinical group in Deming.

DOH notes the severe nursing shortage nationally and in New Mexico and provides supporting data. Health Policy Commission notes New Mexico is below the national average for active registered nurses per 100,000 population.

DOH notes the proposal is consistent with the DOH Strategic Plan, Goal B for Program Area II: Assure access to and quality of basic health systems such as primary care, rural health (including community hospitals) and school health services.

PED notes the current nurse/student ratio in the state is one nurse for 888.56 students, and 6.7% of New Mexico school districts do not have a school nurse.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

1. Is this appropriation consistent with the institution’s strategic plan?
2. How would performance outcomes be measured?

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