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	Nunez		DATE TYPED	2/5/04		HB	47/aHEC
SHORT TITLE		NMSU State Climatologist				SB
					ANALYST		Baca

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY04	FY05	FY04	FY05
	$150.0			Recurring	General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

Relates to the General Appropriation Act

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Commission on Higher Education (CHE) Funding Recommendations for FY05

Responses Received From

CHE

NMSU, College of Agriculture and Home Economics

SUMMARY

Synopsis of HEC Amendment

The House Education Committee amendment adds an evaluation requirement which reads as follows:

“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.”

Synopsis of Original Bill

House Bill 47 appropriates $150 thousand from the general fund to the Board of Regents of New Mexico State University to fund the position of state climatologist.

Significant Issues

NMSU reports that the state climatology program needs expanded and reliable financial resources to continue to serve the citizens of New Mexico. Currently, more than 500 people access the state climatology program internet home page daily to get climate, irrigation, and water conservation information. The purpose of the office of the state climatologist is to provide information and technical assistance that may be used in the state’s various industries, especially agriculture.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $150 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.

RELATIONSHIP

The Cooperative Extension Service and the Agricultural Experiment Station at NMSU have programs and staff that are available to collaborate with the climatologist to ensure efficient gathering and dissemination of reliable information.

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.”

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

Information found in NMSU and CHE documents indicate that this program was not among the expansion requests submitted by the NMSU Board of Regents to the CHE. Consequently, it was not considered by the Commission.

LB/sb