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	Powdrell-Culbert		DATE TYPED	2/10/04		HB	415
SHORT TITLE		Saturday Science & Math Academy				SB
					ANALYST		Baca

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY04	FY05	FY04	FY05
	$50.0			Recurring	General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Commission on Higher Education Funding Recommendations

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 415 appropriates $50 thousand from the general fund to the Board of Regents of the University of New Mexico (UNM) for expenditure in FY05 to establish a Saturday academy program at the university to help enhance pre-college students’ science and mathematic skills.

Significant Issues

The PED reports that in 2001, the College Board published a survey and comprehensive description of outreach programs from across the nation designed to prepare junior high and high school students for postsecondary education. Of the 1,091 programs listed, more than half are conducted at or through a college or university, and 37 percent had a particular academic subject area focus, most commonly math, science and technology. Approximately 60 percent of the programs operate a weekend component, a common format being a “Saturday academy.” Sixty-two percent of the program target students were from low-income families and\or groups underrepresented minorities. Sixty-two percent of the programs target students with particular characteristics, most commonly low-income students and those from traditionally underrepresented racial or ethnic groups; 69 percent of students participating in outreach programs across the country are non-white.

The PED also reports that the survey cited above lists 19 programs in New Mexico, eight in the Albuquerque area and others from Deming, Hobbs (2), Las Cruces (2), Las Vegas, Portales (2), Santa Fe and Socorro. Six of the programs hold weekend activities; the one Albuquerque program with weekend activities does not focus on math and science skill development. Not included in the survey was New Mexico’s MESA program (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement), a program that has been in existence for over 20 years.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $50 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.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

According to the PED, clarification is needed regarding a number of aspects of this program, such as objectives and goals, target audience, program activities, relationship to other outreach programs and alignment of activities with New Mexico standards and benchmarks for mathematics and science.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

In the interest of accountability, 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.

This request was not in the list of priority projects submitted to the Commission on Higher Education for review. Consequently, this request was not included in the Commission’s funding recommendations for FY05.

LB/dm