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	HEC		DATE TYPED	2/16/04		HB	609/HECS
SHORT TITLE		Public Peace, Health, Safety and Welfare				SB
					ANALYST		Baca

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY04	FY05	FY04	FY05
	$350.0			Recurring	General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

Relates to HB 31, HB 62, HB 71, HB 95, HB 292, HB 328, HB 342, HB 353, HB 400, HB 400, SB 15, SB 182, SB 227, SB 430, SB 488 & SB 517 (All bills address professional development.)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

New Mexico Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Education Committee Substitute for House Bill 609 appropriates $350 thousand from the general fund to the PED for expenditure in FY05 to train school personnel in probationary schools in cultural competencies to close the achievement gap between minority and other students.

Significant Issues

This is one of several professional development bills being considered by the current session of the State Legislature. The PED suggests that funding for professional development would best serve training needs if all funds were centralized in the Professional Development Fund, with the PED overseeing a general professional development framework rather than funding individual projects.

This bill addresses one of the root causes of academic underachievement of minority group students and proffers a partial solution: training teachers in the culture of their students so teachers may become more sensitive to the needs and better able to meet the needs of their students.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $350 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.

LB/yr