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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR	Rodriguez		DATE TYPED	1/30/04		HB
SHORT TITLE		High School Mock Trial Program				SB	280
					ANALYST		Baca

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY04	FY05	FY04	FY05
	$200.0			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 for FY 05

Responses Received From

New Mexico Public Education Department

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 280 appropriates $200 thousand from the general fund the Board of Regents of the University of New Mexico for the School of Law to conduct the New Mexico high school mock trial program.

Significant Issues

According to the PED, the UNM mock trial program is a hands-on experience for high school students to develop their understanding of law and the judicial process. Students, teacher advisors and attorney coaches spend the better part of the school year researching, studying and preparing a hypothetical courtroom trial involving critical issues that are important and interesting to young people. Regional competitions are held in Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Las Cruces. Following the February regionals, state competitions are held in Albuquerque with the winner eligible to participate in the national finals which are held in May.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $200 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 program was submitted by the UNM Board of Regents with a funding level of $25 thousand, and the Commission approved this proposal as submitted by the regents.

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 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.”

LB/yr