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

Martinez

DATE TYPED

2/5/04

HB

 

 

SHORT TITLE

Mid-School Teacher Science-Math Training

SB

182

 

 

ANALYST

Baca

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY04

FY05

FY04

FY05

 

$260.0

 

 

Recurring

General Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

Duplicates HB 31

 

Relates to Appropriation for Northern New Mexico State School in the General Appropriation Act

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Commission on Higher Education (CHE) Funding Recommendations for FY05

 

Responses Received From

New Mexico Public Education Department (PED)

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis of Bill

 

Senate Bill 182 appropriates $260,000 from the general fund to the Board of Regents of Northern New Mexico Community College (NNMCC) to provide a program that trains middle school teachers to improve their skills, technical knowledge and teaching techniques in science, math and technology.

 

Significant Issues

 

As reported by the PED, norm referenced middle school student test results in math and science is consistently lower than desired, often below the 50th percentile.  It is believed that improved teacher skills and knowledge will help improve student performance.

 

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

 

Documents provided by the CHE indicate this program was not requested nor was it considered by the Commission.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $260.0 appropriation of 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

 

The PED suggests that the sponsor consider adding language that will require coordination of the activities funded by this bill with on-going professional development efforts administered by the PED.

 

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):

 

“The institution receiving the appropriation in this bill shall submit a program evaluation to the Legislative Finance Committee, the Public Education Department and the Commission on Higher Education by August 2006 detailing the benefits to the State of New Mexico from having implemented this program.

 

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

 

1.                  Is this program intended to serve all middle school teachers in the state?

2.                  If not, which school districts are targeted by this proposal?

3.                  What data (test results) are available to support this request?

4.                  Are the sponsor and administrators from the institution amenable to coordinating their activities with the professional development efforts of the PED?

 

LB/yr